Arab J Sci Eng (2013) 38:59–68 DOI 10.1007/s13369-012-0407-y RESEARCH ARTICLE - CHEMISTRY Characterization, Physical and Mechanical Properties of Polypropylene/Wood-Flour Composites Diène Ndiaye · Mamadou Gueye · Bouya Diop Received: 17 February 2011 / Accepted: 22 November 2011 / Published online: 30 November 2012 © King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals 2012 Abstract Wood polymer composites (WPCs) were made with pine and polypropylene matrix (PP). Samples of WPCs were processed through melt compounding and hot-press moulding with different formulations of wood flour content and addition of coupling agent. This study focuses on the improvement of the mechanical properties of WPCs through the addition of compatibilizers. Generally fiber/matrix bond- ing or a strong interaction is required to ensure an appropriate transfer of stresses and satisfactorily physical properties. The effect of wood content and coupling agent like Maleic anhy- dride grafted polypropylene (MAPP) on the thermal behavior was monitored by DSC, water uptake and thickness of swell- ing during 2 months. The results exhibited increase of these two physical properties with wood flour content and cou- pling agent. In the thermal behavior, wood plays the role of nucleating agent. During the cooling step, the crystallization begins earlier than in pure PP and the percent of crystalliza- tion increase with wood amount. The effects of the reinforce- ments on the mechanical properties of the composites as well as the effect of compatibilization on the composite properties were highlighted. The mechanical study revealed the posi- tive effect of coupling agent MAPP on interfacial bonding permitting better stress transfer from matrix to fiber. Keywords Wood polymer composite (WPC) · Thermal properties · Crystallization, nucleation D. Ndiaye (B ) · B. Diop Section Physique Appliquée, UFR/SAT, Université Gaston Berger de Saint-Louis, Saint-Louis, Senegal e-mail: diendiay@yahoo.fr; diene.ndiaye@ugb.edu.sn M. Gueye LRNA, Faculté des Sciences et Techniques, Université Cheikh Anta Diop de Dakar, Dakar, Senegal 1 Introduction Currently, many scientific and technological efforts are directed towards minimizing environmental impacts derived from the use of polymer materials. Composites made with wood and polymer matrix are used, in the objective to obtain material with some characteristics of these two resources like the appearance of wood and the performances of plastic in humid area. Anxious to a sustainable society that pro- tects the environment, a growing movement of scientists and engineers focuses research in studies of wood polymer com- posites, alternative materials which can reduce the harmful effects of plastics and their derivatives on the environment. The wood polymer composites are widely used in con- struction, automotive, packaging materials, sound insulation 123