Overview of European discussions on Standardisation and list of proposed standards for WPC performance qualification

IRG/WP 06-20345

G Labat, M Vernois, T Gay

The standardisation is a driving force to promote the development of Wood Polymer Composites (WPC) by giving confidence to users and consumers. In Europe, the high interest of WPC require at this time a diffusion of information concerning the performances of WPC products. The WPC performances must be assessed according relevant standards in order to qualify the intrinsic properties of WPC (mechanical properties, physical properties, durability, …). WPC processing and environmental aspects must be taken in account. A CEN/TC 249 WG 13 "Wood Plastics Composites (WPC)" have been created in 2005. In France, a French Standardisation committee BNPP/BNBA T54 W has been created in France in 2004, jointly by the BNPP (Bureau de Normalisation des Plastiques et de la Plasturgie) and the BNBA (Bureau de Normalisation du Bois et de l'Ameublement). A high interest of French companies from the two sectors have been observed. An overview of European discussions on Standardisation and list of proposed standards for WPC performance qualification are discussed. Following discussions in very at European level will be to define a list of suggested standards elaborated to qualify plastics and wood-based products and to propose relevant standards to qualify WPC. Current discussions are on going at this time in CEN/TC 249 WG13 and in French standadisation committee T54W to select and to propose change of the standards (ISO standards, EN standards and other document) in order to purpose test methods for characterisation of WPC material and products. Future works will be done in 2006 to validate these documents and to purpose standards.


Keywords: wood, flours, fibers, polymer, PVC, PP, PE, composite, thermoplastic process, standardisation, performances, qualification, standard

Conference: 06-06-18/22 Tromsoe, Norway


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