자외선을 처리한 목재 플라스틱 복합재의 물리 및 역학적 성질 평가

Evaluation on Physical and Mechanical Properties of Wood Plastic Composites Treated under Ultraviolet Irradiation

In this study, we received each wood plastic composites (WPC) from three manufacturers. These WPCs were evaluated regarding their physical and mechanical properties of both before and after accelerated weathering by ultraviolet (UV) irradiation. The total time of exposure of the WPCs to UV irradiation was 1800 h. The water absorption, volumetric swelling and shrinkage of WPCs did not affected by UV irradiation. Among the mechanical properties, there was no significant differences in bending strength and screw withdrawal resistance of UV treated WPCs compared with those of reference WPCs. However, surface hardness of WPCs showed decrease under UV irradiation. Stereoscopic microscopy observation revealed deterio-ration of the surface layer polymer in all weathered WPCs by UV. Exposure of the WPCs to UV irradiation caused decomposition and disappearance of the polymer layer. From this result, we can estimate that damage of polymer by UV led to a decrease in the surface hardness of the WPCs. The wood flours retained original shape after accelerated weathering by UV irradiation.