Preparation of Thermoplastic Magnetic Wood via Etherification and In-Situ Synthesis of Iron Oxide

Wood flour (WF) was converted not only to thermoplastic material but also to carrier matrix for in-situ synthesis of iron oxide nano-particles by a set of etherification; namely, considerable hydroxypropylation and modest carboxymethylation. A sequence of procedure for the in-situ synthesis of iron oxides includes ferrous ion-absorption of the etherified WF, precipitation of ferrous hydroxide by an alkaline treatment, and oxidation of the ferrous hydroxide. Magnetometry measurements revealed that the magnetic woody composite showed superparamagnetism (SPM) at room temperature. The observation of SPM may be of significance in the perceptibility to an external magnetic stimulus only on demand and without energy loss.