Flat-pressed wood plastic composites from sawdust and recycled polyethylene terephthalate (PET): physical and mechanical properties

Khandkar Siddikur Rahman,Md Nazrul Islam,Rudi Dungani,Md Obaidullah Hannan,Md Mushfiqur Rahman,HPS Abdul Khalil

doi:10.1186/2193-1801-2-629

Khandkar Siddikur Rahman, Md Nazrul Islam + Show 4 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1186/2193-1801-2-629

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Abstract

This study deals with the fabrication of composite matrix from saw dust (SD) and recycled polyethylene terephthalate (PET) at different ratio (w/w) by flat-pressed method. The wood plastic composites (WPCs) were made with a thickness of 6 mm after mixing the saw dust and PET in a rotary type blender followed by flat press process. Physical i.e., density, moisture content (MC), water absorption (WA) and thickness swelling (TS), and mechanical properties i.e., Modulus of Elasticity (MOE) and Modulus of Rupture (MOR) were assessed as a function of mixing ratios according to the ASTM D-1037 standard. WA and TS were measured after 24 hours of immersion in water at 25, 50 and 75°C temperature. It was found that density decreased 18.3% when SD content increased from 40% to 70% into the matix. WA and TS increased when the PET content decreased in the matrix and the testing water temperature increased. MOE and MOR were reached to maximum for the fabricated composites (2008.34 and 27.08 N/mm2, respectively) when the SD content were only 40%. The results indicated that the fabrication of WPCs from sawdust and PET would technically feasible; however, the use of additives like coupling agents could further enhance the properties of WPCs.

Highlights

Wood plastic composites (WPCs) are relatively new generation of composite materials and the most promising sector in the field of both composite and plastic industries
Density of the saw dust (SD)-polyethylene terephthalate (PET) composites decreased with the increase of SD percentage in the thermoplastic matrices
This study investigated the technical evaluation of flatpressed wood plastic composites fabricated from different mixing ratios of sawdust and PET

Summary

Introduction

Wood plastic composites (WPCs) are relatively new generation of composite materials and the most promising sector in the field of both composite and plastic industries. Wood in the form of flour/particles/fibers are combined with the thermoplastic materials under specific heat and pressure for producing WPCS where additives are added for improving the quality. The utilization of recycled plastic in WPC manufacturing is still limited, and a major portion of global municipal solid waste includes post consumer plastic materials like HDPE, LDPE, PVC, and PET which have the potentiality for being used in the WPCs (Chaharmahali et al 2008). These post consumer plastics pose a serious threat to the environment unless they are recycled

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