Abstract: The wood powder samples were softened at about 300℃ after treatment with a mixture of sulfuric dioxide-diethvlamine-dimethyl sulfoxide(SO₂-DEA-DMSO).After esterification with a mixture of pyridine and acetic anhydride the samples showed a softening point of 260℃ and deformation of 70%,these values were 180℃ and 40%, respectively,when a mixture of polyformaldehyde-DMSO was used.The TGA resuIts indicated the decrease in thermostability of the esterified wood powder when it was pretreated by SO₂-DEA-DMSO,but not by paraformaldehyde-DMSO, The modified wood powder samples can be molded by hot pressing to give smooth,glossy and semitransparent sheets.

Key words: wood powder, modification, esterification, thermoplasticity, thermostability