Water absorption of wood-polymer composites of savewood

¹ Moscow State University of Civil Engineering, Yaroslavskoe shosse, 26, Moscow, 129337, Russia
² A.N. Nesmeyanov Institute of Organoelement Compounds of Russian Academy of Sciences, Vavilova St. 28, Moscow, Russia

^* Corresponding author: MatseevichTA@mgsu.ru

Abstract

The materials based on wood-polymer composites (WPC) in the form of decking boards are produced, in which wood filler is partially replaced by mineral one. WPC materials manufactured by Savewood using a matrix polymer of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) have good mechanical properties, low abrasion and satisfactory resistance to climatic influences. However, they have relatively high water absorption, the task of reducing which is relevant not only in Russia, but also in other countries where there are constructions of facilities operating in outdoor environmental conditions. The modification of such materials in this work was carried out by replacing part of the wood filler with the mineral filler, which is CaCO₃ (chalk). Partial replacement of wood flour with mineral filler resulted in a marked reduction in swelling from 1.25 to 0.01%. In this case, the modulus of elasticity is increased from 2260 to 2880 MPa, tensile strength from 30.5 to values of 16.7 ÷ 32 MPa. The specific impact strength varies from 8.90 to 7.74 kJ/m². The optimal ratio of wood and mineral fillers is 60/40%.