Abstract
This paper investigated the moisture and strength properties of wood-polymer composites (WPC), which were made using three different recycled polymers using wood flour as filler. The recycled polymers were acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), polypropylene (PP), and polyethylene (PE), which were collected from among the construction and demolition waste (CDW) at a local waste management center. The commercial additives, such as a coupling agent and lubricant, were also included in the materials. Composite materials were manufactured with an agglomeration and an extrusion process. Water absorption and thickness swelling properties of composites, based on the recycled ABS and PE, were restricted compared to the recycled PP. The strength properties of WPC were determined with two methods, a traditional Brinell hardness and resistance to indentation. Using an ABS polymer as a matrix in the composite, the moisture and strength properties were improved. The recycled PP polymer caused these properties to be lowered, especially in the case of moisture properties. This study has shown that the method used can affect the measured value of certain properties. In addition, the sorting of recycled polymer fractions is desirable for the appearance of improved properties.
Highlights
The construction and demolition sector plays an important role in the world and produces a high amount of waste
After the test period (672 h), the construction and demolition waste (CDW)-acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) materials exhibited about 16% water absorption
The use of PP polymers as a matrix resulted in the highest water absorption
Summary
The construction and demolition sector plays an important role in the world and produces a high amount of waste. In the area of the European Union (EU), construction and demolition waste (CDW) represent about one-third of all waste produced [1]. This includes various potential materials for recycling, such as plastic. The building and construction sector uses 19% of all nonfiber plastics [2]. 31.1% of all collected plastics ended-up being recycled in Europe in 2016 [3]. There are several ways to increase the reuse of plastic materials, including sustainable practices and economic advantages
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