Weathering and Termite Resistance of Woodflour-Recycled Polypropylene Composites in Tropical Region

Wood flour (WF)-recycled polypropylene (RPP) composites composed of 50% WF of Eucalyptus deglupta Blume species, 50% RPP, various contents of maleic anhydride (MAH) modifier (0; 1; 2; 5; 5; 7.5; and lo%), and 15% dicumyl peroxide (DCP) initiator (based on MAH weight) were subjected to weather for 1 year and subterranean termite (Coptotermes cuwignathus HOLMGREN) and dry wood termite (Cryptotermes cynocephalus LIGHT) for 3 and 4 weeks, respectively. WF-RPP composites with 2.5% MA modifier had tensile strength, breaking elongation and Young's modulus about 2.2, 2.3, and 1.2 times, respectively higher compared to MAH-free composites. The WF-RPP composites with or without MAH modifier had 5.5 times higher resistance to weather compared to RPP film alone. The color of the WF-RPP composites with or without MAH modifier became lighter after exposures to the weather. The WF-RPP composites with or without MAH modifier are resistant to subterranean termite Coptotermes curvignathus HOLMGREN and dry wood termite Cryptotermecs cynocephalus LIGHT under the experimental condition adopted.