Moisture absorption interfacial stability

Cellulose materials are good candidates to use as fillers in polymers, especially with their recent importance in recycling. There are many different types of materials available, such as wood flour, recycled newspaper, nut shells, and starch. These materials have several advantages, including low cost, low density, low abrasiveness, and they are a renewable resource. However, they do have a number of disadvantages, such as low thermal stability, high moisture absorption, and poor interfacial adhesion. Despite these problems, there are a number of products available in the marketplace. One of the most visible is plastic lumber. Most plastic lumber is made using polyethylene as the base resin and contains up to 50% wood. Much of the time, both resin and wood feedstocks come from recy-... 

All polymer composites absorb substantial amounts of moisture or water in humid environment as well as in water. The most important concern in indoor and outdoor applications of natural fiber-based biocomposites with polymer matrices is their sensitivity to water absorption, which can reduce considerably their mechanical, physical, and thermal properties and performances. The water absorption of biocomposites results in the debonding or gap in the natural fiber-polymer matrix interfacial region, leading to poor stress transfer efficiency from the matrix to the fiber and reduced mechanical and dimensional stabilities as well [158]. It has been known that the hemiceUulose component in cellulose-based natural fibers may be mainly responsible for water absorption because it is more susceptible to water molecules than the crystalline cellulose component. Also, poor interfacial adhesion... 

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