Manufacturing of Wood–Plastic Composite Boards and Their Mechanical and Structural Characteristics

Abstract

Engineered wood products including wood–plastic composites have been manufactured with different mix designs and different manufacturing techniques within the last years. However, there are still some materials that are not used to manufacture such composites, like recycled high-density polyethylene and camphor wood, although they are available in good quantities as industrial by-products. In this research, wood–plastic composite (WPC) panels were manufactured from high-density polyethylene (HDPE) plastic waste at 20%, 25%, 30%, 35%, and 40% of total weight together with camphor wood waste. Physical, mechanical, and structural properties of the panels were studied and compared according to current standards. The results showed that the properties of the manufactured engineered wood product were significantly affected by the kind and percentage of the wood fiber and plastic waste. Ultimate values of the bending strength of the WPC panels as well as the maximum values of Young’s modulus were reached at 40% plastic content. The water absorption of the panels was found to be inversely related to the HDPE content. The bending strength of the panels with recycled HDPE was less than in the case of using virgin HDPE. The water uptake for WPC panels when using recycled HDPE was higher than the water uptake when using virgin HDPE. Furthermore, the compressive strength of the samples was directly related to its plastic content; it was comparatively low for recycled HDPE panels compared to panels using virgin HDPE.