Characterization of Chemically Modified Wood Fibers Using FTIR Spectroscopy for Biocomposites

Chemical modifications of wood fibers (Lignocel (R) C120) were performed for biocomposite applications, and chemically modified wood fibers were analyzed by FTIR spectroscopy. NaOH treatment showed band shifts from Cell-I to Cell-II in FTIR spectra from 2902 cm(-1), 1425 cm-1, 1163 cm(-1), 983 cm(-1), and 897 cm(-1) to 2894 cm(-1), 1420 cm(-1), 1161 cm(-1), 993 cm(-1), and 895 cm(-1) and the change in peak height at 1111 cm(-1) and 1059 cm(-1) assigned for Cell-I structure. Si lane treatment showed peak changes at 1200 cm(-1) assigned as Si-O- C band, at 765 cm(-1) assigned as Si-C symmetric stretching bond, at 700 cm(-1) assigned as Si-O-Si symmetric stretching, and at 465 cm(-1) assigned as Si-O-C asymmetric bending. Benzoyl treatment resulted in an increase in the carbonyl stretching absorption at 1723 cm(-1) and in band characteristics of aromatic rings (1604 cm(-1) and 710 cm(-1)) and a strong absorption at 1272 cm(-1) for C-O band in aromatic ring. (C) 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 116: 3212-3219, 2010