Shamsul Haq

By Shamsul Haq

The compositions of mango wood-polypropylene composites (WPCs) are formulated, with different compositions of virgin polypropylene (PP) or recycled PP, mango wood waste and a coupling agent. The compositions are fabricated via melt extrusion compounding pursued by injection hot molding. The tests of the prepared compositions are carried out for, water absorption, thickness swelling, surface properties at a nano-scale and interfaced morphology. Comparative study of WPCs composition has done on respective properties. All processing variable conditions are constant for different compositions. The recycled PP based wood composites with or without the coupling agent possessed superior properties in comparison to virgin PP based composites. FESEM images show that coupled composite is having the better bonding strength and smoothness along with a higher dimensional stability in comparison to none coupled composite. Future endeavor should be focused on optimizing the composition of reinforcement wood and recycled plastics matrix according to intended application. The quality of WPCs can also be improved with the co-ordination of latest development in technology and processing technique relevant to them. WPCs study supports “turning waste into something useful”. This provides the mileage in price performance ratio and also the product’s environmental footprints to be adjusted to suit the products application.

Part of the book: Engineered Wood Products for Construction

By Amit Prem Khare, Nidhi Dwivedi and Shamsul Haq

The expeditious transformation of the atmosphere and economy is pushing researchers from various fields to do more by using a lesser amount of resources. Especially, in the field of forest-based resources, such as the utilization of wood resources for different utility purposes in wood industries. It is meant to say that, the wood estate should be used as an efficient means or expedient. It is also the necessity of world atmosphere, according to the point of view ecosystem or global warming condition. Thus, we will need to sustainably use forest-based resources as major sources of wood materials and reuse the underutilized woods and waste wood in any form. Further, it will require the reuse of the underutilized wood material and present wood waste material in an environment with the assistance of the latest and newer growing technology. In general, for improving the performance of wood-based materials, additives may be used for performing different functions, such as lubricants, pigments, colorants, anti-microbial agents, antioxidants, UV stabilizers, fire retardants agents, coupling agents, or stabilizers, in the wood industry.

Part of the book: Wood Industry