Abstract

20 cm x 20 cm Flat boards of wood plastic composite (WPC) of thickness size of 0.5 cm was produced from three indigenous wood species (Funtumia elastica, Brachystegia kennedy and Milicia excelsa). WPCs were produced from each of selected wood species at two different wood/rHDPE mixing ratios of 1:1 and 1:1.5 at a constant nominal board density of 1g/m3. Effect of these production variables (wood species and mixing ratio) were investigated on physical and mechanical properties of WPC boards produced. Properties such as water absorption (WA), thickness swelling (TS), abrasion (AB), modulus of elasticity (MOE), modulus of rupture (MOR) and impact bending test (IB) were all carried out on the samples. Appropriate quantities of sawdust and pulverised nylon were sieved, weighed and mixed thoroughly to produce flat WPC boards from fabricated Hot-press plate machine at 1030 C with a constant pressure of 1.23N/mm2 for 20 minutes. Samples were cut into specific dimensions in accordance with British Standard (B.S D373 and D1181). Results shows that flat WPC boards produced from B. kennedy and M. excelsa were relatively low in moisture uptake but lower in wood /rHDPE mixing ratio of 1:1.5. However these wood species WPC boards were stiff and strong in strength properties but stiffer and stronger with wood /rHDPE mixing ratio of 1:1, additional abrasion values was lower in both B. kennedy and M. excelsa than F. elastica. Based on the findings that increased proportion of pulverised nylon to wood in WPC boards makes the boards to be plasticized with low strength properties, but highly dimensional stable, boards in these categories could be considered for low bearing load applications in both exterior and interior engineering materials.

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