Mechanical to physical aspects of PP and LDPE plastic waste for potential wood plastic composite

Abstract

Indonesia has been addressing a big effort to overcome the waste issues. There are million tons of waste contributed to pollute the environment that consist of about 14% is plastic waste from total of 70% of organic waste. From many types of the plastic waste, LOPE and PP has percentage about 23% and 14%. The aims of this study are to analyze the effect of adding the PP and LOPE in physical and mechanical properties of wood plastic composite LOPE/PP/sawdust. In this study, wood plastic composites (WPC) were made from LOPE, PP and teak wood powder which the volume fraction of teak wood powder is 30%. Then the different volume fraction of PP and LOPE is used in fabrication process of the environmentally friendly rooftile. The results showed that the adding LOPE is better than adding PP in improved the mechanical properties (flexural stress, compression strength, hardness) and physical properties (water absorbability and density) of WPC. Then, the WPC which has the best physical and mechanical properties is WPC with 70% LOPE 0% PP 30% sawdust with density 1,081g/cm3, water absorbability 0,01%, flexural stress 11MPa, hardness shore O is 40.33, and the compressive strength is 10.8MPa.