Plastic bonded plywood using waste polypropylene container

Abstract

Plastic waste management is one of the most critical issues of the present era due to non-biodegradability of the material along with the enormous quantity of plastic waste generated globally. Repurposing the plastic waste is one of the possible solutions for managing such material. The present study explores the possibilities of using single use plastic food containers as an adhesive for making wood veneer based composite material akin plywood. The concept also addresses the formaldehyde emission based concerns during the manufacturing of conventional plywood using traditionally used adhesive i.e. Urea Formaldehyde, Phenol Formaldehyde, Melamine Urea Formaldehyde etc. The rate of generation of plastic waste is estimated to be 400 Mt year -1. In the present study the study focuses on preparation of plywood using Melia dubia veneers and polypropylene polymer based food containers as the binding agent. The containers were cut open to transform into sheet form and were placed between veneers and the assembly was hot-pressed to get panels. The effect of pressing temperature and type of food container (transparent and opaque) on the properties of the panels. Physical properties such as density, water absorption, thickness swelling and volumetric swelling were evaluated and mechanical properties like modulus of rupture, modulus of elasticity, tensile strength and glue share strength were also evaluated. There was no significant change in physical properties with variation in temperature and type of polypropylene boxes, however with change in pressing temperature there was significant change in mechanical properties. The modulus of rupture of plywood bonded with opaque polypropylene boxes at 165 °C and 185 °C was observed to be 85 ± 6.92 MPa and 73 ± 6 MPa, respectively.