Pre-treated cellulosic materials for producing molded composite articles therefrom and process

A fiber-reinforced thermoplastic composition for producing composite structural members and a method for making same is provided. The composition is made by combining a thermoplastic resin with pre-treated high moisture cellulosic materials, such as discarded newspaper, having lignin contained therein. Moisture treatment of the cellulosic materials exhibit improvements over composites using dry cellulosic materials. The composite composition may then be extruded or compression molded into various articles of manufacture

Degradative Effects of Ultraviolet Light and Acid Rain on Wood Surface Quality

Wood surface quality deteriorated when wood was exposed to ultraviolet light, acid rain, and the combination of these two elements. When wood surfaces were exposed to ultraviolet light, carbonyl group content increased and lignin content decreased simultaneously. These changes were accelerated when they were also exposed to a dilute sulfuric acid solution—a laboratory simulation of acid rain — especially at 65 C and 65% relative humidity. Experimental results showed that ultra violet light changed the surface quality by generating oxidized products, and the sulfuric acid contributed to the deterioration of tensile strength

Encapsulated fertilizers and pesticides and process

A slow release fertilizer or pesticide composition and a method for making the same is provided. The composition is made by combining thermoplastic resin with cellulosic material and then adding a fertilizer or pesticide. The thermoplastic resin and the cellulosic material preferably come from the solid waste stream. The resulting composition can be molded into various articles or ground into a granular powder

Stabilization of Wood Color: Is Acetylation Blocking Effective?

The color of acetylated wood was assessed by studying its response to ultraviolet light during a 56-day exposure. Change in color and reduction of reflectance signaled an interaction of acetylated wood with electromagnetic energy. Acetylated wood exhibited a color stabilization effect better than did unacetylated wood after the initial 28 days of irradiation. Its stabilization effect thereafter steadily diminished and discoloration started. Electron spin resonance (ESR) studies of photoirradiated acetylated wood and milled wood lignin divulged the generation of an active methyl radical and stable phenoxy radicals during irradiation, contributing to a quartet and a singlet signal. These free radicals originated from deacetylation and demethoxylation reactions to lignin. Moreover, ESR studies of the acetylated model compound, (4'-methyl-2'-methoxy phenoxy)-β-hydroxypropiovanillone, also divulged the cleavage of the β-0-4 linkage in lignin. It is concluded that these photo-induced degradative reactions led to the formation of phenoxy radicals which were the principal intermediates leading to the subsequent chromophoric group formations in acetylated wood

Properties of nonaqueous electrolytes Quarterly report, 20 Dec. 1966 - 19 Mar. 1967

Properties of nonaqueous electrolytes - preparation of electrolytes, nuclear magnetic resonance structural studies, and physical property determination

Properties of nonaqueous electrolytes Quarterly report, 20 Jun. - 19 Sep. 1967

Electrolyte preparation, and physical property and nuclear magnetic resonance structural studies of nonaqueous electrolyte

Photoprotection of Wood Surfaces by Wood-Ion Complexes

Mechanisms for protection of wood surfaces against weathering imparted by metal ions of inorganic salts, namely ferric ions and chromium ions, were elucidated. The lignin model compounds study revealed that the effectiveness of weathering protection is likely due to formation of complex between wood components and ferric chloride as well as chromium trioxide, which induced energy transfer to provide protection. The complex formation between lignin model compounds and metal ions was confirmed by the analyses of their infrared spectra, ultraviolet-visible spectra, and nuclear magnetic resonance spectra. These findings revealed that guaiacol and catechol reacted with metal ions to form water-insoluble complexes. Although cellobiose-ion complex was not isolated, it was evident by IR study that cellobiose participated in complex formation and accelerated the rate of complex formation. Like model compounds, it is plausible that wood-ion complexes being formed at the wood surfaces effectively blocked the free phenolic hydroxy groups, which are the reactive centers to initiate photochemical reactions, and thereby provided photoresistance to wood surfaces. It is likely that the complex systems are capable of minimizing photochemical reactions by energy transfer from wood to wood complexes, to emit effective energy harmlessly from wood surfaces. In addition, it is possible that wood-ion complexes might decompose peroxide impurities formed at wood surfaces to avoid photodegradation chain reactions