Effects of microwave irradiation on the basic properties of woodceramics made from carbonized tobacco stems impregnated with phenolic resin

A series of woodceramics derived from carbonized tobacco stems and phenolic resin composite heated by microwave irradiation was prepared and effects of microwave irradiation time, power and mass fraction of phenolic resin in woodceramics on the mass loss ratio, volume shrinkage ratio, apparent density, open porosity and volume electrical resistivity were investigated systematically. The pyrolysis behaviours of tobacco stems, phenolic resin and carbonized tobacco stems/phenolic resin composite were also evaluated using thermogravimetry. The experimental results showed that the mass loss ratio, volume shrinkage ratio and apparent density increased, while the volume electrical resistivity and open porosity decreased with increasing microwave irradiation time. The apparent density increased, while the mass loss ratio, volume shrinkage ratio, volume electrical resistivity and open porosity decreased with an increase in the mass fraction of phenolic resin. The mass loss ratio, volume shrinkage ratio and open porosity increased, while apparent density and volume electrical resistivity decreased with an increase in the microwave power. Microstructures of woodceramics obtained at various microwave irradiation time were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) technique, which confirmed the results of pyrolysis analyses of samples and effects of microwave irradiation on basic properties of woodceramics prepared.