Polystyrene/wood composites and hydrophobic wood coatings from water-based hy drophilic-hydrophobic block copolymers (1)

Published: 2002

Author(s):
Kosonen, M. L.
Wang, B.
Caneba, G. T.
Gardner, D. J.
Rials, T. G.

Publication Name: Clean Products and Processes

Publication URL: https://www.fs.usda.gov/research/treesearch/8165

Research Area:
Keywords:
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Abstract:

The combination of synthetic thermoplastic polymers and wood is normally problematic because wood surfaces are hydrophilic while typical thermoplastic polymers are hydrophobic. A possible solution is to use block copolymer coupling agents. In this work we show the use of a potentially useful synthetic method of producing hydrophilic-hydrophobic block copolymers as hydrophobic coatings and coupling agents in polystyrene/wood flour composites.