WOOD-PLASTIC COMPOSITES | MATERIALS


reduce equivalent carbon emissions. The results suggest that 40% sawdust WPC has potential market applications.


Strong stuff And researchers at South China Agricultural University have developed WPCs for structural applications by boosting their mechanical properties. In the journal Composites Part B: Engineering, they describe a “novel structural WPC with high strength, high ductility, high creep resistance, and high dimensional stability”. The structural WPC (S-WPC) was made using self-developed co-extrusion equipment and incorporated high-strength GFRP bolts as reinforc- ing elements. An S-WPC with five bolts was far stronger than the control WPC – with a 442 % increase in flexural strength, a 47% boost in modulus and 1168% improvement in ductility. Integration of the bolt’s threaded structure with nuts allows for secure attachment of the S-WPC to load-bearing structures such as floor slabs and shear walls. Finite element simulation was used to optimise the structure, explore optimal design and assess theoretical load-bearing capacity.


“It shows immense potential for replacing conventional materials such as reinforced concrete and for use in the development of low-density, green prefabricated buildings,” said the researchers.


CLICK ON THE LINKS FOR MORE INFORMATION: � www.nitc.ac.in � www.unibo.it � www.novowood.it � www.utfpr.edu.br � www.scau.edu.cn


Above: Fraunhofer WKI project has developed a material that combines PLA foam and wood


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