Thermal and Rheological Studies of Ricinodendron Heudelotii Wood for Its Pulp Production Potential

Abstract

Thermal stability and rheological behaviors of Ricinodendron heudelotii wood were investigated. Thermogravimetric analysis conducted at a heating rate of 10 o C/min from 20 to 600 o C in a nitrogen atmosphere indicated that there was no variation in the decomposition of the onset and final temperature for all the polymers. The thermal behaviours were investigated at a temperature range from 130 to 0 o C at 3 o C/min, multi-frequencies of 0.1-10 Hz using dynamic mechanical analysis. N-methyl-2-pyrolidone saturated specimens were tested while submerged under the same solvent. Polymers decomposition pattern during thermogravimetric analysis are similar in the radial position of the wood. The glass transition temperature (Tg) of R. heudelotii is 45±1 o C at 0.1 Hz. The Tg differs from the innerwood to outerwood. The Tg showed that N-methyl-2-pyrolidone saturated R. heudelotii would require low energy consumption during chemi-thermomechanical pulping.