Resumen

SOLIS, M. E  y  LISPERGUER, J. H. Impact and Tensile Strength of Wood-Plastic Composites. Inf. tecnol. [online]. 2005, vol.16, n.6, pp. 21-25. ISSN 0718-0764.  doi: 10.4067/S0718-07642005000600004.

This article describes the effect of addition of wood flour from two different species, Pinus radiata D.Don (pino) and Nothofagus alpina (raulí) on the mechanical properties of wood-plastic composites, using 10 and 20% wood content in the polymer matrix. The thermoplastic materials employed included high density polyethylene (HDPE) and polypropylene (PP), both of commercial origin. The mixtures were prepared using a laboratory single-screw extruder, and samples were prepared to determine Izod impact strength and tensile strength as a function of wood content. The tensile strength of HDPE and PP composites increased with 10% raulí wood content. This resistance was somewhat less in samples having the same pine content. Composites with greater wood content (20%) present lower tensile strength values. The impact strength of HDPE and PP based composites with 10 and 20% of both wood species showed a high percentage decrease with respect to the pure polymers.

Palabras clave : strength of materials; wood-plastic composites; impact strength; tensile strength.