TECHNOLOGY | WOOD-PLASTIC COMPOSITES
Above: Scona modifiers from BYK strengthen the physical bonding of wood fibres in thermoplastics
protection for use indoors and in public buildings. Budenheim has developed a new environmental- ly-friendly flame-retardant for wood-plastic com- posites — Budit 620. It is described as a halogen- free flame retardant system specifically designed for natural fibre-reinforced plastics and is said to meet high requirements in terms of fire behaviour. BYK has developed its Scona modifiers for wood plastic composites to strengthen the physical bonding of the wood fibres in the thermoplastic matrix. It is said to make it possible to achieve higher loading levels while maintaining good mechanical properties and resistance to impact required for applications including decking and outdoor panels. Americhem recently collaborated with a
producer of wood-plastic composite fencing that was struggling to get good weathering perfor- mance in dark colour spaces due to degradation that led to excessive colour fade of the product. Americhem says that it changed the customer’s formulation from a blend to 100% Americhem eCap technology that was colour matched to what they were currently selling. It used nGrain simulated woodgrain and eCap high-performance pre-colour capstock compounds, which are available in cedar, green, black, brown and redwood finishes. Amer- ichem says the switch has allowed the fencing producer to increase sales, integrate better weath- ering, and add more colours to its product line.
Right: NeoTimber Advanced composite decking is a performance optimised
capped hollow core product
Product innovations Producers of WPC products are also introducing their own innovations. US-based MoistureShield introduced its DiamondDefense all-polymer cap for its Vision line last year. The company says Diamond- Defense resists damage from scratches, stains and fading, resulting in the look of interior hardwoods with the strength that is needed in outdoor environ- ments. The Vision line features a variegated appearance with a diverse pallet of colour options including Smokey Grey, Spanish Leather, Sand- stone, Cathedral Stone and Mochaccino. Some are
64 COMPOUNDING WORLD | June 2020
www.compoundingworld.com
now also available with the option of CoolDeck technology, which minimises heat absorption by up to 35% compared to traditional capped composite boards for a more comfortable deck. UK producer NeoTimber has added a capped hollow deck board to its line. The company’s Advanced range is described as a second-genera- tion (capped) composite decking based on its Essential hollow product that wraps a composite core in an highly-durable four-sided polymer capping. The four-sided capping provides all- round protection and weather resistance, but also means the board is reversible, with an authentic embossed woodgrain on one side and grooved channels on the other. The Advanced board is said to differ from others on the market is in its use of hollow-tube design and less extreme core reduction – 40% compared to up to 80% from other manufacturers. “We’ve had great success with our hollow range, the Essential, and we were keen to replicate this design philoso- phy with our capped decking range,” says Toby Allen, NeoTimber Marketing Director. “We believe that by only removing a small proportion of the material within the board, and doing so in circular increments, the board remains considerably stronger than others on the market. This is the perfect compromise: supplying an affordable option that remains strong enough to cope with the everyday strains of home life.”
CLICK ON THE LINKS FOR MORE INFORMATION: �
www.wood-kplus.at �
www.wki.fraunhofer.de �
www.struktol.com �
www.dow.com �
www.budenheim.com �
www.byk.com �
www.americhem.com �
www.moistureshield.com �
www.neotimber.com
IMAGE: BYK
IMAGE: NEOTIMBER
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