Experimental study of the compressive properties of a wood–plastic composite at different temperatures

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AbstractWood–plastic composites (WPCs) are environmentally friendly materials with good weather resistance and low cost. To investigate the feasibility of their use in different environments, a WPC was designed and subjected to a uniaxial compression test at seven temperatures to obtain the failure mode, uniaxial compressive strength, elastic modulus, proportional limit stress, peak stress, and ultimate strain. The results showed the following. The failure modes of the WPC specimens at various temperatures were mainly shear compression failure, double shear failure, and end compression failure. The uniaxial compressive strength and elastic modulus decreased with increasing temperature. Specifically, at temperatures of −60°C, 20°C (normal temperature), and 60°C, the WPC had an average compressive strength of 73.55, 33.7, and 13.51 MPa, respectively, and an average elastic modulus of 7819.11, 6141.71, and 2650.17 MPa, respectively. In terms of the WPC's stress–strain relationship, at a temperature greater than the normal temperature, the WPC had a small peak stress but good ductility; at the normal temperature and below, the WPC had a large peak stress but poor ductility. Based on these findings, the experimental phenomena and characteristic constants were analyzed to establish models of factors that reduce the uniaxial compressive elastic modulus and compressive strength of WPC at different temperatures, to provide a theoretical basis for the mechanical calculations for the application of WPC in various extreme environments.