Abstract
To improve the dimensional stability, decay resistances, and fire resistances of wood, isocyanated woods were prepared by impregnating boric acid (H3BO3) and tolylene diisocyanate (CH3C6H3 (NCO)2, TDI) into wood specimens and then curing at 105°C. Since boric acid was bonded with TDI to form the boron isocyanate compound, the weight losses of chemical compounds in treated wood specimens by soaking in running water were very small, showing the high leaching resistance.
Main chemical reactions for the treatment with H3BO3 and TDI could be explained as a polymerization between hydroxyl groups of H3BO3 and TDI from the results of the FT-IR spectrum. The wood-boric acid-TDI composite shows the high dimensional stability by bulking effects of cell walls and the high decay resistance after a leaching treatment reatment. The composite also has the excellent fire-resisting effects from burning tests by micro burner and oxygen index tests.
