WPCs | MATERIALS


WPCs: science drives further improvement


While the market for wood-plastic composite products is well established, fundamental research continues – in an attempt to make further improvements. Lou Reade reports


Wood-plastic composites – which embed wood particles such as shaving into a plastic matrix – are an established commercial product. WPC decking and fencing is now sold worldwide, with leading companies such as Trex reporting annual sales of more than $US1 billion. However, research into these materials still continues. While Trex and its competitors typically look for new ways to extend their market, more fundamental research is looking at how combina- tions of wood and plastic can be further enhanced.


Carbon negative decking US scientists have devised a way to make ‘carbon- negative’ decking boards by replacing the usual wood filler with wood-based fibres that have captured carbon dioxide on their surface.


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The aim is to develop a way of incorporating carbon into the fibres and then encapsulating them in a polymer matrix. “To minimise the impact of climate change, we need to get CO2 cheaply, put it into a large amount of materials cheaply and ensure the product is something that can be sold,” said David Helde- brant, laboratory fellow at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory who presented the idea at the American Chemical Society’s spring meeting earlier this year. The material he has developed is very similar to


a traditional WPC – but in this case, it replaces the wood shavings with particles that have CO2 trapped on their surface. “It works the same way as WPC decking, but stores about 5wt% CCO2 inside,” he said.


Main image: WPC decking is a huge market – and an opportunity for carbon capture


� Winter 2024 | PIPE & PROFILE EXTRUSION 25


IMAGE: SHUTTERSTOCK


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