Chemical modification of Norway spruce (Picea abies (L) Karst) wood with melamine formaldehyde resin

Abstract

Impregnation of Norway spruce soft wood with melamine formaldehyde (MF) resin under vacuum-pressure process showed promising potential to improve number of properties, such as, dimensional stability and surface hardness. In this study, MF resin impregnated wood was evaluated at different levels of weight percent gain (WPG) compared to untreated one, mainly for dimensional stability and surface hardness. The modified wood, at 22.9 level of WPG possessed increase in dimensional stability in terms of anti-swelling efficiency and surface hardness by 17.5% and 124% over untreated, control. Chemical adherence and/or reaction takes place onto wood cell wall components other than cell lumens, which was proved by vertical density profile (VDP), UV microscopic and scanning electron microscopic (SEM) studies.