ABSORPTION OF WATER AT AMBIENT-TEMPERATURE AND STEAM IN WOOD-POLYMER COMPOSITES PREPARED FROM AGROWASTE AND POLYSTYRENE

Hemp, banana, and agave fibers were employed for the preparation of wo od-polymer composites using polystyrene in the ratio of 50 : 50 w/w. T hese fibers were esterified with maleic anhydride (MA) and the effect of MA was studied on the absorption of water at ambient temperature an d steam in wood-polymer composites made from said fibers and polystyre ne. The absorption of water increases with increase in time from 2 to 30 h in all fiber composites. The maximum absorption of water was foun d in hemp fiber composites, and the minimum in agave fiber composites. The MA-esterified fiber composites showed less absorption of water th an did the untreated fiber composites. Steam absorption in MA-treated and untreated fiber composites is higher than the water absorption in the respective fiber composites. Untreated fiber composites show more absorption of steam in comparison to MA-treated fibers composites. (C) 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.