Wood-plastic composite is a new kind of material that combines plastics and wood with additives. It combines renewable resources with fossil resources to produce a product that combines aesthetics and functionality. It is fabricated by thermoplastic forming processes such as injection molding. Typical applications for WPCs include flooring, skirting boards, window frames, and noise protection walls.
Despite
being a great alternative to oil-based plastics, wood-plastic composites can be
recycled. While this requires a bit of extra energy, the products' life spans
are longer than those of aluminum cans. New companies are developing WPC
materials, such as Polyplank, which uses sawmill waste. The benefits of using
wood-fiber-based WPCs are obvious. They can also be more environmentally
friendly than wood.
The wood
plastic composite industry has experienced tremendous growth over the past
several years. The growth of WPC was spurred by the growing demand for
eco-friendly building materials. The use of recycled wood-plastic composites is
becoming more widespread as a substitute for raw wood. Its low environmental
impact makes it an environmentally friendly material. The Wood
plastic composite market in North America has surpassed $1
billion in sales. This is a 200 percent increase between 2001 and 2006, with a
20 percent yearly growth rate predicted in the following 5 to 6 years.
In
addition, it is durable and more environmentally friendly. Wood-plastic
composites are an excellent option for many different applications, from
furniture to automotive interiors. While it has many advantages, WPC requires
careful engineering and testing. During manufacturing, the first step is
compounding, where organic plant fibers are blended with a thermoplastic. This
percentage directly affects the WPC's tensile strength and Young's modulus. This
graph is a visual representation of the effects of wood fiber on WPC's
mechanical properties. In order to create a truly sustainable wood-plastic
composite, the wood fiber content should be more than fifty percent. UV
exposure can discolor WPCs, reducing their mechanical strength. To minimize the
effect of UV damage, WPCs contain stabilizers. Diester HALS is a good example
of a stabilizer. Higher molecular weight diesters have greater stability.
Benzotriazole UVA is another type of stabilizer and is also known to reduce
discoloration.