Wood plastic composites (WPCs) are consisted of two major
components; wood (in the form of flours) and polymeric matrix.
WPCs are becoming attractive because of their unique properties
such as low cost and versatility in processing. They are nowadays
categorized as ‘‘green materials’’ due to the possible usage of recy-
cled materials in their compositions and also their ability to be
recycled. The main role of wood component in WPC is acting as
the filler, rather than the reinforcement, to reduce cost (although
it causes an increase in stiffness). Hence, the primary application
ofWPCs, in their current state, is in building industry such as deck-
ing, roofing, door and window frames [1] where a high strength is
not demanded. In general, WPCs exhibit low strength and tough-
ness (or impact strength) which hinders their usage in the load
bearing applications. For instance when manufacturing a pallet
made of WPCs [2], for transportation purpose, an acceptable load
capacity should not be expected unless dimensions and final
weight (and thus cost) are compromised.
To advance WPC as a load bearing (structural) material, its
mechanical properties must be convincingly improved. The pub-
lished research works investigating the mechanical properties of
WPCs were mainly dealing with: compatibilization of wood parti-
cles and polymer surfaces [3,4], type and geometry of wood [5,6],
Wood plastic composites (WPCs) are consisted of two majorcomponents; wood (in the form of flours) and polymeric matrix.WPCs are becoming attractive because of their unique propertiessuch as low cost and versatility in processing. They are nowadayscategorized as ‘‘green materials’’ due to the possible usage of recy-cled materials in their compositions and also their ability to berecycled. The main role of wood component in WPC is acting asthe filler, rather than the reinforcement, to reduce cost (althoughit causes an increase in stiffness). Hence, the primary applicationofWPCs, in their current state, is in building industry such as deck-ing, roofing, door and window frames [1] where a high strength isnot demanded. In general, WPCs exhibit low strength and tough-ness (or impact strength) which hinders their usage in the loadbearing applications. For instance when manufacturing a palletmade of WPCs [2], for transportation purpose, an acceptable loadcapacity should not be expected unless dimensions and finalweight (and thus cost) are compromised.To advance WPC as a load bearing (structural) material, itsmechanical properties must be convincingly improved. The pub-lished research works investigating the mechanical properties ofWPCs were mainly dealing with: compatibilization of wood parti-cles and polymer surfaces [3,4], type and geometry of wood [5,6],
การแปล กรุณารอสักครู่..