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Wood-plastic, that is, Wood-Plastic Composites (WPC). It is a kind of high-tech green material mainly made of wood (wood cellulose, wood fibers , plant cellulose) as the base material and thermoplastic polymer materials (recycled plastics) and processing aids, etc.
It is mixed evenly and then heated and extruded by mold equipment; it has the properties and characteristics of both wood and plastic, and is a new environmental protection high-tech material that can replace wood particles and plastic. So in our ordinary life, can be used in what places?
That said, a lot of people have trouble when it comes to trying to find these materials to make wood composite products. Wood composite products aren’t so hard to make; all you need to have are sources for solid wood or wood fiber, and new or recycled plastics.
You can find wood fiber from places that use wood composites and wood components to make various materials such as furniture shops that make wood sawdust. Also, you can use traditional plastics and recycled plastic in order to save costs.
Now that you know where to get wood derivatives such as wood fiber and plastic composites, it would help if you knew the different kinds of wood-plastic products available. Thus, below are some of the most common. But before that, here are some things to know about wood plastic products.
According to its application range, it is usually divided into three types of wpc products: Wood plastic composite decking, WPC wall panels, WPC fences, WPC pavilions and other garden supplies :
Wood Plastic Composite Decking
WPC composite decking is more common than you may think. Although it has always been popular, it gained massive popularity in North America due to the pandemic.
Due to the limited costs because of the pandemic, polyvinyl chloride, plastic composites, plastic lumber, wood composites, high density polyethylene, and wood plastic composites wpc were challenging to find.
Thus, alternatives had to be considered for any construction project. Products such as natural fibers, plastic lumber, and wood flour were highly sought after by the construction industry in order to replace flooring. Even peanut hulls were asked for the shells of peanuts and recycled plastic!
Since it has started to be used, WPC plastic flooring has gained massive recognition among many other construction products. Unlike many of its predecessors that have inorganic and mechanical properties, it is made of natural wood plastic composites.
These wood plastic composites are carefully crafted using natural lumber and recycled plastic by professionals in the plastic lumber industry, devoid of many mechanical properties and procedures.
As one of the most essential building and structural components, flooring have been around for quite a while.
According to production process , Wood plastic decking is generally divided into single extruded wood plastic and co-extruded wood plastic (cover wood plastic).
Single-extruded WPC
Single-extruded WPC is closer to real wood in appearance, lower cost, and is the most commonly used style. This polymer matrix is made from several processed which involves injection molding.
First, it uses one cylindrical figure to strategically push a plastic material through a small profile die. During this process, thermal expansion are one of the mechanical properties bound to occur in this plastic lumber.
The solution is cooled to lower temperatures, and it is mixed with wood substances such as wood flour to form a plastic lumber. Finally, finishing touches are made on the WPC, and final processes like injection molding is applied.
Co-extruded WPC
Co-extruded WPC undergoes many of the same processes as single-extruded WPC when you want to make it. It can be made at a relatively low cost, and has high thermal stability in its final shape and rot resist.
Co-extruded WPC is a new style in recent years, with an additional HDPE plastic layer on the surface, which increases the service life of WPC to 25-40 years, and has a better touch. No additional cleaning reagents are needed, just water. You can get plastic from new materials, recycled plastics, or recycled materials.
Additonally, WPC decking is classified according to the cross-section of the profile; there are two types of solid decking and hollow decking. Solid composite decking compared to hollow type decking, the former is a greater self-weight.
Generally, the same specifications relative to the strength of the hollow type. And hollow decking using a hollow structure, the self-weight is much smaller, more portable, both cost-effective.
Lumber plastic flooring according to the surface treatment process classification: 3D three-dimensional pattern, hot stamping pattern, non-slip groove . The groove is the most common surface, which can play a good anti-slip role due to the high-density polyethylene and recycled plastic and its derivatives like acrylonitrile butadiene styrene.
The 3D pattern is the best-selling surface technology in the European market, the three-dimensional process allows the pattern to be permanently maintained, and visually more beautiful, Co-adding vitality and dimensional stability to the building.
Plastic wood and wood plastic composite has the advantages of better corrosion resistance and less water absorption than traditional solid wood particles and wood plastic composite wpc. Plastic lumber flooring and lumber particles is more suitable for outdoor use according to many manufacturing facilities.
According to the shape of its cross-section， There are two types of WPC composite decking: solid decking and hollow decking
Solid Decking
Solid decking compared to hollow flooring, the former is a greater self-weight, generally the same specifications relative to the hollow flooring strength
Hollow Decking
hollow flooring using a hollow structure, the self-weight is much smaller, more portable
Wood plastic flooring according to the surface treatment process classification: 3D three-dimensional pattern, hot stamping pattern, non-slip groove
Non-slip Groove
Grooves are the most common surface, which can play a good role in anti-slip.
Hot Stamping Pattern
Stamping pattern is the advanced version of the groove, more beautiful but the disadvantage is that after 3 months of wear and tear use will have peeling.
3D three-dimensional Pattern
3D three-dimensional pattern is the best-selling surface technology in the European market, three-dimensional process so that the pattern can be permanently maintained, and visually will be more beautiful, adding vitality to the building.
