Types of Plastic Lumber

Plastic lumber is also known as composite lumber, because it is made with various substances that improves upon the material’s strength and durability. This material often uses recycled plastic components, making for an environment friendly building material. Moreover, it can withstand wet weather more readily and efficiently than ordinary lumber.

Single Polymer

As the name implies, single polymer plastic wood is made up of just one type of plastic. The material commonly uses recycled high density polyethylene or HDPE, which is also used to make detergent bottles and plastic bags. Thanks to its composition, single polymer plastic is more consistent than other plastic lumber materials.

Bio-Composite

Essentially, the components of bio-composite plastic lumber include shredded wood, flax, straw, rice hulls, and similar materials, which are embedded in a thermoplastic matrix. However, as these materials have short fibers, bio-composite materials tend to weaker than wood. This is why bio-composite plastic lumber must have about 50% or less of these short fiber materials to be considered plastic wood.

Fiberglass Reinforced

Fiberglass is an excellent building material as it can significantly improve the strength of the material it’s added to without significantly increasing its weight. Hence, fiberglass-reinforced wood sees plenty of use in tall buildings, marine equipment and structures, and even massive load bearing structures, thanks to its outstanding properties.

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HDPE—Getting to Know a Durable Plastic Material

Plastics are one of the most important inventions of the past 200 years. They are easily adaptable, have many uses, and are often tough to break. One such class of plastics is the centerpiece of a high value market – HDPE, or high-density polyethylene.

HDPE is a highly durable plastic made from petroleum. It possesses a high strength to density ratio and the density ranges from 0.93 to 0.97 grams per cubic centimeter. Intense heat tolerances are a hallmark point of the material, as it can withstand a continuous burst of heat up to 110 degrees Celsius while the tipping point for a short exposure is 120 degrees.

Although the plastic’s density is only slightly higher than LDPE (low density polyethylene), HDPE has significantly stronger intermolecular and tensile strength than its low density counterpart. The chemical composition also allows for high impact resistance and durability against corrosive materials, which is why it is mostly used in industrial and water pipes.

That being said, HDPE also serves a multitude of different uses—some companies have fashioned myriad applications for them. These include lining for fireworks, storage sheds, outdoor home extensions and related furniture, electrical boxes, and wood substitutes for important projects such as marina docks. In some cases, HDPE can be machined for use as school lockers.

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