Morphological, physical, and mechanical properties of silanized wood-polymer composite.

For investigation on the effect of silane compound on practical properties of poplar wood polymer composite, samples were impregnated using vacuum/pressure method with 3-trimethoxysilyl propyl methacrylate, and subsequently with styrene, methyl methacrylate, and mixtures of styrene/methyl methacrylate. Field emission scanning electron microscopy observations and Fourier transform infrared analysis indicated that styrene/methyl methacrylate copolymerized with 3-trimethoxysilyl propyl methacrylate and the resultant polymer tightly contacted to the wood cell walls without noticeable gaps. Impregnation with styrene resulted in a higher density of wood polymer composite compared to methyl methacrylate, which was more obvious in the presence of 3-trimethoxysilyl propyl methacrylate. Mechanical strength of the wood polymer composites improved and the highest strength was obtained for the 3-trimethoxysilyl propyl methacrylate/styrene/methyl methacrylate-modified samples. Maximum hardness was found in 3-trimethoxysilyl propyl methacrylate/styrene/methyl methacrylate-modified samples due to the cross-link formation between modified cell wall and polymer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]