Effect of water on wood liquefaction and the properties of phenolated wood

The effects of water on wood liquefaction were investigated under various reaction conditions: reaction temperature, time, and wood/phenol weight ratio. Although the addition of water decreased the reaction temperature and reduced the liquefaction rate and combined phenol content of the resulting phenolated wood, residue of <20% and a combined phenol content of >95% were obtained by controlling the reaction conditions. The addition of water suppressed an increase in the combined phenol content and molecular weight by a recondensation reaction observed in liquefaction in the absence of water under the same reaction conditions. Phenolated wood obtained in the presence of water showed comparable thermoflow properties and slightly higher activation energy for cure when compared with phenolated wood obtained in the absence of water. Moldings from both phenolated woods showed comparable flexural properties to those of moldings from commercial Novolak resin.