Bulk Polymerization of PEGDA in Spruce Wood Using a DBD Plasma-Initiated Process to Improve the Flexural Strength of the Wood–Polymer Composite
The chemical treatment of wood has been shown to increase its mechanical strength by forming composites with a variety of polymers. Polyethylene glycol diacrylate (PEGDA) has commonly been used as a polymer reinforcement to increase the strength and resistance of spruce wood for various applications...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-02-01
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| Series: | Plasma |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2571-6182/5/1/11 |
| _version_ | 1797443283100631040 |
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| author | Matthew Mieles Callie Stitt Hai-Feng Ji |
| author_facet | Matthew Mieles Callie Stitt Hai-Feng Ji |
| author_sort | Matthew Mieles |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The chemical treatment of wood has been shown to increase its mechanical strength by forming composites with a variety of polymers. Polyethylene glycol diacrylate (PEGDA) has commonly been used as a polymer reinforcement to increase the strength and resistance of spruce wood for various applications, such as protection from weathering. In this study, PEGDA was impregnated into wood samples and polymerized by dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma to form wood–polymer composites (WPCs). The kinetic rate order of PEGDA was explored using FT-IR quantitative analysis and the DBD plasma-initiated polymerization was determined to be second order. The strength of the wood samples was then determined by a three-point flexural test. The PEGDA-treated spruce wood samples showed improved flexural strength versus the untreated wood samples. The WPCs were also made using a UV treatment method and were then compared to the DBD plasma-treated samples. The results showed that the DBD plasma-treated samples yielded superior flexural strength relative to the UV-treated samples. We accredited this difference in strength to the plasma process and its ability to penetrate into the various layers of the wood and initiate polymerization, as opposed to UV light that can only penetrate superficially, initiating polymerization in only the first few layers of the wood surface. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T12:54:42Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-39830f3aa6e44626a24da85ebe42c5fb |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2571-6182 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T12:54:42Z |
| publishDate | 2022-02-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Plasma |
| spelling | doaj.art-39830f3aa6e44626a24da85ebe42c5fb2023-11-30T22:01:53ZengMDPI AGPlasma2571-61822022-02-015114615310.3390/plasma5010011Bulk Polymerization of PEGDA in Spruce Wood Using a DBD Plasma-Initiated Process to Improve the Flexural Strength of the Wood–Polymer CompositeMatthew Mieles0Callie Stitt1Hai-Feng Ji2Department of Chemistry, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USADepartment of Chemistry, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USADepartment of Chemistry, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USAThe chemical treatment of wood has been shown to increase its mechanical strength by forming composites with a variety of polymers. Polyethylene glycol diacrylate (PEGDA) has commonly been used as a polymer reinforcement to increase the strength and resistance of spruce wood for various applications, such as protection from weathering. In this study, PEGDA was impregnated into wood samples and polymerized by dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma to form wood–polymer composites (WPCs). The kinetic rate order of PEGDA was explored using FT-IR quantitative analysis and the DBD plasma-initiated polymerization was determined to be second order. The strength of the wood samples was then determined by a three-point flexural test. The PEGDA-treated spruce wood samples showed improved flexural strength versus the untreated wood samples. The WPCs were also made using a UV treatment method and were then compared to the DBD plasma-treated samples. The results showed that the DBD plasma-treated samples yielded superior flexural strength relative to the UV-treated samples. We accredited this difference in strength to the plasma process and its ability to penetrate into the various layers of the wood and initiate polymerization, as opposed to UV light that can only penetrate superficially, initiating polymerization in only the first few layers of the wood surface.https://www.mdpi.com/2571-6182/5/1/11bulk polymerizationnonthermal plasmadielectric barrier dischargepolyethylene glycol diacrylate (PEGDA)wood–polymer composites |
| spellingShingle | Matthew Mieles Callie Stitt Hai-Feng Ji Bulk Polymerization of PEGDA in Spruce Wood Using a DBD Plasma-Initiated Process to Improve the Flexural Strength of the Wood–Polymer Composite Plasma bulk polymerization nonthermal plasma dielectric barrier discharge polyethylene glycol diacrylate (PEGDA) wood–polymer composites |
| title | Bulk Polymerization of PEGDA in Spruce Wood Using a DBD Plasma-Initiated Process to Improve the Flexural Strength of the Wood–Polymer Composite |
| title_full | Bulk Polymerization of PEGDA in Spruce Wood Using a DBD Plasma-Initiated Process to Improve the Flexural Strength of the Wood–Polymer Composite |
| title_fullStr | Bulk Polymerization of PEGDA in Spruce Wood Using a DBD Plasma-Initiated Process to Improve the Flexural Strength of the Wood–Polymer Composite |
| title_full_unstemmed | Bulk Polymerization of PEGDA in Spruce Wood Using a DBD Plasma-Initiated Process to Improve the Flexural Strength of the Wood–Polymer Composite |
| title_short | Bulk Polymerization of PEGDA in Spruce Wood Using a DBD Plasma-Initiated Process to Improve the Flexural Strength of the Wood–Polymer Composite |
| title_sort | bulk polymerization of pegda in spruce wood using a dbd plasma initiated process to improve the flexural strength of the wood polymer composite |
| topic | bulk polymerization nonthermal plasma dielectric barrier discharge polyethylene glycol diacrylate (PEGDA) wood–polymer composites |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2571-6182/5/1/11 |
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