The composite wood by poplar wood impregnated with Na ₂ SiO ₃ -polyacrylamide hybrid solution

Abstract The Na ₂ SiO ₃ -polyacrylamide (PAM) inorganic/organic homo­geneous hybrid was prepared by polymerization of acrylamide monomer in the presence of a water-glass solution. Then, the hybrid was introduced into pores of poplar wood by impregnation treatment, and composite wood was produced. The structure of the controlled and treated wood specimen was investigated by scanning electrode microscopy (SEM) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). The thermal stability of the composite wood was evaluated by thermogravimetric (TG) and oxygen index. The results showed that the treated wood showed a lower weight loss and higher oxygen index when weight percent gains (WPG) of the composite wood reached 31.6%. Also, the composite wood showed improved bending strength, modulus of elasticity in static bending, and hardness, when compared with controlled samples.