Some Of its Uses
It can be used in:
- balconies
- picnic tables
- terraces
- rooftops
- HDPE board
- park roads
- Automotive interiors
- outdoor swimming pools
- square pedestrian street flooring
- High density polyethylene hdpe
- window manufacturing
- community green decorative flooring
- coastal riverfront wood stacks and many other decking applications.
As you can see, the wood plastic flooring can be used in many ways, which is why its now so sought after in the market.
The best part about plastic lumber and high density polyethylene hdpe is that it is pretty low maintenance and rot resistant. The fact that it’s low maintenance and rot resistant means that it does not require a whole lot of care.
WPC wall Panel
WPC wall panel is mainly for decoration, and has no bearing capacity. But it can not only beautify the building, make the building more beautiful, but also play a role in shading, blocking ultraviolet rays, while the wood plastic material has a low heat transfer coefficient, the use in the building exterior wall also has the role of energy-saving insulation.
Types of composite wall panel
According to the surface treatment process classification: 3D three-dimensional pattern, hot stamping pattern, polishing plane.
The flat surface process is more suitable for the decoration of simple style, so that the exterior wall looks flat and beautiful. The birth of 3D pattern is still to extend the life of the pattern, we all want to keep the beautiful things for a long time.
Some Of Its Uses
It can be used in residential building exterior decorative panels, hotels and clubs exterior decorative panels, commercial area exterior decorative panels, school building exterior decorative panels, library office building exterior decorative panels, container housing exterior decorative panels and many other fields.
WPC Fences
Wood plastic fence is a popular building material in the European market today. If you look around, you would see a lot of houses that have white picket fences made of wood and plastic lumber.
However, many of these products are expensive, which is why many people have chosen to turn towards lumber plastic fences.
Although they are made of almost the same materials such as plastic lumber, many of them seem to come from recycled products, which is one reason why they are so cheap.
That said, wood plastic fence can be divided into two categories according to the style:
Full Privacy Fence
Full privacy fence is generally used in their own yard, both beautiful and can protect the privacy of outdoor leisure.
Full privacy are fences that offer its occupants maximum privacy. The fence is about the height of the whole house, and consists of wood plastic composites which prevents people from looking in.
That said, if you’re looking for the best fence that offers privacy, this is your best bet. Its wide applications in many housing options and environmentally friendly properties has caused it to become highly coveted consumer goods.
Semi-Privacy Fence
Semi-privacy fence is generally used in gardens and parks and other places, only play a decorative and beautifying role, no special requirements for privacy. Due to its height, it also requires less maintenance when compared to full privacy fences.
According to the materials, full wood plastic and wood plastic and aluminum alloy are often used. All wood plastic fence posts and fence panels are all wood plastic material, looks more uniform color and material, and is a cost-effective choice.
However, it is recommended that the height of the fence should not exceed 2 meters to avoid the deformation of the wood-plastic material caused by the earth’s gravity.
Another is to use aluminum alloy column instead of wood plastic column, can make the fence have better support, and aluminum alloy can also be painted in accordance with the color of wood plastic color change. If the budget is sufficient to recommend the choice of aluminum composite fence, this is possible.
According to the pattern style can be divided into stamping pattern and 3D three-dimensional pattern. The 3D pattern is used for people with higher budgets in the wpc market, which looks more substantial and has a long life. Grey is the most popular color in these products.
Wood Plastic Compisite Pavilion
Widely used in the Middle East, Asian parks for landscape decoration. Architectural accents for recreational areas. For those who don’t know, pavilions are detached or semi-detached buildings that provide shelter during the summer.
In other locations, it is an area that has the same characteristics as a tent, which is usually beautifully and artistically decorated.
According to the shape can be divided into: four-cornered pavilion, hexagonal pavilion and roofless corridor.
Four-cornered Pavilion
A four-cornered pavilion is mostly square in shape, has a roof supported by four sturdy pillars. These pillars also add to the beauty of the structure. Additionally, many of these pillars have to be assembled by a coupling agent.
A coupling agent is commonly the 10% of additives included in the production of WPC. Its physical properties differ depending on the product and methodologies used
Hexagonal Pavilion
A hexagonal pavilion is characterized by a hexagon shape and six pillars supporting this structure. Many of these hexagonal pavilions are made up of small fibers from wood, and reinforcing agents for sturdiness.
This is what many people consider to be the desired shape of pavilions. When you want to make a smooth structure for this pillar, you can use wood in sawdust form. Other materials such as plastic lumber, plastic composites, foaming agents, and other unfilled material are used.
Roofless Pavilion
Roofless pavilions may sound like strange concepts, but there are already many of these forms of pavilions around the world now. Roofless pavilions tend to have an unusual design, and are easilly the most aesthetically pleasing of the three. Its components are commonly made from new material and have high mechanical performance.
Furthermore, these pavilions have high interfacial adhesion and durability due to the several blowing agents.
WPC park benches, tables, flower boxes (illustration)
Conclusion
In addition to the three categories of wood-plastic composite materials mentioned above, there are actually many places in our lives where wood-plastic materials can be used instead, if we pay attention to observe.
In fact, besides its excellent physical and chemical properties, the biggest reason is that WPC materials are green, environmentally friendly and recyclable!
Choose KR-WPC, outdoor wood plastic products 19 years of professional R & D and production experience, China’s high-end exquisite wood plastic leader.
