Effect of wax and polystyrene emulsion on water absorption and mechanical properties of pine cellulosic fibers-adhesive based polymer composite

Abstract

To overcome or minimize the intrinsic defects of natural wood and to meet the increasing demand in view of the ecological costs of natural wood extraction; alternatives are being explored. In the same direction pine needles, which are forest waste and do not allow vegetation to grow underneath, were used as a reinforcing agent, for the preparation of wood based polymer composites along with phenol-formaldehyde and urea-formaldehyde resins as matrices. The particle boards were prepared by using a fixed amount of pine cellulosic fibers, resins and additives. Wax/polystyrene emulsion was used as additive, in order to improve water repellency and mechanical properties of the particle boards. Then each particle board was characterized with respect to water absorption, dimensional stability and mechanical properties such as tensile strength - both perpendicular and parallel to the surface, modulus of elasticity and modulus of rupture, by using standard methods. © Freund Publishing House Ltd.