A STUDY ON THE LONG TERM WATER ABSORPTION AND THICKNESS SWELLING BEHAVIOR OF WOOD-PLASTIC COMPOSITE PANELS

Wood -Plastic panels were made from high density polyethylene (as resin) and MDF waste and particleboard waste (as natural fiber) at 60, 70 and 80% by weight fiber loading. Density and dimensions of the panels were 1g/cm3and 35*35*1 cm, respectively. Physical properties of the panels including equilibrium moisture content, long term water uptake and thickness swelling behavior were studied.Results indicated that equilibrium moisture content, maximum water uptake and thickness swelling of wood plastic samples increased with the increase in fiber content from 60% to 80%. Moreover, samples with higher fiber content faster reach to saturation point.