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    What is Wood polymer composites?

    Wood polymer composites (WPCs) are a relatively recently developed product, the current market of 220,000 t per annum (Europe, in 2010) has been developed over about 20 years of intense activity. In fact the product can trace its roots considerably earlier, with Gruppo Ovattifici Riunitti (GOR) producing ‘Woodstock’ for Fiat cars in 1972, and Sonneson AB producing PVC-wood fibre floor tiles in Sweden in 1973. Various research activities span the decades which passed before the sector gained momentum in the 1990s, for example, seeing fourfold growth between 1997 and 2000. The new impetus was provided by the twin aims of exchanging petrochemical materials for increased bioderived sustainable materials; and the need to reduce waste to landfill and explore recycling technologies. WPCs were seen as a product into which wastepaper and/or post-consumer plastics could be recycled.

    The concept is straightforward. Fine powder of wood, or woody biomass from agricultural residues, is blended with polymers such as polyethylene or polypropylene within an extruder. The extruded material can be pelletised for later processing by injection moulding, extrusion or compression moulding, or the extruded material may be formed into simple sections such as planks or more complex profiles for specific applications.

    Within this field a wide range of variations and techniques may be used to enhance properties, either by using wood fibre, or chopped bast or leaf fibre of greater aspect ratio to create a reinforced rather than filled material (Joseph et al., 1993; Raj et al., 1989a). Much research has been centred on aspects of compatibility between the commonly used plastics and the wood fibre or flour to boost performance. Other efforts have been made to reduce the density, by foaming the core of the extruded profile or by designing hollow sections for specific applications. With the transition to injection moulding, considerable work was undertaken to address surface quality and mould filling ability of the WPC melt, as viscosity is increased by the presence of flour or fibre.

    The advent of biopolymers has overlapped with these developments, and the biodegradable/biopolymer sector has also emerged as a multi-million pound industry within the past 20 years. This has allowed considerable cross-over between the two disciplines, meaning that WPC products using biopolymers or biodegradable polymers have also been launched. These may be competitive either in the market for green consumerism where a 100% bioderived product is well accepted, or in the market for disposable plastic items as the search for an easily biodegradable product, and the development of a waste industry capable of handling it, continues.

    In the early days of WPC development, one of the essential drivers was the automotive industry. Products developed using long natural fibres in non-woven mats, co-mingled with polymer fibre were found to be readily mouldable and thermoformed into headliners, door linings and many interior trim components for cars (Suddell and Evans, 2005). The discovery that this natural fibre composite (NFC) material was easily produced, reduced tool wear, and was rapidly accepted by the Tier 1 producers of automotive components led to rapid transfer from marques seeking an unique green selling point to almost the full range of motor manufacturers. As a result, the quest to steadily increase the proportion of NFC within a vehicle continued, and provided impetus for developments in moulding WPCs using more challenging thermoplastics such as acrylic or nylon; or higher quality injection moulded components for challenging applications nearer to the engine.

    While various good texts are available covering many aspects of WPC and NFC production, design and use (Klyosov, 2007; Oksman Niska and Sain, 2008; Pickering, 2008), this chapter will provide a broad introduction to these materials, and their main features. It will consider the basic ingredients for WPC materials, and biopolymerWPCs, the processing methods, and address some of the specific chemical and physical challenges in delivering a high quality product, and various processing strategies to achieve this. Thermoplastic matrix NFCs will be considered, as the technology has much in common with WPC processing; however, the thermosetting NFC products fall outside the scope of this chapter. It will then also review the current market worldwide, and likely future developments within the sector.

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    What are the uses and benefits of Wood Plastic Composite?

    Wood Plastic Composite is a hybrid material which combines the qualities of wood and the ease of workability of plastic. It is a composite material which has replaced natural wood and is sustainable as it is made of waste wood and recycled plastic. It is widely used in outdoor decking floors, railings, fences, cladding, outdoor landscape, cornices, door and window frames, indoor furniture, outdoor furniture etc. The main advantages of using Wood Plastic Composite are:

     

    • The material is very easy to maintain and clean.
    • The material is resistant to ultra violet light and its colour does not fade easily.
    • WPC Board is highly durable and is not affected by rain, snow or peak summer conditions.
    • The material is slip resistant hence is a very good material when used as deck flooring especially near swimming pools.
    • It is a very good cladding material and is highly weather resistant. It is available in many colours and textures which add to the beauty of the building.
    • It is a costly material but is effective in the long run.
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    Kitchen Cabinets Measurements One Must Follow

    Measurements, Measurements, Measurements: That’s all you’ll get here

    Measurements will help you figure the technicalities involved in your cabinet array. You have to match the measurements to your practical needs

    We start with base cabinets:

    These are installed directly on the floor. Counters are laid on top, duly installed and ranges bracketed by them, put in your pots and pans, most expansive…

    Dimensions (inches) Factor
    34.5 Height-No countertop
    35-36 Height-With countertop
    24 Depth- No countertop
    25-26 Depth-With countertop
    12, 18, 24, 30, 33, 36, 46     ??? Width
    • Height, without countertops- 34.5 “.
    • Raw base cabinets start at 34.5” high without any countertop or substrate.
    • Height (with countertops) 35”-36” . After putting in a countertop the height becomes about 35-36”. The height can vary. Adding an under layer can add another half inch . Countertops can go as low as 32”and as high as 38”.
    • Depth (W/o countertops): 25-26”. Countertops usually overhang a bit above the base cabinets adding an inch.
    • Width 12’ to 48”: Base cabinet width can be between 12” to 48”.
    Dimensions (inches) Cabinet type
    12, 18, 24 Filler cabinets can adjust in pullouts.
    30 Single basic sink
    33 Double basic offset sink
    36 Double basic sink
    48 Largest base cabinet size (commonly found in homes.

    Wall cabinet size: Height, depth, width

    • Used for food stuff storage and lightweight appliances which can directly be hung on the wall.
    • You can show these off. Things are kind of, quite obvious.
    • One way to save money could b to have simple base cabinets but accessorized wall cabinets with glass inserts or inside cabinet lighting.
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