Improvement of wood properties by composite of diatomite and “phenol-melamine-formaldehyde” co-condensed resin

We improved the overall performance of fast-growing poplar by utilizing a low-cost, effective and simple method. The fast-growing poplar was modified by a vacuum-pressure impregnation method with three types of modification solutions composed of phenol-melamine-formaldehyde (PMF) co-condensed resin, diatomite, and 3-aminopropyl (diethoxy) methylsilane. We measured the weight percent gain (WPG), bulking, leaching, anti-swelling efficiency (ASE), water-repellent effectiveness (WRE), and oxygen index of the modified specimens. All of the wood physical properties, which are beneficial for human uses, were significantly improved by the treatment. We improved various characteristics of wood and the oxygen index of poplar above 48.6% after the modification using diatomite and PMF co-condensed resin.