Wood Plastic Composites (WPC)

Helping build the future with sustainable wood plastic composites

The popularity of wood plastic composites (WPCs) keeps growing. And with good reason.

A long list of building, construction, and even automotive applications can benefit from great long-term durability and appearance. Minimal maintenance. Light weight. Weather resistance. All with the potential for lower life cycle costs compared to traditional lumber.

That’s why we’re excited to share a rich portfolio of polymers that helps deliver all that – plus the ability to develop innovative solutions with improved sustainability, processability, and performance.
 

Let’s make WPCs even better

Teaming up with us creates opportunities for the development of exciting WPC products with:

Wood plastic innovation through collaboration

Developing wood plastic composites with Dow and our diverse portfolio puts a wealth of material science expertise at your fingertips. This gives you the flexibility to design innovative, differentiated WPC solutions that focus on specific application challenges.

Enhanced sustainability with Dow wood plastic composites

WPCs have helped turn wood and plastic waste into useful, durable products for decades. Still, the importance of sustainable choices continues to grow constantly.

Our silicone enhanced polymer system (SEPS) – AMPLIFY™ Si PE 1000 Polymer System – allows even higher levels of recycled plastic and wood content while maintaining or improving WPC performance.

In addition to putting less plastic and wood into landfills, WPCs made with AMPLIFY™ Si materials can help reduce energy costs and carbon footprints. As a result, they help support efforts toward a more circular economy.

FUSABOND™ Functional Polymers, AMPLIFY™ GR Functional Polymers, and SURLYN™ Ionomers also help extend the life of WPC boards, keeping them out of landfills longer.

AMPLIFY™ Si PE 1000 Polymer System Video
Discover the advantages our Silicone Enhanced Polymer System (SEPS) can offer your WPCs.

Improved throughput, processability & appearance

The lower melt temperature of AMPLIFY™ Si PE 1000 helps reduce torque and thermal degradation during processing. This enables not only increased productivity with fewer rejects, but also better appearance/color.

Our FUSABOND™ and AMPLIFY™ GR Functional Polymers offer a range of excellent coupling agent options. For example, FUSABOND™ M603 Functional Polymer features exceptional bonding between wood fibers and the polymer matrix, with less susceptibility to lubricant interference.

In the cap layer, SURLYN™ Ionomers add excellent clarity and aesthetics for great appearance.

Excellent toughness, durability & service life

The low melt temperature of AMPLIFY™ Si products also help improve tensile and flexural strength in finished WPCs.

FUSABOND™ coupling agents also support long-term durability, with improved modulus of rupture (MOR) and modulus of elasticity (MOE), dimensional stability, fiber dispersion, impact and creep resistance.

Likewise, DOW™ High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) Resins, in virgin and/or recycled form, offer excellent strength and durability to WPC formulations. (Other virgin and/or recycled PE materials can also be used.)

And again, SURLYN™ Ionomers “cap it all off” with exceptional resistance to impact, scratches, stains, and ultraviolet (UV) light to help extend product life.

Increased moisture resistance

The absorption of moisture by wood fibers can lead to swelling, mold, and severe damage to WPCs.

Fortunately, FUSABOND™ M603 Functional Polymer is ready to help. The unique anhydride functionality of this random ethylene copolymer enables improved moisture resistance and strength when used at lower levels than traditional maleic anhydride grafted (MAH) coupling agents. At higher levels, it can provide even better performance, for dramatic reductions in water absorption.

Looking to improve your wood plastic composites? Let’s mix it up together.