CharcateristicsofTropical Wood Species Filled with High Density Polyethylene Composites

Abstract

The influence of wood species on the physical and mechanical properties of wood plastic composites (WPC) produced from selected tropical wood species were investigated. The composites were produced from Cordia milenii, Triplochyton scleroxylon and Nesogordonia papaverifera at 60/40 plastic/wood mixing proportions. Compression molding method was employed in the production of the composites and the physical properties (Water absorption and thickness swelling) and strength properties ranged from 23.44 to 29.54 N/mm2 for compressive strength, 19.66 to 29.27 N/mm2 for shear strength, 3454.68 to 4774.93 N/mm2 for Modulus of Elasticity (MOE) and 13.97 to 23.72 N/mm2 for Modulus of Rupture (MOR). Water absorbed was under 8.44% while the thickness swelling was not more than 0.09%. C. milenii and T. scleroxylon were more dimensionally stable while N. papaverifera had the best performance in terms of strength properties. The results also showed that wood species had great influence on the properties of woodplastic composites. The comparative study showed that Wood Plastic Composite (WPC) are better in terms of compressive and shear strength and more stable dimensionally but lower in flexural MOE than solid wood.