Abstract

ISAZA, Carlos Andrés Vargas; YEPES, William Urrego  and  MENA, 'Jhorman. Mechanical performance of polyolefinic wood plastic composites. Rev. Lasallista Investig. [online]. 2022, vol.19, n.1, pp.265-284.  Epub Feb 08, 2023. ISSN 1794-4449.  https://doi.org/10.22507/rli.v19n1a16.

Polymeric materials, especially thermoplastics, can be mixed with different types of fillers to improve their physical-mechanical performance, at the same time they allow, in many cases, to generate solutions to environmental problems such as the final disposal of wood waste. The plastic wood composites are products made by incorporating wood fibers in the polymer matrix, where the interaction between the two materials is key to achieve an adequate performance of the final product. This review establishes the polymer matrices and the types of wood commonly used in the production of plastic wood products, at the same time defining the previous treatments that must be carried out in the wood and in the polymer to improve the compatibility of the two materials, and in this way improve properties such as water absorption, resistance to decomposition, resistance to weathering and mechanical performance. Related to the mechanical properties, adding the wood fibers in the polymer modifies the rigidity of the polymeric material and the resistance in tension, bending and impact; however, it is established that the use of functionalizing agents is a fundamental key to improve the effect of wood incorporation into the polymer matrix. Finally, the new trends in the use of different types of waste and polymeric matrices to produce plastic wood are studied.

Keywords : Waste wood; thermoplastic polymers; wood plastic composites; mechanical properties.

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