When people are looking for wooden products like furniture, they will find a material called ‘composite wood‘ are popular on the market.

One of the reasons that people love wood furniture because of their durability and strength.

But what is composite wood? and what are the differences between composite wood and solid wood?

1. What is Composite Wood?

Composite wood is a mixture including wood fibers or wood flour. You can tell by its name for sure.

Before composite wood was invented, there is no other choices but solid raw wood. When it comes to wooden products, all the products are made of heavy solid wood.

In the early 1980s, a company called American Woodstock developed a technology called WPC (Wood Plastic Composite).

By using this WPC technology, the company has successfully produced a flat sheet that contains wood flour and polypropylene both.

Then they start to make automotive paneling with this WPC technology. That was the first time that composite wood emerged.

In the ’90s, more and more manufacturers started to use composite wood to produce their products, such as deck boards, wooden floor, and picnic tables.

Nowadays, composite wood has become an important role in the whole industry.

2. What is Composite Wood Made of?

Composite wood is made of wood fiber or wood flour, binding agents and plastic materials.

To check out some common thermoplastics that are used, you can see the list below:

• PE (Polyethylene)
• PP (Polypropylene)
• PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride)
• PLA (Polylactide)
• ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene)

Besides plastics, lignocellulosic and inorganic filler materials are also often used in making composite wood as well.

3. Advantages of Composite Wood

Compared to traditional wood, what’s good about composite wood?

After mixing heated thermoplastic resin and wood particles together, composite wood tends to be stronger and more durable than traditional lumber.

By adopting a certain of technology, composite wood can be ultra-light but also durable.

Another advantage is that composite wood is eco-concern. It can be made of waste wood chips/wood pellets. There are tons of waste wood that can be recycled and reproduced as composite wood every year.

Composite wood is also low-maintenance because it is a treated material and a finished product.

You don’t need to think about things like varnishing and cleaning, the merchants have done everything for you.

Is composite wood waterproof?

Yes,  composite wood is waterproof.

As a material that is made for wooden product industry, usually composite wood is made to be weatherproof and stain-resistant.

Is composite wood toxic?

Well, it depends.

Having inferior paint on the surface or using harmful substances to mix wood particles, such things will make composite wood release toxic chemicals like Formaldehyde.

So it is better to check out if the materials are environmental and harmless before buying something that is made of composite wood.

So, that is pretty much it, hope this helps you to know more about composite wood.