Cellulose is a versatile and renewable natural resource which has
attracted increasing attention in the last decade, expecially after the
energy crisis of 1973. Apart from its extensive use as asolid product,
wood is the most important source of cellulose fibres for papermaking
and is also widely used as a source of energy. The form and availability
ot- the forest provides a great opportunity for technological
improvement and innovation in the future to satisfy the foreseeable
increasing demand for wood- based products. For example, North American
sawmills and plywood mills presently recover only about 45 to 55% of
logged wood while the remainder is disposed as waste, if it is not used
in pulp manufacturing. In addition, top and branch wood, and logs from
non-commercial species which are presently not recovered from the
logging sites could provide an abundant and relatively inexpensive
resource for the manufacture of composite products. Other valuable
potential sour ces of cellulosic materials are waste paper and
agricultural waste. A composite is the consolidation of two polymerie
materials such that one of the components acts as the adhesive binder
while the other forms the substrate matrix. In some cases, the matrix
and the adhesive may be the same materials. To maximize the adhesion
potential of the composite, the properties of the substrate which can
enhance, hinder or complicate the development of optimum adhesion should
be thoroughly explored and identified.