The Experts below are selected from a list of 5235 Experts worldwide ranked by ideXlab platform
Douglas J. Gardner - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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TEN-YEAR FIELD STUDY OF Wood Plastic CompositeS IN SANTIAGO, CHILE: BIOLOGICAL, MECHANICAL AND PHYSICAL PROPERTY PERFORMANCE
Maderas-ciencia Y Tecnologia, 2018Co-Authors: Douglas J. Gardner, Alejandro BozoAbstract:Outdoor durability of Wood Plastic Composites is a major focus of research and development efforts toward development of more robust building materials. Exterior exposure of Wood Plastic Composites can result in weathering, moisture absorption, fungal and termite attack to various levels of severity depending on the Composite formulation. Long-term (> 6 years) field exposure studies of Wood Plastic Composites are lacking in the scientific literature. It is the overall goal of this paper to report on a ten-year field study of Wood Plastic Composites performed in Santiago, Chile. The Wood Plastic Composite formulations were comprised of polypropylene, Wood flour, and various additives. Qualitative measurements were made on the stakes each year including the determination of decay and termite ratings on a scale of 1 to 10 as specified in American Wood Preservers’ Association Standards. Surface weathering or discoloration, surface fungi colonization, presence of mold, and/or lichen was noted. The amount of dimensional change (swelling) of the samples in ground contact was determined. Determination of flexural properties of the control and 10-year exposed Wood Plastic Composite stakes were conducted. All the Wood Plastic Composite stake formulations maintained excellent performance ratings after the 10-year field exposure with ratings of 10 for decay and 10 for termites. The Wood Plastic Composites stakes experienced swelling in contact with the soil with the majority of swelling occurring during the first year of exposure. Although the Wood Plastic Composite stakes did well regarding decay and termite performance, the portion of the stakes exposed above ground exhibited various amounts of weathering, surface fungal colonization, and mold and mildew depending on the formulation. Flexural properties of the Wood Plastic Composite stakes decreased or were maintained for the 10-year exposure depending on the Composite formulation.
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Wood–Plastic Composite Technology
Current Forestry Reports, 2015Co-Authors: Douglas J. Gardner, Yousoo Han, Lu WangAbstract:Wood–Plastic Composites (WPCs) are a form of Composite combining Wood-based elements with polymers. The processes for manufacturing WPCs include extrusion, injection molding, and compression molding or thermoforming (pressing). Newer manufacturing processes for WPCs include additive manufacturing via fused layer modeling and laser sintering. An important constraint for polymers used in WPCs is requiring process conditions (melt temperature, pressure) that will not thermally degrade the Wood filler. Wood degrades around 220 °C; thus, general- purpose polymers like polyethylene and poly vinyl chloride are typically used for manufacturing WPCs. Wood fibers are inherently hydrophilic because of the hydroxyl groups contained in the cellulose and hemicellulosemolecular chains. Thus, modification of the Wood fiber via chemical or physical treatments is very critical to making improved WPCs. The most abundant profiles made from Wood–Plastic Composites are boards or lumber used in outdoor decking applications. Although early WPC products were mainly extruded for pro- filed sections, nowadays, many injected parts made of WPC are being introduced for various industries, including electri- cal casings, packaging, daily living supplies, and civil engi- neering applications. Mold and mildew and color fading of WPCs tend to be the durability issues of prime importance for WPCs. Most recent research on WPC durability focuses on studies to better understand the mechanisms contributing to various degradation issues as well as methods to improve durability. Most WPC products in the USA are utilized in building materials with few exceptions for residential and commercial building applications, which means that building codes are the most important national rules for theWPC man- ufacturers. New developments are being made especially in the area of nano additives for WPCs including nanocellulose. Recently, the trend of patent registrations for WPCs has shifted to newproducts or applications instead of the materials itself.
