| Plastics lumber shapes are commonly produced using post consumer packaging waste as the feedstock for the process. Most commercial lumber formulations contain relatively high percentages of high density polyethylene bottle scrap. Another alternative feed sock for plastic lumber is scrap electronic appliance housings. Computer housings are commonly produced from high value engineering thermoplastics such as PC, HIPS, Modified PPO, but have little commercial value as post consumer regrind due to the level of contamination associated with factors such as EMI shielding coatings. In this study, the "counterpressure intrusion" process was used to produce plastics lumber from various types of waste computer housings. The properties of the "engineering plastics" based lumber is compared to that of more convention reinforced and neat HDPE lumber, as well as pressure treated wood lumber. An effort will also be made to increase the mechanical properties of plastics lumber by adding fillers like glass fiber. The results of the study show that engineering plastic based lumber offer significant improvement in stiffness and creep resistance, but is less tough than polyethylene lumber. |
