Effect of maleic anhydride treatment on steam and water absorption of wood polymer composites prepared from wheat straw, cane bagasse, and teak wood sawdust using Novolac as matrix

Wheat straw, cane bagasse, and teak sawdust (agrowaste) were sieved up to a 425-μm mesh size and employed for sheet preparation with and without maleic anhydride (MA) treatment using Novolac resin in a 50 : 50 (w/w) ratio. The shore D hardness of MA treated and untreated wood polymer composites (WPCs) was measured. The MA treated WPCs showed 2–3 times more hardness than that of the untreated respective WPCs. Moisture absorption had a detrimental effect on the mechanical properties of the WPCs. MA treatment restricted swelling and water and steam absorption in the agrowaste. Teak sawdust showed the best results in all respects among the three WPCs. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 77: 2963–2967, 2000

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