Abstract
Abstract The manufacturing of wood–polymer composites (WPCs) by compounding wood particles with plastic at temperatures above their melting point may cause thermal degradation of the wood, which can lead to undesirable properties, including odor, discoloration, and degradation of the mechanical properties of the panels. This study was conducted to investigate the effect of a particle pretreatment (cold-water soaking and hot-water extraction) on the performance and properties of WPC panels made of four lignocellulosic materials (LCMs) and polypropylene (PP), 50/50 by weight. Composites filled with pretreated and untreated particles of three wood species and date palm midrib fronds were manufactured using a melt blending technique followed by compression molding. The physical, mechanical, and dimensional stability properties of the WPC panels were evaluated. The results indicated that the four LCMs are significantly different in all chemical constituents. Pretreating the wood particles by either cold or hot...
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