European standard Unti-UV plastic wood composite decking in China| Hanming plastic wood composite decking

Europe Standard Plstic wood composite decking in China 

Since the 1990s, due to the characteristics of plastic wood composite decking  promoting resource recycling and environmental protection, the government and various parties have drawn attention to the stage of rapid development in the United States. At present, the plastic wood industry has become the world. In order to promote the development of the plastic-wood industry in an orderly and smooth manner, the key industries of high-speed development in many countries, including China, need to have relevant standards to regulate production and management activities, while plastic-wood composite materials have both plastic and The characteristics of wood, which is processed by plastic modification and molding, such as molding materials, injection molded parts or pressed parts, but in the application, it is mainly to replace wood or other materials. When the content of wood fiber is continuously improved, the material is Performance will be different from both plastic and wood. Existing plastic or wood standards cannot be applied, so professional standards must be established according to the characteristics of plastic wood products. China has also begun work in this area. In order to learn from the advanced experience of foreign countries, the author has collected relevant standards from the United States, Europe, Canada and other countries after years of continuous search. This article will focus on foreign wood-plastic standards with ASTM in the United States. Introduction and analysis of the profile.———–wood plastic composite decking 

I. Overview of foreign plastic wood products standards
1. United States
In the early 1990s, the United States created a small number of small plastic wood companies by improving a number of wood-based extrusion molding technologies from Europe. The products were originally used in picnic tables, park benches, decking, garbage container covers, and other outdoor applications. A support frame that bears a small load, and the like. The cross section of the extruded profile is mostly rectangular, and the raw materials of the product are basically wood powder made of recycled plastic and discarded wood or wood chips. At the time of the technical level, the plastic content is generally higher than 50%. The product is referred to as RPL, (ie Recycle Plastic Lumber). Due to the large variations in the source of the processing materials, the performance of the RPL varies significantly with the different batches of the same producer, and even more with different producers’ products. With the development of the wood-plastics industry, the use of RPL for outdoor buildings such as decking, fences and docks has been considered an important development direction. So to make these materials widely used in the construction field, the understanding of these engineering mechanical properties is even more important. Efficient and economical building design requires accurate determination of the flexural strength and stiffness of the wood-based product, the determination of its creep properties and thermal expansion, and other mechanical properties. Safety and responsibility conditions are also part of the engineering design. Therefore, the lack of RPL standards and specifications for industrial applications is seen as a major obstacle to increasing the use of such materials in the construction industry.
Initially, RPL manufacturers used pure synthetic resin testing methods to measure compressive strength, flexural strength, and elastic modulus. It was later discovered that testing the RPL using existing methods does not fully accurately reflect the performance of the product. Because the specimens specified in these test methods are cut by injection or from large samples. However, the thick section of the RPL material and the uneven material may contain some impurities; the thermodynamic characteristics of the process will also result in an uneven density gradient of the RPL section. The test results will vary significantly depending on where the sample is sampled in the cross section. In July 1993, in order to develop the test methods and specifications required for plastic wood products, ASTM established the ASTM sub-technical committee for processing recycled plastic wood materials and profiles. It was determined that the material was tested by sampling in the original natural state of the product. Has developed the compression properties of plastic wood profiles, material flexibility, bulk density and specific gravity, pressure creep, flexible creep and creep rupture, mechanical fasteners, at (-30 ~ 140) °F (-34.4 ~ 60 Under the condition of °C, the seven test method standards such as linear coefficient of thermal expansion and shear are determined. These standards took almost four years to develop and were officially promulgated between 1997 and 1999.
While developing test methods, the ASTM committee also embarked on specifications for RPL procurement and sales. For each type of final application of the RPL on the building structure, such as decking, joists, formwork, etc., it is necessary to separately specify the specifications according to the final use requirements and performance requirements. Because the use of RPL for the manufacture of civil boards has significant market prospects, the first specification is aimed at such markets. In March 2001, the formulation and implementation of ASTM D6662 polyolefin-based wood-based materials was completed.
With the development of the plastic wood industry and the improvement of the level of plastic modification technology, the amount of wood fiber or other bio-fibers is continuously increasing, exceeding the range of 50% of the original standard. Under such circumstances, in order to adapt to the development of the industry, The ASTM committee also developed D7031 “Standard Specification for Physical and Mechanical Properties Testing of Plastic-Wood Composite Products”, which was promulgated in 2004. In 2004, the company also completed the development of the D7032 “standard specification for the establishment of the performance level of plastic-wood composite paving and fence system (guardrail or handrail).” The standard was revised five times from 2005 to 2007 and officially promulgated. In the 2006a version, a solution was proposed for performance testing of hollow or thin-walled products. This shows that the American ASTM Committee is highly concerned and valued by plastic wood products and industries.
In order to promote the application of plastic wood in the construction field, it showed the successful use of plastic wood and obtained information and data to promote the standard-setting work. In the 1990s, the standard process was also implemented, “Plank sidewalk paving of Kelleys Island, Erie Lake, Ohio”. Five demonstration projects, including “The Floating Dock of the 2000 Olympiad Navigation Competition in New York State in New York”.
In the International Code Council of ICC (International Code Council), published the specifications for the construction industry, the acceptance criteria for AC109 thermoplastic wood composite products and the acceptance criteria for AC174 plank span grade and guardrail system (guardrails and handrails). 》, and the certification service provided by ICC Evaluation Company, the product is verified by ICC-ES, and the obtained report can be regarded as proof of meeting the regulatory requirements.

