Physico-mechanical properties of wood–plastic composites from Triplochiton scleroxylon K. Schum wood-residue and post-consumer polyethylene waste as construction materials

Abstract

Wood-residues and plastic wastes are environmental pollutants. The success of engineered Wood–Plastic Composites (WPCs) as structural materials depends on their properties. The physico-mechanical properties of WPCs from Triplochiton scleroxylon sawdust and post-consumer polyethylene water sachet were assessed. The components (Composite A = 10:90% wood–plastic, B = 25:75% and C = 50:50% by weight) were extruded and moulded into standard dimensions for physical (i.e. water absorption and hardness) and mechanical (i.e. tensile and impact strength) tests. Composite A absorbed the least water (0.02 ± 0.01%) and recorded the greatest hardness (51.40 ± 0.01 N mm⁻²) compared with Composite C (0.08 ± 0.01% and 40.30 ± 0.04 N mm⁻² respectively). Tensile strength ranged from 30.64 ± 0.12 N mm⁻² (Composite C) to 34.78 ± 0.09 N mm⁻² (Composite B), and the impact from 0.50 ± 0.01 J (Composite C) to 0.90 ± 0.01 J (Composite A). The engineering and utilisation of wood-residue and plastic waste into composites would ease timber over-exploitation and minimise environmental pollution threats, contribute to ease timber over-exploitation and minimise environmental pollution threats.