hi this study, ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA)-wood fiber (WF) (uncompatibilized) and EVA/poly(ethylene-co-glycidyl methacrylate) (EGMA)-WF (compatibilized) were blended, and their morphology as well as mechanical, thermal, 02 permeability, and water absorption properties were investigated. It is shown that there is a possible interaction between EVA and WF. This interaction seems to be very weak, and the resulting composites have poor properties. The presence of EGMA in the composite improved most of the investigated properties. IR analysis shows that there is a grafting reaction between EGMA and WF. The resulting composites have better properties than EVA or its uncompatibilized composites. The amount of compatibilizer has an effect on the properties of the composites. The mechanical properties improved with increasing EGMA content, but thermal stability decreased with increasing EGMA content. Oxygen permeability and water absorption decreased with an increase in EGMA content in the composites. (c) 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.