2. Canada
Canada has not yet seen national standards for plastic wood, but the Canadian Building Materials Center has already developed two technical specifications for plastic wood products: “Technical Specifications for Rectangular Outdoor Slabs (Solid Sections) of 06522 Thermoplastic Wood Composites” and “06525” Technical Specifications for Outdoor Pavement (Hollow Section) of Cellulose/Polymer Composites, the test methods for the physical and mechanical properties of wood-based products in these two specifications, except for most of the ASTM standards in the United States. Relevant professional standards or specifications of Canadian CSA, NBC, ULC, etc. Canada’s construction industry technical specifications have specific and detailed characteristics, and relevant professional authority evaluation agencies provide testing and evaluation services.

3. Europe
The European Committee for Standardization’s Plastics Professional Committee was drafted (mainly) and discussed on December 29, 2006 by adopting a draft drafted by the United Kingdom, officially announced in May 2007, and published on June 29, 2007. The Technical Specification of WPC) (an errata was also issued in August), which is divided into the following three sections under the general heading:
Part 1: Test methods for plastic-wood composites (WPC) and product properties
Part II: Performance of WPC Materials
Part III: Performance of WPC Products
According to the internal regulations of the European Committee for Standardization, national standards organizations of the countries listed below must publish the technical specifications: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. Within three years of the publication of the draft, it will be revised to determine whether it will be upgraded to European standards. In order to obtain information and experience in practical applications, the above countries use the draft temporarily and should publish the technical specifications as published in European standards so that they can be used quickly in the appropriate form at the national level. Allow conflicting national standards to be used simultaneously before the decision to upgrade to the European Standard (EN).

The acquisition and condition adjustment of the sample are specified in the first part of this technical specification; and the test methods for various properties such as physical properties, mechanical properties, durability, thermal properties, flammability, and color fastness are specified. The specified specific performance of more than 40 items, quite detailed and pragmatic, such as the bending performance in mechanical properties, is divided into materials, non-bearing products, bearing products and so on.
In the second part, the measured and selected performance of WPC materials for external and internal applications are specified, and detailed tables are provided without specifying specific performance values.
In the third part, the performance and selected performance of the WPC products of decking and Siding are separately specified, and a table without specifying specific performance values ​​is also provided.
The properties listed in this specification are selected from the test methods for plastics and wood and are directly applied to the relevant international standard (ISO), European standard (EN) or equivalent to the European standard (EN ISO).

Plastic wood composite decking in Hanming

Best wood to Use for decks

Second, analysis and discussion
In the past two years, China’s plastic wood industry has entered a stage of rapid development due to the emphasis on resource recycling, environmental protection and energy conservation. Exports are also expanding. Under such a background, the voice of formulating national standards as soon as possible The higher the price, the more attention has been paid to the standardization management department. Through the author’s understanding of the current foreign standards, I believe that there are many experiences and lessons worth learning from. The following questions are discussed and discussed:
1. In the process of digesting foreign standards, it is realized that for a new industry, in order to facilitate communication and communication within and outside the industry, the first nouns and terminology related to plastic wood need to have a unified norm. The next step is to develop national standards to provide the necessary basic conditions.

