Dynamic mechanical analysis, biodegradability and thermal stability of wood polymer nanocomposites

Melamine formaldehyde-furfuryl alcohol copolymer (MFFA) and 1,3-dimethylol 4,5-dihydroxy ethylene urea (DMDHEU) were synthesized and vacuum impregnated into wood with nanoclay to prepare wood polymer nanocomposite (WPNC). MFFA, DMDHEU and WPNC were characterized by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR). Transmittance Electron Microscopy (TEM) study confirmed impregnation of nanoclay into the composites. Treated samples showed an improvement in elastic modulus, loss modulus and damping index as indicated by dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA). The incorporation of nanoclay improved the thermal stability of the composites. The apparent activation energy for the relaxation process in the glass transition region increased with the increase in the amount of nanoclay. Untreated wood exhibited maximum biodegradability whereas polymer treated wood showed minimum biodegradability. Addition of nanoclay improved the biodegradability of the polymer treated wood samples as evidenced by decay evaluation, soil burial and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) study.