Abstract—The composite materials were prepared by sawdust,
cassava starch and natural rubber latex (NR). The mixtures of
15%w/v gelatinized cassava starch and 15%w/v PVOH were used as
the binder of these composite materials. The concentrated rubber
latex was added to the mixtures. They were mixed rigorously to the
treated sawdust in the ratio of 70:30 until achive uniform dispersion.
The batters were subjected to the hot compression moulding at the
temperature of 160°C and 3,000 psi pressure for 5 min. The
experimental results showed that the mechanical properties of
composite materials, which contained the gelatinized cassava starch
and PVOH in the ratio of 2:1, 20% NR latex by weight of the dry
starch and treated sawdust with 5%NaOH or 1% BPO, were the best.
It contributed the maximal compression strength (341.10 + 26.11 N),
puncture resistance (8.79 + 0.98 N/mm2
) and flexural strength (3.99
+ 0.72N/mm2
). It is also found that the physicochemical and
mechanical properties of composites strongly depends on the
interface quality of sawdust, cassava starch and NR latex.