Surface Hydrophobization of Block-Shaped Wood with Rapid Benzylation

With the aim of utilizing wood as a carbon cycle-oriented material, improvement hydrophobicity has been actively studied to solve manufacturing problems, such dimensional stability and biodeterioration resistance. The introduction benzyl group is promising chemical modification for hydrophobizing wood. However, conventional benzylation methods are not suitable industrial applications because they require high temperature long reaction times. In this study, novel method was developed quickly benzylating surface block-shaped using an aqueous solution tetra-n-butylphosphonium hydroxide pretreatment solvent no heat. color shape benzylated almost unchanged from that before treatment. Analysis resulting structure suggested causes less damage carbohydrates compared with method, which involves heating stirring. proposed successfully imparted thermoplasticity surface. Furthermore, further improved by simple heat treatment only approximately 5 min. water contact angle became ≥110° remained even after 1 min dropping.