Wood can be dimensionally stabilized
by treatment with silane. However, physical
strength properties of wood are likely
to be affected by silanation due to the
formation of HCL in the reaction
(Razzaque 1984). Acid acceptors commonly
used in such reactions may be unable to
totally eliminate the degrading effect
(Rowell 1975, McMillin 1963). Moreover,
such chemically modified wood, due to the
substitution of silyl compounds for wood
hydroxyl groups with consequent reduction
in hydrogen bonding capacities, is likely
to be more brittle than unmodified wood
(Pierce 1968). It was decided, therefore,