Having Problems with Storage in Toilets?
Invariably, our storages in toilets &
wet areas get spoilt over a period of a couple of years. So what is the remedy?
For some time, a solution in the form of WPC is being used successfully. The
material is ideal to be used in areas where some water splash on your storages
/ cabinets are likely. These are a good substitute. Please don’t use it as a
water proof material, but as a water resistant material. While fabricating, one
must understand that the hinges etc are of metals & would need extra care
to prevent them from rust & resultant decay.
What is WPC-Wood Plastic Composite?
WPCs are composite
materials made
of wood fibre/wood flour and
thermoplastic(s). The material has a
proportion of 70 percent cellulose content (although 50/50 is
more common) to plastic, the mechanical behaviour of WPCs is most similar to
neat polymers (fibre plastic).
Advantages of WPC:
·
WPCs do not corrode and are highly resistant to
rot, decay, and Marine Borer attack.
·
They have good workability and can be shaped
using conventional woodworking tools.
·
WPC is considered a sustainable material as can
be made using recycled plastics and waste products of the wood industry.
·
The material carries the ability to be moulded
into almost any desired shape.
·
A WPC member can be
bent and fixed, to form strong arching curves.
·
It lacks the need for paint.
·
WPCs are manufactured in a variety of colours.
Disadvantages of WPC:
·
It is not fully
water resistant as the wood fibres embedded within the material do absorb water.
However, it is not very susceptible to effects of water.
·
Although these materials continue the lifespan
of used and discarded materials, they have their own considerable half life or
less; the polymers and adhesives added make wood-plastic composite difficult to
recycle again after use.
·
WPCs have a lower strength and stiffness than
wood.
·
Also, they experience time and temperature-dependent
behaviour.
·
The wood particles are susceptible to fungal
attack, though not as much so as solid wood, and the polymer (plastic)
component is vulnerable to UV degradation.
·
It is possible that the strength and stiffness
may be reduced by moisture absorption and freeze-thaw cycling.
·
Some WPC formulations are also sensitive to
staining from a variety of agents (even water at times).
·
WPC has higher fire hazard properties than wood
alone, as plastic has a higher chemical heat content and can melt.
