FIBER ACTIVATION AND SUBSEQUENT CO-POLYMERIZATION

High temperature refined thermo-mechanical pulp (MDF fibre) was dried, extracted with neutral organic solvent and reacted with a series of e lectrophilic reagents (glycidyl methacrylate, maleic anhydride and suc cinic anhydride). The adducts formed were characterised by infra-red s pectroscopy and further reacted in a hot press with methyl methacrylat e in the presence of a free radical initiator (benzoyl peroxide). Well conformed board were produced by the process. Samples of these boards were ground to a fine flour, extracted with acetone/toluene to remove poly (methylmethacrylate), PMMA homopolymer and again characterised b y infra-red spectroscopy. The spectral evidence suggests that in those boards formed using fibre modified with unsaturated reagents (glycidy l methacrylate and maleic anhydride), some copolymerisation between fi bre and PMMA occurs. Where the adduct is saturated (succinic ester), b onding appears to be substantially by physical interaction. Those prod ucts formed with the involvement of chemical interaction may have enha nced resistance to deterioration in moist environments.