Wood strength molecular

The molecular structure of cellulose, unlike that of starch, allows for strong hydrogen bonding between polymer chains. This results in the formation of strong water-resistant fibers such as those found in cotton, which is 98% cellulose. Cotton actually has a tensile strength greater than that of steel. The major industrial source of cellulose is wood ( 50% cellulose). 

Shiraishi and Goda [16] reported that allylated wood meals were given thermoplastic properties by blending with appropriate synthetic polymers or low molecular weight plasticizers such as dimethylphthalate or resorcinol. Mere allylation did not render wood thermally meltable. Films from the allylated wood-polyethylene and allylated wood-polypropylene (1 2) blends exhibit tensile strengths of 92.2 and 159.0 MPa and elongations of 14.6 and 3.8% respectively, [16]. 

Molecular. At the molecular level the relationship of strength and chemical composition deals with the individual polymeric components that make up the cell wall. The physical and chemical properties of cellulose, hemicelluloses, and lignin play a major role in the chemistry of strength. However, our perceptions of wood polymeric properties are based on isolated polymers that have been removed from the wood system and, therefore, possibly altered. The individual polymeric components may be far more closely associated with one another than has heretofore been believed. 

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