Effect of boron compounds on the thermal and combustion properties of wood-plastic composites

In this study, the thermal properties and fire resistancesof the wood plastic composites produced with waste lignocellulosic materialswere investigated. For this purpose, lignocellulosic waste, high densitypolyethylene, (HDPE) sodium borate (borax) and boric acid was used to producethe wood-plastic composites. A twin-screw extruder was used during theproduction of the wood plastic composites. The produced composite granule waspressed at 175 °C hot press. The effects of boric acid and borax added to woodplastic composites were investigated with the thermal gravimetric analysis(TGA), the horizontal burning rate and the limiting oxygen index (LOI).According to the results, it was understood that as the amount of the boroncompounds was increased, the burning degree (°C) of the composite materialincreased. Furthermore, the using of the boric acid and sodium borate in theproduction of the wood plastic composite decreased burning speed.