Comparative Analysis of the Mechanical Properties of Wood Plastic Composite Produced from Milicia exelsa, Polyethylene-Terephthalate and Pure Water Sachet

Abstract

Wood plastic composites (WPC) were produced by mixing the sawdust (SD) of Milicia exelsa, with each polyethylene-terephthalate (PET) and “pure water” nylon sachet (NS) using a percentage weight-based in grams. The SD/PET and SD/NS mix ratios of 20:80, 30:70, and 40:60 were respectively selected for the production of the WPCs after the trial test. PET was melted at 210 oC before adding SD of 10 % moisture content and 2.00 mm size in an existing WPC extruder. The WPC was collected into 16.5 mm x 36.5 mm x 145.5 mm mould and hot pressed at 120 oC and 1.12 N/mm2 force to a thickness of 12.7 mm. This same procedure was repeated for SD/NS, but at a temperature of 190 oC. Eighteen samples of WPC were produced at three replicas for each of the ratios for both SD/PET and SD/NS. The production was carried out at the workshop of the Agricultural Engineering Department of the Federal University of Technology, Akure. The WPC was cut and trimmed to dimensions 13 mm Å~ 12.7 mm Å~ 125 mm and 12.7 mm Å~ 25.4 mm Å~ 125 mm based on ASTM D 790 and ASTM D 695 for both flexural modulus and compression tests respectively. It was discovered that the WPCs produced from SD/NS have a higher modulus of rupture (MOR) of about 22.01 N/mm2 and modulus of elasticity (MOE) of 30,728.19 N/mm2 when compared to that of SD/PET of 21.72 N/mm2 MOR and 21,611.64 N/mm2 MOE. This composite is good for the internal and external aesthetic value of buildings.