Lu Wang - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Wood–Plastic Composite Technology
Current Forestry Reports, 2015Co-Authors: Douglas J. Gardner, Yousoo Han, Lu WangAbstract:Wood–Plastic Composites (WPCs) are a form of Composite combining Wood-based elements with polymers. The processes for manufacturing WPCs include extrusion, injection molding, and compression molding or thermoforming (pressing). Newer manufacturing processes for WPCs include additive manufacturing via fused layer modeling and laser sintering. An important constraint for polymers used in WPCs is requiring process conditions (melt temperature, pressure) that will not thermally degrade the Wood filler. Wood degrades around 220 °C; thus, general- purpose polymers like polyethylene and poly vinyl chloride are typically used for manufacturing WPCs. Wood fibers are inherently hydrophilic because of the hydroxyl groups contained in the cellulose and hemicellulosemolecular chains. Thus, modification of the Wood fiber via chemical or physical treatments is very critical to making improved WPCs. The most abundant profiles made from Wood–Plastic Composites are boards or lumber used in outdoor decking applications. Although early WPC products were mainly extruded for pro- filed sections, nowadays, many injected parts made of WPC are being introduced for various industries, including electri- cal casings, packaging, daily living supplies, and civil engi- neering applications. Mold and mildew and color fading of WPCs tend to be the durability issues of prime importance for WPCs. Most recent research on WPC durability focuses on studies to better understand the mechanisms contributing to various degradation issues as well as methods to improve durability. Most WPC products in the USA are utilized in building materials with few exceptions for residential and commercial building applications, which means that building codes are the most important national rules for theWPC man- ufacturers. New developments are being made especially in the area of nano additives for WPCs including nanocellulose. Recently, the trend of patent registrations for WPCs has shifted to newproducts or applications instead of the materials itself.
Akbar Zolfaghari - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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design optimization and manufacturing of Wood Plastic Composite pallet
Materials & Design, 2009Co-Authors: Ehsan Soury, Amir Hossein Behravesh, Rouhani E Esfahani, Akbar ZolfaghariAbstract:Abstract This paper presents the application of an innovative method of optimization to the design of an I-shape profile used in a Wood–Plastic Composite (WPC) pallet. The pallet was made via assembling three WPC extruded profiles manufactured in the extrusion process. The middle profile was considered to be I-shaped, a design which known to have a high load bearing capability. However, due to the characteristics of WPC products, a delicate design and thus optimization is highly required. A multi-objective-optimization program of micro-genetic algorithm was developed in Visual Basic environment to accomplish the optimization task. By specifying the dimensional variables of the profile section and applying finite elements analysis on the profile and then using the optimization program, an optimal profile section was obtained. The objective was to withstand the maximum load while yielding the minimum deflection and mass. The optimized design was used to manufacture a die and then the product was produced to validate the design. The comparison of simulations and experimental results indicted that the given design method is reasonably reliable. The final mass of the produced pallet was less than 20 kg whereas its strength against bending and distributed smooth restraint loading were greater than 500 kg and 2000 kg, respectively.
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design and manufacture of an extrusion die for Wood Plastic Composite
Journal of Reinforced Plastics and Composites, 2009Co-Authors: Ehsan Soury, H. G. Nasrabadi, Amir Hossein Behravesh, Akbar ZolfaghariAbstract:This paper presents a simulation study and experimental verification of a die design in extrusion processing Wood-Plastic Composite profile. Flow balancing at the die exit is a major challenge in the profile extrusion die design as an unbalanced flow causes imperfect profile output. This is especially important when the final profile is complicated by having large dimensions and non-uniform thicknesses. In this study, an I-shaped profile of Wood-Plastic Composite (WPC) has been considered for the die design. Finite element method has been used to design the die channel to yield a balanced output. Phases of die design and manufacture of the I-shape profile is presented. The results show that the prediction by the simulation could give a good insight to the die design which eventually could yield an acceptable profile.
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Design and Manufacture of an Extrusion Die for Wood—Plastic Composite
Journal of Reinforced Plastics and Composites, 2008Co-Authors: Ehsan Soury, H. G. Nasrabadi, Amir Hossein Behravesh, Akbar ZolfaghariAbstract:This paper presents a simulation study and experimental verification of a die design in extrusion processing Wood-Plastic Composite profile. Flow balancing at the die exit is a major challenge in the profile extrusion die design as an unbalanced flow causes imperfect profile output. This is especially important when the final profile is complicated by having large dimensions and non-uniform thicknesses. In this study, an I-shaped profile of Wood-Plastic Composite (WPC) has been considered for the die design. Finite element method has been used to design the die channel to yield a balanced output. Phases of die design and manufacture of the I-shape profile is presented. The results show that the prediction by the simulation could give a good insight to the die design which eventually could yield an acceptable profile.
