Abstract:

The influence of the process factors on the wood-plastics composite panels' physical-mechanical properties were studied in the paper. Two tree species 〔Masson Pine(Pinus massoniana ) and poplar(Populussp.)〕 and three plastics (polyethylene, polypropylene and polystyrene) were used as main raw materials. The different process factors, such as tree species, wood component forms and sizes, kinds of plastics, densities of the composite panels, strengthening additive and the mixing ratio between the wood material and the plastics, were examined in the cold mixing-hot pressing processes for making wood-plastics composite panels. The results showed that the tree species, wood material forms and sizes, the plastics varieties and proportion, panel densities and the strengthening additive affected the properties of the composite panels. The property of composite increasing the ratio of plastics in the panels was as good as adding phenol formaldehyde resin strengthening additive to the panels. With the significance test and the factor level effect value comparing, it could be known that the poplar wood material, slighter and longer flakes, high polypropylene plastics and high panel density (1g·cm^-3) were excellent process factors. The properties of the composite formed with the factors mentioned above exceeded that of the common flake board including the structure flake board.

Key words: Wood, Plastics, Composite panels, Process factors