Few studies on mannan-based composites are emphasized on the use of glucoman — nan as a film-forming component. Films produced from pure glucomannan have excellent mechanical properties and the improvement of those properties has been sought by blending glucomannans with other polysaccharides, proteins (chitosan, soy protein, sodium alginate, carboxymethyl cellulose, cellulose, gelatin, starch, etc.) or synthetic polymers.33

14.5.6 FACTORS INFLUENCING THE CHEMICAL, THERMAL, AND PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF BIOCOMPOSITES

In recent decades, the interest in wood-based materials has increased especially for their biodegradability and abundance in nature. The main bio-based materials as al­ready have been targeted within this chapter are natural fibers (NF), microfibrillated cellulose (MFC), nanofibrillated cellulose (NFC), nanocrystalline cellulose (NCC), Xylan and lignin. The majority of these materials can be used alone or especially in combination with other polymeric materials. Except lignin, which has a hydro­phobic nature, the combination of those materials with other polymers usually faces the issue of the hydrophilic-hydrophobic incompatibility, an issue that has generally been evident with most synthetic polymers from base oil. Therefore, the surface modification of those materials is an excellent strategy to achieve the desired prop­erties of the final composite.

In the following sections, the effect of the hydrophilic nature of wood base ma­terials, the type of material and its concentration, the degree of dispersibility of such materials in nonpolar solvents and their characteristics according to obtaining the targeted mechanical, thermal, and surface energy properties of the composites will be considered.