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Abstract
The weathering of wood-plastic composites changes their appearance and/or mechanical properties. These changes can be slowed through the addition of ultraviolet absorbers and pigments. The first phase of this study examined the effect of incorporating different concentrations of an ultraviolet absorber and/or pigment into wood-flour-filled high-density polyethylene (WF/HDPE) composites. Lightness and flexural properties of the composites were determined periodically during exposure to UV radiation and water spray in a xenon-arc type weathering apparatus. The influence of exposure type (UV radiation, with or without water spray) on the properties of photostabilized WF/HDPE composites was determined in the second phase of the study. The results showed that both ultraviolet absorbers and pigments provide protection against weathering of wood-plastic composites. The amount of protection can be influenced by both photostabilzer concentration and exposure variables.
Keywords
Wood–plastic composites,
weathering,
wood flour,
high-density polyethylene (HDPE),
ultraviolet absorber,
pigment,
stabilizing agents,
light absorption,
pigments,
ultraviolet radiation,
wood flour,
composite materials,
mechanical properties,
thermoplastic composites,
flexure,
polyethylene,
absorption of light,
photostabilization,
wood-plastic materials,
water spray,
xenon-arc radiation
Citation
Stark, Nicole M.; Matuana, Laurent M. 2006. Influence of photostabilizers on wood flour-HDPE composites exposed to xenon-arc radiation with and without water spray. Polymer degradation and stability. Vol. 91 (2006): pages 3048-3056.
