Improvements in dimensional stability and lightfastness of wood by butyrylation using microwave heating

Microwave heating was used as the heat source for butyrylation of wood with the aim of reducing the reaction time. The photostability and dimensional stability of butyrylated wood were also investigated in this study. Chemical changes of wood were confirmed by cross polarization/magic angle spin C-13-nuclear magnetic resonance and diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy (DRIFT) after butyrylation by microwave heating. Results from DRIFT with the Si-Carb sampling technique revealed that, using microwave heating, a higher degree of butyrylation of maple wood occurred in the middle of the specimen than on the outer surface. The increase in yellowness index of butyrylated wood treated with microwave heating was much less than that of untreated wood after the lightfastness test, indicating that photoyellowing of wood is effectively inhibited by butyrylation using microwave heating. The dimensional stability of wood was also improved after modification.