The contribution mechanism of furfuryl alcohol treatment on the dimensional stability of plantation wood

Furfuryl alcohol polymers (PFA) derived from lignocellulosic biomass have been confirmed as an effective modifier to improve dimensional stability of wood. However, the main reason for the dimensional stability related to this method has remained unclear. In this study, principal consideration of dimensional stabilization was analyzed by a mathematics model regarding anti-swelling efficiency (ASE) and cell wall bulking of furfurylated woods with different weight gain precents (WPGs), and ASE’ obtained by method of Ohmae et al. Simultaneously, confocal laser scanning microscopy and nanoindentation technique were applied to explain the dimensional stability mechanism. Results showed that both ASE and cell wall bulking increased with WPG at 0–69%. A nearly linear (R 2 = 0.9690) relationship was observed between ASE and cell wall bulking. ASE’ values at different WPGs were approaching zero. The dimensional stability was dominated by cell wall bulking analyzed through both the mathematical model and small ASE’ values at various WPG. In this study, the mechanistic insights into dimensional stabilization of furfurylated wood could provide highly beneficial for controlling the dimensional stability by cell wall bulking. • Dimensional stability mechanism of furfurylated wood was clarified. • The dimensional stability of furfurylated wood was dominated by cell wall bulking. • A nearly linear relationship was observed between anti-swelling efficiency and cell wall bulking.