Lignocellulosic materials such as wood flour/fiber (WF) are
attractive fillers because of their low cost, high specific strength,
large availability, and renewability.
The lignocellulosic fibersbased
polymer composites have been widely applied for decks,
railings, and automotive parts in recent years [1–3]. The main components
of wood flour are cellulose, hemicelluloses, and lignin,
which are known to present a very complex structure in WF cell
wall [4]. Cellulose is a linear condensation polymer consisting of
b(1-4) linked D-anhydroglucopyranose units. Hemicelluloses comprise
a group of polysaccharides that remain associated with cellulose.
Lignin is a complex polymer made up of phenyl propane unit.
However, these components differ between species and may affect
the intrinsic properties of wood–plastic composites (WPCs). For
example, Fabiyi and Mcdonald [5] obtained that composites made
of WF from hardwoods were more thermal stable than those made
of softwoods, which was related to their different components.