Flexible transparent wood enabled by epoxy resin and ethylene glycol diglycidyl ether

• Published in: Journal of forestry research Vol. 32; no. 4; pp. 1779 - 1787
• Main Authors: Cai, Hangchuan, Wang, Zhiqi, Xie, Di, Zhao, Panpan, Sun, Jianping, Qin, Daoyu, Cheng, Fangchao
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Singapore Springer Singapore 01.08.2021; Springer; Springer Nature B.V; College of Material Science and Engineering,Central South University of Forestry and Technology,Changsha 410004, China; Guangxi Key Laboratory of Processing for Nonferrous Metallic and Featured Materials,School of Resources, Environment and Materials,Guangxi University, Nanning 530004,China%Guangxi Key Laboratory of Processing for Nonferrous Metallic and Featured Materials,School of Resources, Environment and Materials,Guangxi University, Nanning 530004,China
• Subjects: Biomedical and Life Sciences; Bleaching; Epoxy resins; Ethylene; Ethylene glycol; Ethylene glycol diglycidyl ether; Flexibility; Forestry; Haze; Life Sciences; Mechanical properties; Optical properties; Original Paper; Photovoltaic cells; Smart buildings; Solar cells; Transmittance; Wearable technology; Epoxy resin; Transparent wood; Ethylene glycol diglycidyl ether; Flexibility
• ISSN: 1007-662X; 1993-0607
• DOI: 10.1007/s11676-020-01201-y

Transparent wood has potential application in intelligent building, solar cell, electronics, and other advanced materials, while its single functionability hinders its further development. Flexible transparent wood (FTW) was prepared by alkaline pretreatment and bleaching treatment of paulownia wood followed by impregnation of epoxy resin and ethylene glycol diglycidyl ether (EDGE). The effect of delignification degree on the optical and mechanical properties of FTW was studied, and the influence of the epoxy/EDGE ratio on the flexibility and mechanical properties of FTW was also investigated. The results showed that higher delignification degree resulted in higher transmittance of FTW. More EDGE addition led to better flexibility of FTW, while overmuch addition of EDGE will reduce the mechanical properties. The optimal FTW sample resulted in a high transmittance of 89% and an ultrahigh haze value of 97% with outstanding flexibility and excellent mechanical properties. The investigation of FTW broadens the research field of transparent wood, and provides great possibility for its application in flexible wearable devices and flexible materials.