The utilization of ijuk fibre and sawdust for manufacturing composite block with plastic waste as the matrix

Abstract

This paper presents the results of research on the utilization of wood waste in the form of wood-chips of sengon wood (S) and sawdust of pinewood (P), mixed with palm-fibres and plastic waste of polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene (PE), for the manufacture of wood plastic composite (WPC) products with three variations mixtures of flakes, fibres and the matrix: A = 50:25:25, B = 50:30:15 and C = 50:15:35. Physical and mechanical properties of the composite refer to the procedure and criteria of SNI 8154: 2015. The results revealed that the densities of the WPC are in accordance with the target ≥ 0.60 g/cm3 where the highest by 0.874 g/cm3 belongs to the composition of PEPB. The composite moisture content is much lower than the maximum water content required i.e 12%. MOE and MOR of the WPC that meet the standard requirement belong to the composition of PPSA and PESB by 20450.67 and 20286.67 kg/cm2 (MOE) and by 187.08 and 194.11 kg/cm2 (MOR). The highest screw-withdrawal strength was 71.33 kg achieved by PESC composition. Based on these characteristics, sengon and pine wood chips can be used as raw material for wood plastic composite mixed with palm-fibres as the reinforcing fiber and recycled plastic as the matrix.