EFFECT OF VARYING PROPORTION OF FIRE RETARDANT ON MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF THE WOOD PLASTIC COMPOSITES

Wood Plastic Composite (WPC) samples were produced from powdery-form of Eucalyptus camadulensis, polyethylene and Aluminum trihydrate (fire retardant). WPC samples were produced varying the proportions of fire retardant from 0, 5, 10, 20, 30 and 40%. The properties which include density, flexural, tensile and Impact bending strength were evaluated on the samples. The mean values results obtained for density, tensile strength, tensile modulus, flexural strength, flexural modulus and impact bending strength ranges from 0.721 – 0.834 g/cm3, 20.58 – 37.02 N/mm2, 2414.31 – 4667.73 N/mm2, 25.16 – 38.86 N/mm2, 1652.29 – 2693.91 N/mm2 and 82.81 – 190.00 J/m respectively. There were significant differences between the sample treatments examined for all the properties at 5% level of probability. It was observed in this study that the strength properties of the composite increased with increase in varying proportion of fire retardant. Similarly, the addition of fire retardant to WPC samples tremendously improves the density, tensile and flexural-modulus while the other strength properties investigated increases to a certain proportion of 30% before gradual reduction in values. It was observed in this study that addition of fire retardant exceeding this proportional limit would produce weak WPC products that might not be suitable for loading bearing application.