Nov 30, 2023

What Is WPC Profile?

WPC Profile is a wood plastic composite material composed of natural wood fibers combined with thermoplastics for long-term strength. Ideal for construction projects and outdoor usage such as flooring, decking, railings, fences and landscaping as well as indoor/outdoor wall cladding applications; door/window frames/pallets as well as any wood products requiring strong durability are made using this material.

WPC stands out from other wood-based materials by its impressive resistance to corrosion, atmospheric agents and UV rays; its impermeability makes it suitable for applications like flooring and decking - which are the two primary uses for this versatile material. Huangshan Belson Decoration Material Co., Ltd enables manufacturers to manufacture WPC profiles containing up to 80% natural fiber without diminishing product quality.

Wood flour or fibers combined with polymers such as PE, PP, LDPE or PVC are mixed into a dough-like consistency before various additives such as plastic coupling agents, stabilizers and foaming agents are added to tailor it to a particular end use. Following pressing through a die to shape into desired forms and cut to length as required before being sanded or polished as the final product may then be finished off by either cutting it to length or polishing to achieve final shape.

Mechanical properties of WPCs depend on their ratio between cellulose content and polymer content, for instance with 50% wood flour content the material resembles neat polymers in terms of strength and stiffness; with higher levels of cellulose it behaves more like solid wood, having lower stiffness and strength than this approach.

Flame retardancy of WPCs is another crucial aspect that determines their uses across applications. There are various methods available to improve this property of composites, including impregnating natural fibers with flame retardants prior to production by impregnation; adding fire retardants in liquid or solid form during composite production; or using nanoparticles containing inorganic flame retardants as ways of increasing fire resistance.

One way to increase flame retardancy of WPCs is to use more wood fibers, which is much cheaper than more costly polymers. Unfortunately, this can increase their flammability, creating health and safety risks for building occupants. To avoid this scenario, some manufacturers are exploring methods of adding flame retardants directly into polymer matrix or coating the surfaces of composites with flameproof agents. The most efficient method for increasing flame retardancy of WPCs is using nanoparticles of inorganic flame retardants that are more resistant to thermal degradation than standard polymers. Unfortunately, however, this requires additional testing and development before it can be commercialized, as well as being prohibitively costly for many manufacturers. Therefore, finding a balance between cost and safety must be achieved for producing safe yet effective WPCs is paramount for safe production processes.