Functional natural wood-plastic composites: A review of antimicrobial properties and their influencing factors

Wood-plastic composites (WPCs) have garnered considerable interest in academia due to their desirable mechanical characteristics and long-lasting nature. The initial research focused on developing these multifunctional composites as an alternative to wood, considering the scarcity of the resource and the difficulty in recycling plastic waste. However, imperfect interface compatibility within the multi-phase architecture of WPCs lead to fungal attacks that degrade and eventually impair their mechanical properties, making it crucial to improve their antimicrobial traits to extend their life outdoors. Unfortunately, no comprehensive literature review is available on the antimicrobial features of WPCs. This article reviews the critical role of interfacial compatibility in determining the overall antimicrobial performance of WPCs, and summarizes the commonly used antimicrobial agents and their mechanisms of action in WPCs.The goal of this review is to enhance the understanding of the design and development of functional antimicrobial WPCs.