Abstract

When wood is vacuum impregnated with liquid vinyl monomers that do not swell wood, and then in situ polymerized either by chemical catalyst-heat, or gamma radiation, the polymer is located almost solely in the lumens of the wood. Figure 16.1 is a scanning electron microscopy (SEM) micrograph of unmodified wood showing open cells that are susceptible to indentation and wear. In contrast, Figure 16.2 is a micrograph of wood after impregnation and polymerization showing the voids filled with polymer that will resist indentation and wear.