Conditions for the polymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA) in ozone-treated wood in the presence of water were investigated. The wood meal (20-40 mesh) of heartwood of Hinoki (Chamaecyparis obtusa Sieb. et Zucc.) was treated with oxygen containing 3% ozone. Water, MMA and the wood meal were mixed in this order to initiate polymerization.
The conversion and the grafting efficiency increased as the polymerization temperature was raised and the amount of water increased. They decreased with increasing amount of ozone-treated wood meal. It was recognized that the conversion of 90% and the grafting efficiency of 60% can be achieved under the following conditions :
The time of ozone treatment : 2 hours.
The amount of water, MMA and ozone-treated wood meal : 10 ml, 5 ml and 0.3g, respectively.
The polymerization temperature and time : 90℃ and 3 hours.