The Effect of Chopped Glass and Carbon Fiber Reinforcement on Physical, Mechanical, and Fire Performance of Wood Plastic Composites.

Wood plastic composites are among the most popular engineering materials, used as deck materials as well as in construction. To improve the properties of wood plastic composites, they are reinforced with various materials. This study investigates the synergic effect of glass fiber and carbon fiber reinforcement on wood plastic composites regarding their physical, mechanical, and fire resistance performance. The reinforcement materials significantly limited the water absorption due to their hydrophobic nature. The reinforcement fibers acted as a barrier against water and limited the uptake although the water absorption and thickness swelling values increased with exposure time. Moreover, the high strength of the reinforcement fibers improved the modulus of elasticity up to 122% and 41% for the flexural strength. Additionally, the long glass fibers significantly contributed to improving the tensile strength, which indicates that fiber length is essential. The scanning electron microscope micrographs revealed that the carbon fibers had a rougher surface than the glass fibers, proving their higher resistance to stress. The observed gaps were also evidence of poor adhesion between the matrix and the fibers. On the other hand, the carbon fibers and long glass fibers positively affected the load transfer in the matrix. Unfortunately, the fiber reinforcement has only a slight effect on the fire resistance performance. Furthermore, the improvement in the limit oxygen index test values was limited. However, the reinforcement fibers exhibit a barrier effect, inhibiting dropping, which is crucial for structural integrity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]