Processing of wood-thermoplastic composites

Abstract

Natural and wood fibre plastic composites (WPC) are among the most rapidly growing markets within the plastics industry. They are manufactured by combining either wood or other natural fibers such as flax, hemp, jute or kenaf with polymers. Thermoplastic resins, such as polypropylene, polyethylene or polystyrene, are mixed with other materials (such as wood), and form a composite product. The resulting composite can be easily processed into various shapes and can be recycled. The experiments were made to study the behaviour of the wood flour-polypropylene composite during injection moulding, and to what extent the mechanical properties deteriorate after several processing cycles, i.e. mechanical recycling. Regarding efficiency of energy recovery, the heating value of wood-thermoplastic composite with different contents of wood and thermoplastics was determined as well.