The effect of raw material selection on physical and mechanical properties of wood plastic composites made from recycled LDPE and wood from invasive trees in South Africa

ABSTRACT

WPC boards were produced from recycled low-density polyethylene (rLDPE) and wood from three different invasive species found in the Western Cape, South Africa with the aim of using them as ceiling boards in low-cost housing projects. The study determined differences between two different types of rLDPE and the tree species, as well as tree composition with regards to physical and mechanical board properties. It was found that the difference between using only wood, or the entire tree – with bark, twigs and leaves – as filler in WPC boards is hardly significant. However, the difference between the two sourced recycled plastic was notable.

KEYWORDS:

• Invasive alien species
• waste material
• building materials
• RDP housing

Acknowledgements

The authors wish to thank Bernard Effah and Goran Schmidt for assistance with sample analysis and editing.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

The project was funded through the DAAD/BMBF (Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung), project 57359347.