Preparation and properties of some wood/(co)polymer composites

Beech and spruce samples which were impregnated with acrylonitrile (AN), methyl methacrylate (MMA), allyl glycidyl ether (AGE), AGE + AN, AGE + MMA monomers and monomer mixtures were subjected to (co)polymerization by gamma radiation. The dimensional stabilization and resistance against biodegradation of wood/(co)polymer composites was investigated. The water uptake capacities of wood/(co)polymer composites were observed to decrease by more than 70% as compared to untreated samples. There were no noticeable changes in the structure of the wood/(co)polymer composites after treatment with artifical acid rain. It was found that the wood/(co)polymer composites were stable against the biological attacks of microorganisms like mould and bacteria.