Wood Plastic Composite Market, by Type (PE-based Composites, PVC-based Composites, PP-based Composites, and Others), by Application (Building & Construction, Automotive Components, Industrial & Consumer Products, and Others), and by Region (North America, Latin America, Asia Pacific, Europe, and Middle East & Africa) - Size, Share, Outlook, and Opportunity Analysis, 2021 - 2028
Wood plastic composite is panel or lumber product made from recycled plastic and small wood particles or fibers. Wood plastic composites (WPC) are relatively new products as compared to natural lumber or traditional wood composites such as particleboard or fiberboard. In general, manufacturing of WPC is a two-step process. Combination of wood and thermoplastic such as high density polyethylene (HDPE), low density polyethylene (LDPE), and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) are mixed together dough-like-consistency called compounding. Mixing can be handled by either batch or continuous process. In addition to the main ingredient wood with grain size ranging from 20 to 60 mesh, plastic coupling agents, stabilizer, foaming agents or dyes also are added to enhance properties of the final product for a particular use. The majority of WPC is produced by extrusion process, which uses variety of extruder types such as single screw or double screw to form final shape of the material.
For instance, in August 2021, Teknor Apex co., a chemical company had developed a new weatherable polyolefin based outer layer or ‘cap’ layers of dark color wood plastic composite decking which provides greater durability and scratch resistance than any other material, this material is named as WG-9000. Moreover, Capstock is a new kind of composite decking material that combines composites (plastic and wood fiber core) with a ‘durable’ exterior layer of polyvinyl chloride (PVC), the Capstock work as a hybrid material layer on the wood plastic composite which improves the durability.
For instance, JRS, J.RETTENMAIER & SOHNE group, is an industry working on the development, processing, and optimization of high-grade natural fiber from the cellulose, wood, grain, and fruit plant for use in pharmaceutical, foodstuff, animal feed, industry and technology. Moreover, the company had developed a new technology of additive manufacturing (3D printing) for the exploration the wood plastic composites which will help for the manufacturing of the complex geometries. For example use in the medical applications. The company is further working on the improvement on the adhesion of the hydrophilic natural wood fibers and hydrophobic polyolefin.
For instance, China developed a new co-extrusion technology for the development of the single material extrusion molding, used for the manufacturing of mainstream processing method for the wood plastic composite products, use for the manufacturing of plates, profiles and pipes. This latest development has opened the application sector of wood plastic composite in a larger area.
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