Preparation and properties of some wood/(co)polymer composites

Beech and spruce samples which were impregnated with acrylonitrile (AN), me thyl methacrylate (MMA), allyl glycidyl ether (AGE), AGE + AN, AGE + MMA mo nomers and monomer mixtures were subjected to (co)polymerization by gamma r adiation. The dimensional stabilization and resistance against biodegradati on of wood/(co)polymer composites was investigated. The water uptake capaci ties of wood/ (co)polymer composites were observed to decrease by more than 70% as compared to untreated samples. There were no noticeable changes in the structure of the wood/(co)polymer composites after treatment with artif ical acid rain. It was found chat the wood/(co)polymer composites were stab le against the biological attacks of microorganisms like mould and bacteria .