2. About the definition of WPC
“WPC (wood-plastic composite)” is defined in the ASTM standard in the United States as “a composite material mainly made of wood-based or cellulose-based materials and plastics.” and WPC is described in the X1.3 note in the D7031 appendix. The difference from “Plastic lumber” is that the content of plastic resin is less than 50%, that is to say, WPC in the ASTM standard refers to a wood-plastic composite with a wood flour (or cellulose) content higher than 50%.
In the draft European standard drafted in the United Kingdom, it is defined as: “A material or product that is processed or further processed by one or more cellulosic materials and one or more thermoplastics through a plastics processing process.” The author believes that ASTM For historical reasons, the standard limits the concept of WPC to products with a wood flour content higher than 50%. This may be a deficiency in the development process, and may be solved in further development, and the expression in the draft European standard is more precise.

3. Method for sample acquisition
For wood-plastic products, it has the dual characteristics of wood and plastic. Its relevant performance test methods cannot simply apply the relevant standards of plastic or wood. It is necessary to formulate relevant test methods for relevant properties according to the characteristics of plastic wood. In the American ASTM standard, considering the density unevenness of the wood-plastic profile, the sample is specified to be taken from the length direction of the profile, and the European draft standard proposed by the United Kingdom stipulates that the sample is generally specified unless specifically specified in the relevant test method. It is processed into a specified size by sawing, milling, and the like. For foam WPC products, the thickness of the specimen should be the actual thickness of the selected sample. There are significant differences in the methods of obtaining these two standard samples.

4. About the formulation of standard technical specifications for plastic wood
At present, most of the wood-plastic products are processed by plastic extrusion molding, because of their different uses (such as: outdoor flooring, fences, wall panels, tray panels or beams, harbor or dock guards, etc.); The quality of the plastic is different (such as new resin, different grades of recycled materials, etc.); the varieties of plastics are different (such as: PE, PP, PVC, ABS, etc.); the ratio of plastic and lignocellulose is different (such as 50/50, 60/40, 40/60, etc.; the structure of the profiles is different (such as solid, hollow, cored, etc.), the variety of profiles, performance requirements are different, so it is impossible to use one or several sets of performance for plastic wood products. Numerical indicators are used as the evaluation criteria for product quality. For this reason, in the process of formulating foreign plastic wood standards, the following solutions are mainly adopted:
 Firstly, the technical specifications of the test methods for various performances shall be formulated. The supply and demand sides of the products may, according to the various performance test methods and product use requirements of this standard or technical specification, stipulate specific performance indicators and determine the terms related to the contract.
 Develop specifications for procurement and sales of products with high market demand and good prospects. For example, D6222 in the United States stipulates the dimensional tolerance of products for polyethylene-based plastic wood decking; D7032 has developed Deck Board and Guardrall Systems. (Standards or handrails) Standard specifications for performance levels, etc.
 As a rapid development of new materials, the technology, quality, application fields and varieties of plastic-wood products will inevitably change constantly. Therefore, those parts that cannot meet the development conditions of standards or specifications need to be supplemented or revised in time. For example, the above-mentioned D7032 “Standard Specification for the Establishment of Performance Grades of Plastic Wood Composite Pavement and Fence System (Guardrail or Handrail)” was promulgated and implemented in 2004, revised twice in 2005, revised twice in 2006, and revised in 2007. According to incomplete statistics, it has been revised to more than 40 places to promote the development of the industry in a timely and effective manner. At the same time, I feel that foreign advanced countries attach great importance to standards and closely cooperate with the pragmatic attitude of industry development.

5, a few suggestions
 Although China’s plastic wood industry started late, it has entered the initial stage of rapid development. It is urgent to have uniform standards or technical specifications. For this reason, it is recommended that China Standardization Technical Committee establish a plastic wood sub-technical committee as soon as possible to uniformly organize plastic wood standards. And the development of technical specifications;
 Before the establishment of the plastic wood sub-technical committee, in order to gain time, the industry association may, in accordance with the degree and needs of the industry development, timely formulate an implementation plan for the technical specifications of the performance test method, and organize the implementation as soon as possible;
 We should fully absorb the experience of foreign countries. Firstly, we should formulate technical specifications for various performance test methods according to the characteristics of plastic wood products, instead of first formulating numerical indicators for the performance of plastic wood products;
 When formulating test methods, according to the principle of China’s standardization work, through the necessary verification, priority should be given to the relevant ISO international standards and foreign advanced standards with international influence. This is also conducive to the trade communication of most of our products exported abroad.

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