PROPERTIES OF WOOD ESTERIFIED BY FATTY-ACID CHLORIDES

Lignocellulosic compounds can be esterified through their hydroxyl gro ups to obtain new materials (plastic films, hydrophobic coatings, etc. ). Recently, a new esterification method was developed using wood saw- dust and fatty-acid chlorides avoiding any solvent. The esterified woo dy materials showed high hydrophobicity properties which increased wit h using longer fatty-acid chlorides. Cellulose decrystallization was d emonstrated by X-ray analysis and was one reason for the thermoplastic properties of the esterified product. The thermal stability of wood w as improved after chemical modification. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd .