Wood Plastic Composite, Before Buying Know Advantages and Disadvantages

Wood plastic composite. The composite can be interpreted as a mixture.

So, wood plastic composite is a mixture of wood and plastic.

Wood plastic composite is a new material composed of wood and plastic elements which is merged into one and forms a new material, namely WPC.

WPC is an alternative substitute for wood today. Increasing wood prices and exploitation of the use of wood, we must begin to conserve wood.

Wood plastic composite is made composition with 50% plastic fiber and 50% wood powder.

WPC can provide strength and beauty that resembles wood with durability and advantages of polymer or plastic.

WPC is an environmentally friendly product because it utilizes waste as a basic material for making.

For example: Wood waste is obtained from sawmills by utilizing powdered residues from the wood cutting process.

Wood materials used are of various types, can be bamboo, teak, mahogany, some even use palm fiber and pineapple.

Types of wood plastic composite


  1. Hollow wood plastic composite (HWPC): This wood is said to be hollow, because in the wood there is a hole that is almost similar to hollow iron. This wood is usually used for yard fence, terrace floor and also the roof for the gazebo. The price of HWPC is also relatively affordable.
  2. Solid wood plastic composite (SWPC): Usually this type of solid composite wood is made in the form of a board, both straight and curved. So, this type of wood can be used for buildings, like ordinary building materials.

Wood Plastic Composite Advantages And Disadvantages


Advantages:

  • Can be recycled to be reproduced
  • Has a variety of different panel sizes and can be used for inside and outside the home
  • More fire resistant than other similar products. When a fire occurs on the panel, the fire only ignites at one point and does not spread.
  • High durability against impact and abrasion
  • Having good dimensional stability will not expand if you are in a humid area
  • The possibility of cracking is very small
  • High resistance to water and household chemicals
  • Good resistance to termites, fungi and pests
  • Generally cheaper than wood
  • Best for long-term investments
  • 100% can be recycled
  • Aesthetically, WPC has a design that supports the beauty of the house
  • Color does not fade quickly

Disadvantages:

  • Only has a few color choices

Wood Plastic Composite is a conventional wood replacement material. Products that are innovative and environmentally friendly, have the best quality on the market.

As stated in the above point, wood plastic composite is environmentally friendly material, because WPC will not degenerate, curl or fade like wood.

This is what can reduce the wasteful repair and replacement cycle.

Wood plastic composite is also made by utilizing wood waste as the basic material for its manufacture.

Wood plastic composite material used vary, ranging from bamboo, teak, mahogany, or even palm fiber.

Comparison between Wood Plastic Composite and Ordinary Wood

PropertyWPCOrdinary Wood
Water absorption0-1.5%Up to 30%
Screw pullCanCan
Resistance to moldVery goodMedium
Resistance to termitesVery goodNot
Resistance to bendingMedium
Resistance to chemicalsVery goodMedium

Wood Plastic Composite was initially mostly applied to exterior decking floors, especially the popular one is the pool perimeter. But today there are many parts of houses and landscaping that utilize this material such as fences, interior floors, cladding or walls, wooden landscaping, ceilings, door frames, windows and park benches.


Wood Plastic Composite Manufacturing

Wood plastic composite manufacturing is carried out in 2 stages.

The core material for making wood plastic composite products is plastic and wood.

The first ingredient is plastic.

The main plastic ingredients ie:
Pure PVC seeds, by-products from oil and natural gas purification, and polyethylene obtained from plastic recycling on almost all products, namely plastic wrapping, plastic shopping bags, bottled soda, even plastic film that is on the surface of the styrofoam and is used to advertise.

This recycled plastic is cleaned and processed into plastic seed granules.

In addition, plastic was also obtained from plastic materials which the company refused.

Further...

Wood is the main component other than plastic from the wood plastic composite.

The wood was previously processed to become powder or form small wood particles.

Technically.

All types of wood can be used to make WPC, but it is better to use wood from hard-trunked trees, rather than wood from soft-trunked trees.

Usually companies wood plastic composite manufacturing, collect wood powder from the remaining pieces of wood in the factory making wood floors or wood furniture makers.

Very rarely found wood plastic composite manufacturing companies taking wood directly from the forest.

This is because the wood plastic composite manufacturing company uses the type of wood that matches the desired characteristics and wood is harvested at different times.

This causes the company to do an inefficient material test, that is, every manufacturing process begins.

Then additives were added.

These additives include:
  • Stabilizer (which helps the ingredients evenly mix)
  • Waxes and lubricants (helping the product move smoothly through the extruder)
  • Stiffening agents (keep the final result stiff before it's really hard)
  • impact modifiers (reduce fragility)
  • Blowing agents (reducing heat caused by extruders), and coloring.

