Abstract:
This research aims to study the development of composite materials from recycled polystyrene (RPS) mixed with bamboo powder (BB) derived from used bamboo chopsticks. The preparation was done using a twin screw extruder, followed by molding with an injection molding machine. The proportions of bamboo powder were set at 10, 20, 30, and 40 %wt. The matrix of the wood-plastic composite was a blend of RPS and recycled EVOH (REVOH) at EVOH ratios of 70, 60, 50, 40 30 and 20 %wt The results indicated that the optimal matrix ratio was 60:40 %wt, and the best wood-plastic composite ratio was 70:30 %wt. The mechanical properties decreased as the BB content increased.The study examined the use of PE-G-MA at 3%, 5%, and 7% %wt, focusing on BB proportions of 30 %wt and 40 %wt. The results showed that the 70:30 %wt wood-plastic composite with 3 %wt PE-G-MA exhibited the highest mechanical properties. However, increasing the PE-G-MA content to 5% and 7% %wt led to a decline in mechanical properties. Conversely, for the 60:40 %wt wood-plastic composite, the mechanical properties improved with higher PE-G-MA content. The best formulation was the 60:40 %wt Blend with 7 %wt PE-G-MA.Furthermore, the cost calculation revealed that the product costs 31 baht per piece per kilogram.