Bozo Alejandro - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Ten-year field study of Wood Plastic Composites in Santiago, Chile: biological, mechanical and physical property performance
'SciELO Agencia Nacional de Investigacion y Desarrollo (ANID)', 2018Co-Authors: Gardner, Douglas J., Bozo AlejandroAbstract:Outdoor durability of Wood Plastic Composites is a major focus of research and development efforts toward development of more robust building materials. Exterior exposure of Wood Plastic Composites can result in weathering, moisture absorption, fungal and termite attack to various levels of severity depending on the Composite formulation. Long-term (> 6 years) field exposure studies of Wood Plastic Composites are lacking in the scientific literature. It is the overall goal of this paper to report on a ten-year field study of Wood Plastic Composites performed in Santiago, Chile. The Wood Plastic Composite formulations were comprised of polypropylene, Wood flour, and various additives. Qualitative measurements were made on the stakes each year including the determination of decay and termite ratings on a scale of 1 to 10 as specified in American Wood Preservers' Association Standards. Surface weathering or discoloration, surface fungi colonization, presence of mold, and/or lichen was noted. The amount of dimensional change (swelling) of the samples in ground contact was determined. Determination of flexural properties of the control and 10-year exposed Wood Plastic Composite stakes were conducted. All the Wood Plastic Composite stake formulations maintained excellent performance ratings after the 10-year field exposure with ratings of 10 for decay and 10 for termites. The Wood Plastic Composites stakes experienced swelling in contact with the soil with the majority of swelling occurring during the first year of exposure. Although the Wood Plastic Composite stakes did well regarding decay and termite performance, the portion of the stakes exposed above ground exhibited various amounts of weathering, surface fungal colonization, and mold and mildew depending on the formulation. Flexural properties of the Wood Plastic Composite stakes decreased or were maintained for the 10-year exposure depending on the Composite formulation.Office of Naval Research Pan American Collaboration on Wood Composites, Long Range Navy and Marine Corp. Science and Technology Program Termite Resistant Wood Plastic Composites for Building Construction BAA 04-001Task4 Maine Agricultural and Forest Experiment Station (MAFES) projects ME09615-08MS National Science Foundation Research Experience for Undergraduates Project EEC-106300
Alejandro Bozo - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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TEN-YEAR FIELD STUDY OF Wood Plastic CompositeS IN SANTIAGO, CHILE: BIOLOGICAL, MECHANICAL AND PHYSICAL PROPERTY PERFORMANCE
Maderas-ciencia Y Tecnologia, 2018Co-Authors: Douglas J. Gardner, Alejandro BozoAbstract:Outdoor durability of Wood Plastic Composites is a major focus of research and development efforts toward development of more robust building materials. Exterior exposure of Wood Plastic Composites can result in weathering, moisture absorption, fungal and termite attack to various levels of severity depending on the Composite formulation. Long-term (> 6 years) field exposure studies of Wood Plastic Composites are lacking in the scientific literature. It is the overall goal of this paper to report on a ten-year field study of Wood Plastic Composites performed in Santiago, Chile. The Wood Plastic Composite formulations were comprised of polypropylene, Wood flour, and various additives. Qualitative measurements were made on the stakes each year including the determination of decay and termite ratings on a scale of 1 to 10 as specified in American Wood Preservers’ Association Standards. Surface weathering or discoloration, surface fungi colonization, presence of mold, and/or lichen was noted. The amount of dimensional change (swelling) of the samples in ground contact was determined. Determination of flexural properties of the control and 10-year exposed Wood Plastic Composite stakes were conducted. All the Wood Plastic Composite stake formulations maintained excellent performance ratings after the 10-year field exposure with ratings of 10 for decay and 10 for termites. The Wood Plastic Composites stakes experienced swelling in contact with the soil with the majority of swelling occurring during the first year of exposure. Although the Wood Plastic Composite stakes did well regarding decay and termite performance, the portion of the stakes exposed above ground exhibited various amounts of weathering, surface fungal colonization, and mold and mildew depending on the formulation. Flexural properties of the Wood Plastic Composite stakes decreased or were maintained for the 10-year exposure depending on the Composite formulation.