Making WPC can not use additives, but the manufacturing process will be difficult and the end product will have poor quality.

Wood Plastic Composite Manufacturing Process


Wood plastic composite manufacturing process is as follows:

1. Preparation and Mixing of Materials

Wood powder or Wood seeds used in making wood plastic composite must contain very little amount of water when compared to wood in nature.

Therefore, before being put into a wood mixing machine, first the wood material will be heated and dried until it has no water content.

At the same time, plastic ore is heated to melt (called resin).

The ingredients are mixed together with additives until the plastic is considered to be encapsulated entirely by wood powder.

If you make PVC products, there is no wood powder used, only plastic and additives are mixed.

The material for the WPC layer varies according to the company.

However, in general the coating material is plastic and additives such as coloring.

2. Mixed Extrusion

The heated mixture is driven through a channel which is usually a circuit containing four to eight metal cutting plates.

This tool functions to form the product into the desired shape.

The coating mixture is given at the time of the last channel, where the wood plastic composite has been formed.

Wood plastic composite is bigger when they leave the channel.

This expansion is known as freefoaming.

At present, some manufacturers move the newly extruded product immediately to the vacuum.

This causes the freefoam expansion process to still occur, avoiding the formation of crust on the surface and softening the material.

This process is used to produce products that must meet high standards.

3. Cooling the wood plastic composite

Products that have the correct shape but are still very hot so the product is not rigid.

Stiffness will occur when the product is cold.

Most plants cool down by spraying water on products as they pass through the production line, but that's a difficult thing because an error that occurs during spraying can cause certain parts to develop.

Some manufacturers cooling the product with air (naturally), sending the product through several adjacent detours so that the product can cool down on the trip.

Radial cooling is applied to each side of the product recently so that it is evenly cooled.

However, failure cannot be avoided.

Failed products will be prepared to be mixed into the mixture to be melted.

4. Settlement, Cutting and Storage

Now, the product has cooled to the point where the product surface can get the final print on its surface.

This printing process uses a large wheel that on the wheel there are molds in the form of wood fibers or other shapes according to the characteristics of the product.

In this process producers add other additives, one of which is an additive that is used to keep the wood plastic composite from fading if it is exposed to direct sunlight.

After that, a product is checked again to ascertain whether the product is as desired, cutting the product in accordance with the desired length, and the accumulation of products to be packaged and stored.

However, there is often a problem that the product is not left long enough to cool down so that it is brought and circulated in a still warm condition.

So that it can change the mechanical properties of the wood plastic composite itself.

Wood Plastic Composite Flooring


Wood plastic composite flooring is a substitute for wood, this is the latest innovation in Japanese technology.

Made from wood powder and recycled plastic powder and equipped with quality ingredients such as:

Anti UV

  • Making Mushroom Resistant Products
  • Anti Moss, if it occurs moist when exposed to water / rain

Termites

  • Making products resistant to insect attacks so that they are not rotten and porous.

So that its use is more durable and long lasting compared to wood or other products.

Because it has quality:
*). Waterproof
*). Heat Resistant to the Sun.
*). Hold Various Weather
*). Fire Resistant (Longer Burns)
*). Termites
*). Color Not Quick Fade
*). Saving Care
*). Not Easy to Weather / Anti porous
*). Hold Up to More Than 30 Years.

Composite plastic wood is suitable for Interior and Exterior Such as:
- Housing
- Hotels
- Apartment
- Offices
- Boarding house
- Hospital
- Etc

Very beautiful when installed in outdoor spaces such as:
  • Sauna room
  • Swimming pool
  • Terrace
  • garden
  • Dock
  • Zebra cross
  • etc.

Wood Plastic Composite Deck


The difference in the natural structure of the wood surface and the matrix of plastic polymers determines the results of the physical property of each composite formed.

Therefore, the various advantages that have been successfully established have made wood plastic composite deck an ever-present option for every wooden decking.

Here are the advantages of wood plastic composite deck:

Durable

Compared to ordinary wooden decks, the wood plastic composite deck has a longer life (durable).

Wood plastic composite deck is made from a combination of vinyl, wood, and other recycled materials that are compressed.

Because of its content which combines wood and plastic.

The wood plastic composite deck is more durable in the sun, rain and wind compared to ordinary wood decks.

Cost Savings

In general, wood plastic composite deck is relatively cheap compared to wood.

Wood plastic composite deck can be recycled 100% and can be reproduced.

In addition, wood plastic composite deck can also be used as a business and best for long-term investment.

Because the wood plastic composite deck was developed based on complaints that occur due to the wooden deck, the wood plastic composite decking does not require extra maintenance.

Color Uniformity and Durability

Wood plastic composite deck has a variety of different panel sizes and can be used both indoors and outdoors.

The color does not fade quickly.

Many people prefer this wood composite because of the uniformity of colors between one deck and another.

