Wood plastic composite using polypropylene and wood processing residues for decks construction

Abstract

The commercial exploitation of natural wood in civil construction has significant environmental impacts, particularly due to deforestation. A sustainable alternative is the production of wood plastic composite, a composite formed by incorporating reinforcing fillers into polymer matrices, widely used in the construction of decks. This study aims to evaluate the feasibility of using virgin polypropylene and wood processing waste in the production of plastic wood, seeking to reduce the environmental impacts of natural wood exploitation. Samples with different filler proportions were produced using homogenization, extrusion, and hot compression processes. The addition of up to 30% wood flour to polypropylene resulted in substantial improvements in mechanical properties, especially in flexural strength, with increased rigidity and reduced deformation. These results are promising, considering that the main application of wood plastic composite – decks – is subject to flexural forces. In addition to mechanical advantages, the developed composite exhibits a visual appearance like natural wood in terms of texture and color, facilitating its market acceptance as an aesthetically pleasing and environmentally sustainable alternative.