English

Abstract

Technological development of wood polymer composites (WPC) is a very promising approach to overcome most of the disadvantageous properties of wood products, for example their poor mechanical strength, poor dimensional stability, susceptibility to fungal attack, weathering and the like. To find the substitute for costly items of hard wood, suitable technologies have been developed to modify softwood to meet specific end-use requirements. Various vinyl monomers and/or copolymers or thermosetting resin in combination with different types of cross linking agents, flameretarding agents have been used to improve the properties of wood. Nanotechnology is a new area of science andtechnology which opens up new opportunities to develop wood based products with desired properties. Now-a-days government is making strict legislations to promote green technology for the protection of environment worldwide.With the depletion of petroleum resources at alarming rate, it is high time to replace petroleum-based products by some sustainable alternative products based on vegetable biomass. The bio-based resins obtained from renewablefeedstock have been widely utilized by taking the advantages of easy availability, renewable nature and low cost.The green route of modification of wood is widely encouraged. With the progress of technological development,now it is possible to avoid the hazardous influence of organic solvents by using water as solvent or diluents formodification of wood. WPC has got tremendous scope for use in diverse areas of applications. Defence Science Journal, Vol. 64, No. 3, May 2014, pp. 262-272, DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.14429/dsj.64.7325