Pest and Damage Control

High resistance to water and household chemicals makes the wood plastic composite deck not easily damaged (the possibility of cracking is very small) and still has a sturdy shape even though it is designed for outdoor.

In addition, wood plastic composite deck also has good resistance to termites, fungi, and pests.

Because the manufacturing process passed and the material used has made WPC naturally protect itself from termites, fungi and pests. Wood plastic composite deck is a manufacturing product, this product is constantly being improved and tested.

This in turn will ensure that consumers' needs for wood plastic composite deck can be fulfilled optimally.

In an industrial environment, WPC can also be applied to spaces with high ceilings such as shed.

Wood Plastic Composite Fencing

Know, that WPC material can also be applied to fences, ceilings, interior floors, door frames, and windows.

How to install a Wood Plastic Composite (WPC)

For installation and workmanship is no different from ordinary wood, can be cut, sawed and drilled.

How to pair it too easily (install it yourself) or if you want to save time and effort.

You can call a high-quality composite plastic wood service.

Use to WPC can be treated as well as real wood. WPC can be nailed, drilled, sawed and glued.

How to install an outdoor floor:

Installation between the frame or joist is given a distance of 30-35cm

If the installation wants to be turned off to the floor, the frame (joist) is directly drilled or screwed to the floor

When the frame or joist is installed, then attach the decking above the frame or joist. If the frame or joist is installed vertically, then the decking must be mounted horizontally, and vice versa.

The distance between decking and decking (Nat) must be given a distance of 5-7 mm to avoid moisture when exposed to water or rain.

Installation of plastic clips for decking is given a distance of 30 cm

How to install indoor walls:

First install iron hollow or wood casings on the surface of the wall and give a distance of about 40 cm

Attach the panel wall to the hollow iron or wood casso opposite. If the installation of iron hollow or kaso wood is vertical, then the panel wall installation is horizontal. Vice versa.

Installation of panel wall to hollow iron or kaso wood using nails or bolts, by connecting nails to the first panel wall (so that nails or bolts are not visible)

If the installation of the panel wall uses wood glue, then coat the panel wall with wood glue and glue it to the hollow iron or casso wood

Note: Mounting the panel wall is the same as installing ordinary wood which can be cut with a saw and can be nailed.


How to install wood plastic composite for furniture

if composite wood is used to make furniture such as tables or cabinets, do not use as a frame element, but also avoid using nails, you should use glue or screws and bolts.

How to Care for Wood Plastic Composite Products

In modern times like today, we often find lodging or hotels that have used wood plastic composite products to be applied as outdoor floors, swimming pools, walls, ceilings and partitions.

This is because wood plastic composite products have the advantage of water resistance, termites, mildew, anti-UV, so that this type of floor is more durable for outdoor areas when compared to wood floors.

Wood plastic composite products are usually applied as a floor in a swimming pool, ceiling, partition wall, fence or garden decoration to enhance aesthetic value, it also makes the atmosphere more comfortable and beautiful.

The advantages of wood plastic composite products when compared to other wood products in the outdoor area are:

Decking is easier in terms of maintenance
WPC products which are the result of engineering man-made technology are designed so as not to require difficult data. You can treat it using a dry cloth only.

Have a better level of security
This type of wood is known to have a better level of security when compared to real wood products because this material is anti-slip.

So that it can reduce the risk of injury when walking on it.

The color variants of WPC products vary
Wood plastic composite (WPC) products have various color variants, so you can choose a color that has a brownish level according to the type of wood you want, for example wood or coffee color.

Even though it has long durability, no weathering etc. does not mean that WPC products do not require maintenance, here are some tips that we have summarized to make your WPC product remain in good condition for a long time:

Care for wood plastic composite (WPC) products:
In one year, WPC products need to be cleaned at least 2-3 times.

Following are the steps to clean the surface of the WPC Product.

Prepare equipment to clean the WPC Product surface as follows:
  • Bucket
  • Detergent
  • Sponge
  • Dry towel / cloth
  • Clean water


Add detergent and mix the prepared water into a bucket and stir until evenly distributed and foamy.

Then enter the sponge into the detergent mixture water that was made earlier for the next process.

Rub the surface of your WPC product using a sponge until it feels quite clean and flat and don't forget to rinse it with clean water.

After a little dry, wipe the surface of the WPC product by using a dry cloth / towel if it is not needed to be wiped.

Try not to have water standing on the surface or under the surface of the WPC Decking. To overcome the puddle above the surface of the WPC Decking can also be done by cleaning the puddle with a dry cloth.

Treatment of sticks

If there are stains coming from cigarette putets, streaks or other on the surface of a WPC product that cannot be removed using a mixture of water and detergent, then you can use coarse sandpaper to clean the stain.