Investigation of Epoxy-Polyester Resin Effect Resulting from Waste Powder Coating on the Physical and Mechanical Properties of Wood-Plastic Composite

To investigate the effect of epoxy-polyester resin on mechanical and physical properties of wood-plastic composite, polypropylene, wood flour and epoxy-polyester resin were mixed by an internal mixer and molded. The epoxy-polyester resin can be cured and made cross links between chains at the mixing temperature; so it can affect the properties of the composite. The result of tensile and flexural tests revealed that introduction of epoxy-polyester resin increased tensile and flexural modulus but reduced mechanical strength as well as elongation at break. Also such a material decreased impact strength. On the other hand, epoxy-polyester resin reduced water absorption of the samples and consequently decline thickness swelling. Therefore, it reduced stresses which were produced by swelling as a result of water absorption in the sample and shrinkage after drying.