Hydrothermal synthesis of magnetic wood composites and improved wood properties by precipitation with CoFe2O4/hydroxyapatite

Abstract

Magnetic wood would have potential uses in electromagnetic shielding, indoor electromagnetic wave absorption and heavy metal adsorption. In this study, magnetic wood composites with improved thermal stability and mechanical properties as well as UV resistance were prepared by modification with magnetic CoFe₂O₄ and hydroxyapatite (HAP) via a hydrothermal process. The functional groups and morphology of the modified wood were examined by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with energy-dispersive X-ray analysis (EDXA). The results indicated that the magnetic CoFe₂O₄ nanoparticles precipitated on the wood substrate during the alkali treatment, and then the hydroxyapatite was grown on the wood surface via the electrostatic interactions between the calcium cations and the negatively charged OH⁻ anions. Moreover, the magnetic, thermal and mechanical performances and the UV-resistance of the CoFe₂O₄/HAP-modified wood composites were also evaluated.