Plastics are present in the most diverse products and become a problem after being discarded. of slow degradation (takes about 100 years to decompose), are responsible, for example, by problems such as “blockages” of sanitation and rainwater systems, that cause floods in cities.
Plastic waste is an important factor in the solid waste issue, because although they represent only about 4% a 7% of the total weight of the waste (due to its low density and the format of the artifacts produced), ends up representing up to 20% do volume total.
A solution to this challenge is Plastic Wood or Ecological Wood, that combines ecological aspects, economic and social. That is, it is synthetic wood (MS), which in the world market is already widely known as WPC (Wood Plastic Composite) - wood and plastic composite. Plastic Wood has an extremely broad market, can be used, with advantages, for almost all purposes of common wood and/or plastic.
The product
Plastic Wood is a new product, ecologically correct, manufactured from the transformation of reusable raw materials (natural or not) and of recyclable materials (as waste from various types of plastics and vegetable fibers). This process results in pieces that can imitate and/or replace natural wood, with advantages.
The base of the product is any type of recyclable plastic, to which you can add up to 40% of vegetable fiber, such as: serrim, coconut fiber, bamboo, Coffee grounds, corn cob, rice husk, leather scrapes, cotton, sheets, and another infinity of others.
It is possible to introduce dyes into the mixture, making any kind of color (as long as the plastic waste to be used is clear).
Environmental Aspects:
The main environmental benefits are:
The product prevents the cutting of trees, preserving the forests;
The use of waste contributes to the cleaning of the environment;
In addition to using recycled materials, the product is recyclable;
The process does not generate any kind of pollution or waste.
Generic Aspects:
Our process uses materials such as:
Various plastic waste (Listed below).vegetable waste: cereal husks, sawdust, sugarcane bagasse etc.Mineral waste: carbonates, plaster, fiberglass etc.Animal waste: leather, by the, penalties etc.industrial waste: rubbers, silicones, PU etc.Usable resins and polymers:In principle, any plastic can be used in our process. still, not all offer the ideal features. Among plastics, the most applicable are:
a) HAVE TO (high density polyethylene);
b)HAVE TO (low density polyethylene);
b) HAVE TO (Polypropylene);
c) PS (polystyrene);
d) ABS (acrylonutril butathiene styrene);
e) PA (poliamida = nylon).
Frequently Asked Questions AnsweredEcowood can have different colors?At first yes, with the inclusion of pigments in formulas. The most easily obtained shades are dark colors (black, brown and gray).
Why not just use plastic in the composition?Because the combination of vegetable fibers and plastics makes the material look and feel like wood. This allows the product to be nailed, bolted, sawn, anyway, treated as if it were natural wood. In addition to maintaining plastic characteristics, how to be waterproof, be immune to pests, not having splinters etc.. If we only use plastic, will not have the same resistance, will be very flexible, we can't use nails, i.e, it won't be Ecowood.
I need special tools to use plastic wood?No. Plastic wood can be worked with the same tools used for natural wood.
can be painted?Sim, can be painted with different types of paints and varnishes.
What maintenance is required for plastic wood?No maintenance required., can be used in its original state. Nonetheless, if there is application of paint or varnish on the product, this application must undergo periodic maintenance, as with natural wood.
absorbs moisture?No.
How plastic wood behaves in temperature change?There are no specific studies on this aspect.. However, practical tests performed did not show variations in the dimensions of the tested profiles.
What is the weight of plastic wood compared to natural wood?depends on the wood. Compared to hardwoods, has similar weight. However, in comparison with less noble woods, plastic wood is heavier.
Article taken from Portal da Madeira: http://portaldamadeira.blogspot.com