Suggestions
Some of these products are already licensed exclusively for certain territories and may not be available. Many of these products represent multi-billion dollar markets in the U.S. alone, and those greater than billion dollar markets are shown with an asterisk.
Slate-like roof tiles
*Wood-like decking
*Structurally insulated housing panels
*Utility poles & crossarms
*Railway sleepers
*House siding & trim
Highway sound barriers
Agricultural stakes
*Fencing
*Roofing tiles & panels
Marine pilings
*Doors
Scaffolding, non-catastrophic failure
Window frames
Sign Posts
Fireplace mantles
Picture frames
Dog houses
Crypts
Architectural interior & exterior parts
Columns
Pallet blocks
Large signage letters
*Molding
Flower pots
Mail boxes
Garage doors
Park benches
Landscape timbers
Planters
Animal stall walls
Animal feed troughs
- Low cost products, due to high filler loading and foaming
- Dimensionally stable
- Corrosion resistant
- Waterproof
- Can be fire-resistant to fireproof
- Can have high impact resistance
- Resistant to termites, insects, sea worms
- Rot-resistant
- Holds nails and screws like wood
- Easily machined
- Can be lightweight or very dense
- Thermally and acoustically insulating
- Can be painted, stained or pigmented
- Can reduce heavy metals leaching to safe tolerances
- Can be stiffer and stronger than "plastic woods"
- Will not warp, splinter, blister or soften
Test results on several synthetic lumber products, with four different fillers. This matrix contains randomly chosen products to give an idea of the mechanical properties that can be obtained. The mechanical properties vary considerably depending upon addition of fibers and/or fabrics, filler percent, other chemical additives, and the density.
|
Coal Ash
|
Mineral Filler |
Coal Ash |
Granite Dust |
Ground Waste Bottle Glass |
How Processed: |
Continuously Extruded & Formed
|
Continuously Extruded & Formed |
Hand Mixed & Cast with Continuous Carbon Fabric Sheath |
Hand Mixed & Hand Cast |
Hand Mixed & Hand Cast |
Filler/Waste Content |
65% |
70% |
40% |
75% |
70% |
Product Density, lb/cu ft |
55 |
39 |
46 |
68 |
56 |
Flexural Strength, psi
|
2500 |
1884 |
5084 |
2048 |
1797 |
Flexural Stiffness, ksi
|
500 |
312 |
998 |
263 |
300 |