Abstract

This study evaluated the effects of production variables on the physical and mechanical properties of Wood Plastic Composites produced from the pod of Delonixregia and pure water nylon. The boards were produced at three levels of mixing ratio. (MR 1.1), (MR 1.2) and (MR 1.2.5) of wood fiber to pure water nylon and two levels of board density, BD1 (100kg/m 3) and BD2 (1100kg/m 3). The materials were fed into the Extruder machine at the required levels of production variable, the temperatures of the extruder were controlled at 170 0 C, 180 0 C, 185 0 C and 190 0 C for zones 1, 2, 3 and 4 respectively while the temperature of the extruder die was held at 200 0 C. The screw speed was varied between 150 revolutions per minutes and the pressure from 33 to 47 bars. The extruded strand passed through a water bath and was subsequently pelletized and ran into a mold of 300mmx180mmx6.4 and hot pressed for thirty (30) minutes. The board produced was conditioned and test samples of 128mmmmX12mm x 6.4mm were cut for evaluating the water absorption, thickness swelling, modulus of elasticity and modulus of rupture. The value obtained for water absorption for 24 hours ranges from 1.22±0.241% to 2.03±0.163 % and that of Thickness Swelling ranges from 0.05±0.014 to 0.14±0.032%, Water Absorption for 48 hours ranges from 1.24±0.234 to 2.08±0.184% and that of Thickness swelling ranges from 0.05±0.017 to 0.17±0.043%. The results obtained showed that rate of water absorption of the boards produced increased from 24 hours of soaking through 48 hours. Also, an increase in mixing ratio resulted in decrease water absorption. The mean value for MOE ranges from 640.60±64.890 to 1204.63±215.847N/mm 2 while that of MOR ranges from 33.48±10.238 to 42.56±14.132N/mm 2 .This result shows that the mechanical properties increases as the plastic content in the mixture increases.