The impact of water exposure on the mechanical properties of a wood-plastic composite

Processed and unprocessed polypropylene samples reinforced with various proportions of pine and beech wood were manufactured using pressure molding and subjected to various mechanical tests. Increasing the percentage of wood particles regardless of the wood species was associated with increased density and hardness of the wood-plastic composite, while tensile strength, deformation at fracture, and elastic limit decreased with increasing particle size. Higher moisture contents were associated with increases in both tensile strength and elastic limit.