Characterization of wood plastic composites manufactured from recycled plastic blends

Abstract

The possibility of using recycled plastic waste for the manufacturing of wood-plastic composites is investigated. The samples were processed from the “light” fraction of construction plastic waste and municipal mixed plastic waste, and tested for flexural, tensile, and un-notched impact strength, hardness properties and water absorption. Thermal analysis was performed by differential scan calorimetry and thermogravimetric analysis methods; scan electron microscopy was used for morphology study of the composites. It was found that the strength of the composites was poorer than those of the reference manufactured from virgin low density polyethylene; the hardness was comparable and stiffness higher than those of the reference. The wettability of the reference was the lowest of the studied composites.