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Quick DipsPlastic + Wood = OpportunitiesResearchers at the Auckland University's Centre for Composites Research aim to prove that virtually any type of waste plastic can be recycled and combined with wood fibre to allow the commercial production of high-grade composite sheeting with a wide variety of industrial applications. Industrial Research Ltd and the university have successfully prepared and tested sample blends of wood fibre and waste plastics. The test samples demonstrate superior properties to similar types of composites produced overseas. The university team had been working with Forest Research and a private company on combining virgin plastics with wood fibre to make large composite sheets, and decided to see if they could make the same product using waste plastics instead. The work has grown out of a project funded last year by Technology New Zealand and the Plastics Institute of New Zealand's research arm. Through PhD research, the university and Forest Research developed a prototype dry-forming machine. The technology has been patented and the research team plans to construct a large-scale machine that will produce a semi-continuous line of composites sheeting to establish its commercial viability. The Auckland University research team, led by Professor Debes Bhattacharyya, is well known internationally in the composites area. Interest in the wood fibre project has been shown by various international organisations. One potential use for the new product is in car manufacturing. European car manufacturers, such as Volkswagen, are using an increasing amount of natural fibre-reinforced plastic interior panels. |
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