(europeanplasticsnews) --
The polymer used in wood plastics composites (WPC) is usually PP or PVC. But
Evonik Industries has worked with Reifenhauser to develop a PMMA-based Plexiglas
Wood brand.
The new material is compounded and extruded into 50-75%
reinforced WPC profiles on a Reifenhauser direct extrusion line.
Carlo
Schutz, manager innovative projects at Evonik, says the idea of PMMA-based WPC
arose from using acrylic products as protective coatings on conventional wood
product surfaces. Evonik went on to develop colourless and coloured modified
PMMA containing binder and adhesion additives. These ensure optimal coupling
between the PMMA and cellulose components of the reinforcing wood fibres.
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Schutz has presented a table showing that natural and coloured Plexiglas
Wood has a flexural modulus of 8,800MPa and 10,000MPa. Although below some
tropical woods, these values are close to or slightly higher than beech, spruce
and red cedar. Flexural modulus was found to be much higher than for PVC-WPC
(6,500MPa) and two different PP-WPC formulations (3,200 and 4,500MPa).
mrcplast.com
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