CHEMICAL MODIFICATION OF WOOD SURFACES BY ETHERIFICATION .4. BENZYLATION WITH SOLVENT-DILUTION AND VAPOR-PHASE METHODS

Benzylation of pinewood particles with the solvent-dilution and vapor-phase methods was investigated for reducing the amount of benzyl chloride in the etherification agent. Alcohol solvents with high-boiling temperatures (n-amyl alcohol, sec-n-octylalcohol, and cyclohexanol) and xylene were used in the solvent-dilution method. Benzylation in the vapor-phase method was examined at 120-160-degrees-C. Thermoplasticized particles could be produced with all solvents used. However, greater reaction temperatures and longer reaction times than those in the ordinary liquid-phase method were found to be necessary. Possible, the solvents seemed to interfere with the reaction between wood and benzyl chloride. In the vapor-phase benzylation below the boiling, point of benzyl chloride, greatly thermoplasticized particles were produced after 2-4 h at 140-degrees-C.