Recent Advances in the Processing of Wood-Plastic Composites [Paperback]

Wood-plastic composite (WPC) is a non-recyclable composite material lumber or timber made of recycled plastic and wood wastes which has become one of the most dynamic sectors of the plastics industry in this decade. It is used in numerous applications, such as, outdoor deck floors, railings, fences, landscaping timbers, park benches, window and door frames. This book starts with a brief glimpse at the basic structures and properties of WPCs. Aspects such as surface treatment, machinery used and testing types of WPCs are also covered. The following chapters of the book give a view of foam technology, flame retardant properties and colour retardant properties of WPCs. The way morphology affects or controls the physical and mechanical behaviours of the finished materials is discussed. Finally, the authors give an overview of the applications of wood-plastic composites in daily life. The book may serve as a source book for scientists wishing to work in this field.

This book opens with a glimpse at basic structures and properties of WPCs. Later chapters examine foam technology, flame retardant properties and colour retardant properties of WPCs. Last comes a review of applications of wood-plastic composites in daily life.

Introduction.- Surface Treatment.- Processing Machinery & Equipment.- Recent Developments in Wood-Plastic Compsitives.- Foamed WPC.- Applications.- Testing.

Jin Kuk Kim has been teaching at Polymer Science and Engineering, School of Material Science and Engineering, Gyeongsang National University since 1989. He received his BS and MS degree in Chemical Engineering from Yonsei University, Seoul, South Korea. He holds his Ph.D. degrees in Polymer Engineering from the University of Akron, USA. His main research focus is on wood fiber based solid and microcellular plastics, recycling of waste ground rubber tire, high performance elastomer, lifetime Prediction of elastomers, fuel cell rubbber gasket etc. He is having more than 1lã9