• Fire Science and Engineering
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.119-124
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• 2011

In this study, we measured the smoke density characteristics to find the fire risk of Wood-Plastic composites (WPCs) which are one of spotlighting materials for landscape architecture and residential construction material with the cone calorimeter tester (by ISO 5660-2) and the smoke density tester (by ASTM E 662). In addition, the identical test was implemented to compare the smoke density characteristics between the red pine and the antiseptic wood. The result of cone calorimeter test showed that emissions of carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide and total smoke production rate of WPCs were higher than those of red pine and antiseptic wood. And the result of smoke density test showed that maximum specific optical smoke density(Dm) of WPCs was higher than that of red pine and antiseptic wood as well.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.472-485
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• 2019

When wood plastic composites (WPCs) have been used for a certain period of time, they become waste materials and should be recycled to reduce their environmental impact. Waste WPCs can be transformed into reinforced composites, in which fillers are used to improve their performance. In this study, recycled WPCs were prepared using different proportions of waste WPCs, nanoclay, and glass fiber. The effects of nanoclay and glass fiber on the microstructural, mechanical, thermal, and water absorption properties of the recycled WPCs were investigated. X-ray diffraction showed that the nanoclay intercalates in the WPCs. Additionally, scanning electron micrographs revealed that the glass fiber is adequately dispersed. According to the analysis of mechanical properties, the simultaneous incorporation of nanoclay and glass fiber improved both tensile and flexural strengths. However, as the amount of fillers increases, their dispersion becomes limited and the tensile and flexural modulus were not further improved. The synergistic effect of nanoclay and glass fiber in recycled WPCs enhanced the thermal stability and crystallinity ($X_c$). Also, the presence of nanoclay improved the water absorption properties. The results suggested that recycled WPCs reinforced with nanoclay and glass fiber improved the deteriorated performance, showing the potential of recycled waste WPCs.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.8 no.12
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• pp.1077-1081
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• 1998

Wood powder as reinforcing fillers and polyethylene as a matrix have been used for wood plastic composites (WPC). In preparing WPC, counting agents (such as MA and MAOMS) were also used in order to improve the bonding force between matrix and fillers. In this study, the effect of wood powder, MA, MAOMS concentration on the mechanical properties and interface phenomena on the composites was evaluated The tensile strength of 3wt% MA-treated composites reached its maximum value of 25.91MPa while 3wt% MAOMS-treated composites attained the maximum value of 22.48MPa. The maximum impact strength of MA and MAMOS-treated composites were 44.38J/m and 36.09J/m, respectively, when 3wt% of coupling agent was introduced.

• International Journal of Reliability and Applications
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.153-173
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• 2007

Wood-plastic composites (WPC) are gaining market share in the building industry because of durability/maintenance advantages of WPC over traditional wood products and because of the removal of chromated copper arsenate (CCA) pressure-treated wood from the market. In order to ensure continued market share growth, WPC manufacturers need greater focus on reliability, quality, and cost. The reliability methods outlined in this paper can be used to improve the quality of WPC and lower manufacturing costs by reducing raw material inputs and minimizing WPC waste. Statistical methods are described for analyzing stiffness (tangent modulus of elasticity: MOE) and flexural strength (modulus of rupture: MOR) test results on sampled WPC panels. Descriptive statistics, graphs, and reliability plots from these test data are presented and interpreted. Sources of variability in the MOE and MOR of WPC are suggested. The methods outlined may directly benefit WPC manufacturers through a better understanding of strength and stiffness measures, which can lead to process improvements and, ultimately, a superior WPC product with improved reliability, thereby creating greater customer satisfaction.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.42 no.6
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• pp.682-690
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• 2014

In order to improve the thermal stability of wood plastic composites (WPC), thermal degradation behavior of WPC in this study was investigated by the addition of wood flour and fire retardant after hybridization of wood flour and ammonium polyphosphate (APP) into polypropylene (PP) matrix. Thermal degradation behavior of all formulations was analyzed with thermogravimetric analyzer under nitrogen environment at heating rate of $10^{\circ}C/min$. As the thermal degradation temperature of wood flour is lower than that of PP, char layer formed by the wood flour decreases the speed of heat transfer to PP. In addition, the char layer increases the 2nd thermal degradation temperature and decreases the 2nd thermal degradation speed. The WPC treated with APP increases the 1st and 2nd degradation temperatures. In the case of WPC with high loading level of wood flour, the 1st thermal degradation temperature and 2nd thermal degradation rate were increased by the addition of APP, and then the amount of remnants at high temperature was increased by the increase of the APP loading level. In the case of WPC treated with APP, the amount of the remnants at high temperature was increased with the increase of wood flour content from 10 wt% to 50 wt%, indicating that char formation of the APP and wood flour occurred at the same time, resulting in high thermal stability effect by the increase of wood flour content.

