Influence of Heating Curve and Phenolic Resin Concentration on Mechanical Properties of Wood Ceramics

Wood ceramics represent a promising class of porous carbon materials offering potential solutions for sustainable air filtration due to their unique structural properties. This study systematically investigates the influence of heating curves and phenolic resin concentrations on the mechanical properties and microstructure of wood ceramics derived from wood powder and fibers. The specimens were impregnated with varying concentrations of phenolic resin and sintered under different heating strategies to optimize their structural integrity. Experimental results demonstrated that increasing the phenolic resin concentration significantly enhanced mechanically performance; specifically, raising the concentration from 30% to 50% resulted in an increase in compressive strength of up to 11 MPa. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis revealed that optimized sintering parameters facilitated the formation of a robust glassy carbon network, effectively bonding the wood reinforcement to the carbon matrix while maintaining a favorable pore structure. The findings indicate that optimizing the carbonization process and resin content is crucial for balancing the dimensional stability and mechanical strength of wood ceramics, thereby validating their feasibility as durable substrates for air filter elements.