SOLVENT-FREE WOOD ESTERIFICATION WITH FATTY-ACID CHLORIDES

A method for wood esterification using fatty acid chlorides in the abs ence of organic solvents is proposed. A nitrogen stream was used to ca rry-off the hydrogen chloride formed during synthesis and to displace the equilibrium of the reaction. The experimental conditions being opt imal (nitrogen flow rate, temperature and reaction time, quantity of f atty acid chloride), there was an increase in weight of 87% and a 60% ester content for the sample esterified with octanoyl chloride. The ge neralization of the reaction to other fatty acid chlorides was studied . Improvement in the thermoplastic properties of wood following esteri fication was demonstrated.