Mechanical behavior of wood/polypropylene composites: Effects of fibre treatments and ageing processes

Practical applications of wood based composites are limited by the hydrophilic nature of cellulose, which causes dispersion and moisture absorption problems. This work rests on the effects of wood treatment on the mechanical properties of composites made with wood flour and polypropylene (WF/PP). Two different fiber treatments (mercerization with a 10% NaOH solution and functionalization with Epolene E-43 MAPP copolymer), their combined action, and two compounding methods have been studied. In addition, the investigation includes the analysis of the mechanical behavior of composites after exposure to variable conditions of temperature and moisture.