Properties of wood–plastic composites made of milled particleboard and polypropylene

Abstract

Particles derived from milling three-layer particleboards, with sizes from 0.5 to 3 mm, were used for making composites with polypropylene by an injection moulding method. Maleated polypropylene was used as a coupling agent. The objective of this study was to evaluate the mechanical and physical properties of the composites made from particleboard and polypropylene with respect to the content of particles derived from particleboard and coupling agent addition. Properties of the composites did not differ significantly from those of composites with virgin industrial wood particles used for manufacturing particleboards. Moreover, these properties were comparable with the properties of typical wood–plastic composites with wood flour. Particles derived from milling particleboards have proved to be an effective alternative wood component of wood–plastic composites.