Hydrophobization of wood surfaces: covalent grafting of silicone polymers

The hydrophilicity of Maritime pine wood surfaces was modified by silicone, an extremely hydrophobic material. A generic method for the introduction o f a variety of silicones at the surface of pre-treated wood was developed. The initial treatment of wood with maleic anhydride and allyl glycidyl ethe r resulted in oligoesterified wood bearing terminal alkenes. The hydro-osil ylation of these groups, performed with hydride-terminated silicones, led t o very hydrophobic surfaces, even after extensive soxhlet extraction with g ood solvents for silicones, Thze presence of silicon, only at the surface o f hydrosilylated wood, was confirmed by ESCA. The silicones appear to be at tached to the wood by covalent bonds.