Potential use of decayed wood in production of wood plastic composite

This study investigated the mechanical and thermal properties of hot press molded wood plastic composite (WPC) panels produced from different amounts (30, 40, or 50% weight) of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) wood decayed by brown-rot fungi and polypropylene with coupling agent (maleic anhydride grafted polypropylene, 3 wt%). The results were compared with the properties of WPCs produced with the sound wood. The holocellulose content of the decayed wood was found to be significantly lower than that of the sound wood. Although the flexural and tensile properties of WPCs produced with the decayed wood flour were lower than those of the WPCs produced with the sound wood flour, their thermal stabilities were better at the wood flour levels of 40 wt% and 50 wt%. The weight loss of the WPCs produced with a high amount of decayed wood was lower than that of the WPCs produced with the sound wood, their enthalpy and crystallization degree were higher than those of the WPCs produced with the sound wood as well. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.