The news about composites hasn’t been all that good.  Although they were originally intended to replace wood and all of its deficiencies, they haven’t met expectations.

Mounting Evidence that WPC Weathering Resistance is Not Perfect, The Hackwell Group, Spring 2007

WPCs Need Protection Too, Plastics Engineering, July 2007

Degradation of Wood-Plastic Composites Exposed Under Tropical Conditions, Forest Products Journal, November, 2006

Wood-Plastic Composites Weathering Quality Issues, Plastics Technology, September, 2005

Consumers are getting the message too…

Composite Decking vs Wood Decks, Gardenstructure.com, March 2007

Wood Deck Alternatives, Bob Villa

Composite Decking, Ask the Builder®

“Decking – An Evaluation of Available Wood, Vinyl, & Composite Decking,” Backyard America, 2006

Industry Links

Plastics Technology Magazine
http://www.ptonline.com/

Modern Plastics Magazine
http://www.modplas.com/

Principia Partners – Consulting experts in the wood/polymer composites industry
http://www.principiaconsulting.com/

And to subscribe to their world readership monthly Natural & Wood Fiber Composites newsletter
http://www.principiaconsulting.com/publishing/publishing_newsletter.cfm

Forest Products Laboratory in Madison, WI
http://www.fpl.fs.fed.us/

Plastics News
http://www.plasticsnews.com/subscriber/headlines.phtml

Builder on-line
http://www.builderonline.com/

Construction Materials Information
http://www.reedfirstsource.com/wood-plastics-and-composites

Composites World
http://www.compositesworld.com/