Why is acetylation considered a commercially developed treatment for wood, and how does acetic anhydride contribute to this process?
Label:chem
Topic
Acetylation is a wood modification process that improves dimensional stability and UV resistance and reduces surface erosion. It involves the reaction of acetic anhydride with wood components.
Answer
Acetylation is a commercially developed treatment because it significantly improves dimensional stability and UV resistance and reduces surface erosion by 50%. Acetic anhydride forms ester bonds with the hydroxyl groups of the cell wall polymers in wood, which is the mechanism behind these improvements.
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