What is it about?
Wood plastic composites (WPC) are mainly used as an outdoor material, so durability against fungal decay is one of the factors that should be analyzed and if necessary improved. WPC are susceptible to biodegradation, although these materials have limited water absorption because of the wood fiber encapsulation in polymer matrix. In the study two different water pretreatment methods (short-term and long-term) were used to ensure appropriate water content for fungal growth. Also in the paper thermally modified wood (different regimes) fiber influence on WPC fungal resistance is investigated. The results showed that long-term water pretreated WPC specimens had more suitable conditions for fungal degradation that led to higher weight loss. The results which were related to thermally modified wood fibers showed, that WPC with thermally modified wood fibers had improved resistance against fungi. Thermal modification regimes had an effect on WPC durability as well.
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Why is it important?
It shows that by using thermally modified wood durability of wood plastic composites increase significantly. Brown rot tests for wood plastic composites. Water pre-treatment effect on durability. Thermal modification temperature influence on thermally modified wood particle properties and effect on wood plastic composites durability.
Perspectives
The experiments were carried out to ensure sufficient moisture content in all cases. This was done to create optimal conditions for fungal growth and therefore testing wood plastic composite durability at the worst case scenario. The test showed that wood plastic composites with thermally modified wood particles had significantly higher resistance against fungi.
Edgars Kuka
Latvian State Institute of Wood Chemistry
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Fungal Degradation of Wood Plastic Composites Made with Thermally Modified Wood Residues, Key Engineering Materials, December 2016, Trans Tech Publications,
DOI: 10.4028/www.scientific.net/kem.721.8.
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