• Journal of the Korea Furniture Society
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.428-434
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• 2015

In this study, we received each wood plastic composites (WPC) from three manufacturers. These WPCs were evaluated regarding their physical and mechanical properties of both before and after accelerated weathering by ultraviolet (UV) irradiation. The total time of exposure of the WPCs to UV irradiation was 1800 h. The water absorption, volumetric swelling and shrinkage of WPCs did not affected by UV irradiation. Among the mechanical properties, there was no significant differences in bending strength and screw withdrawal resistance of UV treated WPCs compared with those of reference WPCs. However, surface hardness of WPCs showed decrease under UV irradiation. Stereoscopic microscopy observation revealed deterioration of the surface layer polymer in all weathered WPCs by UV. Exposure of the WPCs to UV irradiation caused decomposition and disappearance of the polymer layer. From this result, we can estimate that damage of polymer by UV led to a decrease in the surface hardness of the WPCs. The wood flours retained original shape after accelerated weathering by UV irradiation.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Manufacturing Process Engineers
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.24-30
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• 2019

The deck floor of a the cargo truck becomesis damaged and aged due to the continuous loading of the loading cargo and external environmental factors. Floor boards made of wood and metal are often used. In the case of wood, the cost is high due to the use of imported wood, and the strength is easily deterioratesd due to environmental factors. In the case of metal materials, the durability is higher than that of wood, but problems are raised due to the effect of major factors that hinder the weight reduction, and the effects of corrosion. In order to replace this stucturestructural design, this study proposed a wood fiber composite using natural raw materials. Woody composites are being used as environmentally and friendly exterior materials with the combined advantages of plastic, and wood,; low cost and low density. However, due to the nature of the woody composites, the properties are differentdiffer depending on the contents of the matrix, reinforcing agent, additives, compatibilizer, etc. In this study, we investigate these problems through analysis of the microstructure and mechanical properties according to proper content and injection molding conditions. As a result, it is considered that the wood deck composite can replaced the current Deck Floor Boardreplace current deck floor boards through continuous continued research and results of this study.

• Composites Research
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.170-174
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• 2013

Atmospheric glow plasma polymerization was applied to wood powder before fabricating polypropylene (PP) matrix composites. Seven different types of monomers (Oxygen, Benzene, CH4, Acrylic-acid, Hexafluoroethane, Trifluorotolune, Hexamethyl-disiloxane) were analyzed to determine the most suitable precursor for plasma polymerization. The surface energy was calculated from measured contact angle about each monomer on PP. Hexamethyl-disiloxane (HMDSO) had a highest surface energy and is selected as the most suitable monomer. Wood powder and polypropylene were mixed as pellets by twin screw extruder and then 50 wt% wood powder/PP composites were produced by an injection machine. Tensile strength and Flexural strength have improved by 7.59% and 12.43% at the maximum respectively. SEM (Scanning Electron Microscope) observation on the fracture surface revealed that the plasma polymerization have improved the interfacial bonding and the mechanical properties of the composites.

• Proceedings of the Korea Institute of Fire Science and Engineering Conference
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• 2010.10a
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• pp.251-256
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• 2010

주거 건축 및 가구산업의 자재로써 합성목재(Wood-Plastic Composites)는 점차 각광받고 있다. 본 연구에서는 합성목재의 연소특성을 살펴보기 위하여 한계산소지수 측정(ASTM D2863) 및 콘칼로리미터 시험(ISO 5660-1)을 실시하였으며 또한 일반목재인 적송(red pine)과 방부 처리를 한 방부목에 대하여도 동일한 시험을 통하여 합성목재와 연소특성을 비교 검토하였다. 한계산소지수 측정결과 합성목재가 적송 및 방부목에 비해 가장 낮게 측정되었다. 콘칼로리미터 시험결과 합성목재의 열방출률값이 가장 빨리 피크치에 도달하였고 점차적으로 감소하였다. 합성목재의 최대 열방출률 값 및 평균 열방출률 값은 적송 및 방부목에 비해 가장 높게 나타났으며 총 방출열량 또한 가장 높게 나타났다.

• Elastomers and Composites
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.218-222
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• 2011

The effect of cycled temperature change on the mechanical properties of wood flour(50 wt.% and 70 wt.%) polypropylene WPC(Wood Plastic Composites) was investigated in this study. Flexural modulus and flexural strength of the WPC showed a decrease due to the degradation of interfacial adhesion between polymer matrix and wood flour by the freeze-thaw test regardless of the cycled number. At the higher loading level of wood flour, the reduction of the flexural modulus was remarkable. After the cycled heat-freeze test, it was found that the flexural modulus and flexural strength of the WPC were lower at the high temperature ($60^{\circ}C$) and higher at the low temperature ($-20^{\circ}C$). At the low temperature ($-20^{\circ}C$) which is below glass transition temperature of polypropylene ($-10^{\circ}C$), WPC is in a glassy state which brings about the high stiffness and strength. At the high temperature ($60^{\circ}C$), the flexural modulus and flexural strength of the WPC with 50 wt.% wood flour were lower because of the increase of polymer ductility.