Abstract
The market of wood–polymer composites in the building and construction sector is focused on external long term applications such decking, siding and window sills. The current PVC market share of 14% is described and the reasons for its sharp predicted growth in the next few years are discussed. Recent technical studies and developments are reviewed. The influence of wood fibre size on the processing of the composites and their mechanical properties is reported. The water absorption of wood–polymer composites, including the capillarity effect, and the evolution of mechanical properties with water content has also been investigated. A special resin with rapid gelation has been developed, giving improved properties with increased productivity. Finally, the progress made in European standardisation and initial work to establish a quality label are described.
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