A Study on the Effect of Construction and Demolition Waste (CDW) Plastic Fractions on the Moisture and Resistance to Indentation of Wood-Polymer Composites (WPC)

Abstract

This paper investigated the moisture and strength properties of wood-polymer composites (WPC), which were made using three different recycled polymers using wood flour as filler. The recycled polymers were acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), polypropylene (PP), and polyethylene (PE), which were collected from among the construction and demolition waste (CDW) at a local waste management center. The commercial additives, such as a coupling agent and lubricant, were also included in the materials. Composite materials were manufactured with an agglomeration and an extrusion process. Water absorption and thickness swelling properties of composites, based on the recycled ABS and PE, were restricted compared to the recycled PP. The strength properties of WPC were determined with two methods, a traditional Brinell hardness and resistance to indentation. Using an ABS polymer as a matrix in the composite, the moisture and strength properties were improved. The recycled PP polymer caused these properties to be lowered, especially in the case of moisture properties. This study has shown that the method used can affect the measured value of certain properties. In addition, the sorting of recycled polymer fractions is desirable for the appearance of improved properties.