Abstract
A styrene solution of waste expanded polystyrene with a crosslinking agent and an initiator is used as a binder for waste wood-waste expanded polystyrene composites. The waste wood-waste expanded polystyrene composites are prepared with various binder contents and filler-binder ratios by using a hot press molding method. The apparent density of the composites is increased with increasing binder content and filler-binder ratio, while their water absorption and expansion in thickness are decreased with increasing binder content and filler-binder ratio. The maximum flexural strength and wet flexural strength of the composites are obtained at a binder content of 35% and a filler-binder ratio of 0.8. Decreases in the flexural strengths of the composites due to water immersion at 20 and 100℃ are hardly recognized at binder contents of 30% or more.
