Effects of drying temperature and acetylation on the retention of polyethylene glycol in red pine wood disks

Polyethylene glycol (PEG) impregnation prevents a red pine disk from cross-sectional checking during drying. Percentage of PEG Retention (PPR) was measured by the experimental methods of aceton extraction and moisture conditioning in a saturated salt solution and the effect of acetylation on PEG impregnated wood was investigated. PPRs of the kiln-dried specimens were much higher than those of the air-dried by at least four times and within the kiln-dried specimens those of the sapwood were higher that those of the heartwood by two times. These results were confirmed by the moisture conditioning experiment. Acetylation increased the weights of the kiln-dried specimens much less than those of the air-dried. It was revealed that acetic anhydride solution eluted PEG-1000 in the specimens. It is concluded that kiln-drying is more effective than air-drying for the increase of PPR and that acetylation eliminates the difference between the kiln- and air-dried specimens.