Structural differences between wood species: Evidence from chemical composition, FTIR spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis

In this study, the relationship between wood cellulose crystallinity, influence of extractives on wood degradation, correlation between chemical composition, and physical properties of four wood species were investigated by chemical analysis, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and thermogravimetry. The chemical analysis showed that Dipteryx odorata and Mezilaurus itauba (ITA) contained a higher quantity of extractives and lower quantities of holocellulose and lignin than Eucalyptus grandis (EUG) and Pinus elliottii. FTIR spectroscopy indicated that higher extractives content in ITA might be associated with more intense bands at 2920, 2850, and 1510 cm-1. The lower values for hydrogen bond energy and hydrogen bond intensity showed that EUG contained more absorbed water than the other species. Thermogravimetry confirm that lower extractive contents leads to a better wood thermal stability. This study showed that through the methods used previous information about structure and properties of wood can be obtained before use it in composite formulations. (c) 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012