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The influence of wood polymer composite (WPC) specimen composition and dimensions on wave propagation

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Abstract

Wave propagation velocity has been used to characterize and classify different types of materials. Proper use of this parameter means, it is necessary to know which variables affect it. This study therefore aims to evaluate the influence of composite type and specimen dimensions on the velocity of ultrasonic and stress wave propagation in compression and injection molded specimens produced with 12 different wood-polymer-composite (WPC) formulations and with high-density polyethylene (HDPE), low-density polyethylene (LDPE) and polypropylene (PP) thermoplastics. For wave propagation velocity analysis, the compression-molded specimens were cut into pieces of four different lengths with a nominal thickness of 10 mm, while the injected ones were produced in two lengths and 4 mm nominal thickness. 22 and 45 kHz transducers were used for the ultrasound wave propagation tests. Specimen size affect wave propagation velocity, showing that in the WPC classification the relationships between cross section dimensions (width and thickness) and length and cross section dimensions are important, as are the relationships between these dimensions and wavelength. The type of WPC polymer affected wave propagation velocity, showing that it is feasible to use this parameter in the classification of different polymers. Composition also affected velocity when a single polymer was used, but the influence of the dimensions hinders more conclusive results regarding wave propagation velocity sensitivity in the differentiation of different compositions.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the CNPq, National Council of Scientific and Technological Development—Brazil; the UNICENTRO, Midwestern State University; UPM, Madrid Polytechnic University; UCS, Caxias do Sul University; and Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad. Plan Nacional I + D 2013–2016. Proy.: BIA 2014-55089-P for the support received to carry out this work.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. CNPq, Brasil research scholarship, Faculty of Forestry Engineering, Midwestern State University (UNICENTRO), PR 153, Km 7, Riozinho, Irati, PR, 84500-000, Brazil

    Éverton Hillig

  2. Department of Forest and Environmental Engineering and Management, MONTES (School of Forest Engineering and Natural Environment), Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Avda. Ramiro de Maeztu, 28040, Madrid, Spain

    Ignacio Bobadilla

  3. School of Agricultural Engineering (FEAGRI), University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Av. Candido Rondon, 501, Barão Geraldo, Campinas, São Paulo, 13083-310, Brazil

    Raquel Gonçalves

  4. Timber Construction Research Group, MONTES (School of Forest Engineering and Natural Environment), Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Avda. Ramiro de Maeztu, 28040, Madrid, Spain

    Daniel F. Llana

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  1. Éverton Hillig
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  2. Ignacio Bobadilla
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Correspondence to Éverton Hillig.

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Hillig, É., Bobadilla, I., Gonçalves, R. et al. The influence of wood polymer composite (WPC) specimen composition and dimensions on wave propagation. Eur. J. Wood Prod. 76, 1153–1164 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00107-018-1309-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00107-018-1309-9

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