High-density polyethylene disadvantages

The specific gravity of PVC at room temperature is close to 1.4 g/cm. Compared with other commodity polymers (PE, PP) it is a very high density. For the same volume of product one has to use about 60% more PVC as compared with polyethylene or polypropylene. The very high density of PVC is most likely the biggest disadvantage of PVC which contributes to increased weight of Ihe product and the cost of raw materials required to produce it. 

Cellulose materials are good candidates to use as fillers in polymers, especially with their recent importance in recycling. There are many different types of materials available, such as wood flour, recycled newspaper, nut shells, and starch. These materials have several advantages, including low cost, low density, low abrasiveness, and they are a renewable resource. However, they do have a number of disadvantages, such as low thermal stability, high moisture absorption, and poor interfacial adhesion. Despite these problems, there are a number of products available in the marketplace. One of the most visible is plastic lumber. Most plastic lumber is made using polyethylene as the base resin and contains up to 50% wood. Much of the time, both resin and wood feedstocks come from recy-... 

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