Enhancing fast-growing wood properties via rosin-modified cellulose: superior hydrophobicity and dimensional stability

Jinjiang Ma; Penghao Sun; Fuhao Dong; He Liu; Xu Xu; Xujuan Huang

doi:10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2025.145948

Enhancing fast-growing wood properties via rosin-modified cellulose: superior hydrophobicity and dimensional stability

Int J Biol Macromol. 2025 Jul 11:145948. doi: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2025.145948. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Jinjiang Ma¹, Penghao Sun¹, Fuhao Dong², He Liu³, Xu Xu⁴, Xujuan Huang⁵

Affiliations

¹ Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center of Efficient Processing and Utilization of Forest Resources, College of Chemical Engineering, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China.
² Institute of Chemical Industry of Forestry Products, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Key Laboratory of Biomass Energy and Material, Co-Innovation Center of Efficient Processing and Utilization of Forest Resources, Key Lab. of Chemical Engineering of Forest Products, National Forestry and Grassland Administration, National Engineering Laboratory for Biomass Chemical Utilization, Nanjing 210042, Jiangsu Province, China.
³ Institute of Chemical Industry of Forestry Products, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Key Laboratory of Biomass Energy and Material, Co-Innovation Center of Efficient Processing and Utilization of Forest Resources, Key Lab. of Chemical Engineering of Forest Products, National Forestry and Grassland Administration, National Engineering Laboratory for Biomass Chemical Utilization, Nanjing 210042, Jiangsu Province, China. Electronic address: liuhe.caf@gmail.com.
⁴ Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center of Efficient Processing and Utilization of Forest Resources, College of Chemical Engineering, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China. Electronic address: xuxu200121@hotmail.com.
⁵ School of Chemical and Chemistry, Yancheng Institute of Technology, Yancheng 224000, Jiangsu Province, China. Electronic address: iamhuangxujuan@163.com.

PMID: 40653221
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2025.145948

Abstract

Fast-growing wood is rich in hydroxyl groups, which are sensitive to water and readily absorb moisture in humid environments, leading to a reduction in the mechanical properties of the wood and limiting its applications. Herein, a silicone modified rosin-based hydrophobic agent (SRA) was synthesized from a biomass resource, tetrahydro rosin acids (TRA), and (3-glycidyloxypropyl)triethoxysilane (KH-561) through a ring-opening reaction. The triethoxy groups in the SRA structure facilitate the formation of covalent bonds with the hydroxyl groups of cellulose in the wood, effectively anchoring the active components within the wood matrix and filling its porous structure. The addition of SRA not only reduced the water absorption rate of the wood from 112 % to 34 % after a 12-day immersion in water, and increased the water contact angle of the wood from 100° to 127°, but also greatly improved the dimensional stability of the wood with a 52 % antiswelling efficiency. Furthermore, the solid crosslinked network structure enhances the mechanical properties of the wood, increasing its axial tensile strength from 43 MPa to ~65 MPa. This study is significant for utilizing biomass resources to improve the performance of fast-growing wood and expand its application fields.

Keywords: Cellulose; Hydrophobicity; Tetrahydro rosin acids.