This article presents the application of waste sanding dusts in order to evaluate its suitability as reinforcement for thermoplastics as an alternative to wood fibers. The effects of sanding dust loading and nanoclay content on the physical and mechanical properties were also studied. Overall trend showed that with addition of sanding dusts, tensile and flexural properties of the composites were significantly decreased, due to the reduction of interface bond between the fiber and matrix. It was found that flexural, tensile and withdrawal strength of fasteners were moderately enhanced by the addition of 2 wt% nanoclay in the matrix. However, with increase in the nanoclay content (4 and 6 wt%), the flexural and tensile properties decreased significantly. The results also showed that the withdrawal strengths of screws are much higher than those of nails. At certain amount of sanding dust, with increasing nanoclay loading the withdrawal strengths of fasteners (screws and nails) were considerably decreased. The thickness swelling and water absorption of the composites dramatically decreased with the increase in nanoclay loading. Except thickness swelling, both variable parameters (sanding dust and nanoclay contents) showed significant influence on physico-mechanical properties.

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The present study was carried out to investigate the effect of material‐blending method and filler content on the physical and mechanical properties of medium density fiberboard (MDF) dust/PP composites. In the sample tests preparation, 40, 50, and 60 wt % of MDF dust were used as lignocellulosic material. Test samples were made to measure the influence of material‐blending method and MDF dust content on water absorption (WA), thickness swelling (TS), modulus of elasticity (MOE), modulus of rupture (MOR), tensile strength, tensile modulus, and withdrawal strengths of fasteners. The mechanical properties of the test panels significantly decreased with increasing MDF dust contents due to the reduction of interface bond between the fiber and polymer matrix. The WA and TS values also increased by increasing the amount of MDF dust. So with the increase in the MDF dust content, there are more water residence (high hydroxyl groups (OH) of cellulose and hemicelluloses) sites, thus more water is absorbed, so it can reduce mechanical strength. Furthermore, the results indicated that the physical and mechanical properties of samples made with melt‐blend method were more acceptable than those of dry‐blend method. Field emission scanning electron microscopy micrographs also showed that the polymer and the filler phase mixed better in the melt‐blend method. On the basis of the findings of this research, it appears evident that certain amount of MDF dust material with suitable material‐blending method can be used in manufacturing of wood–plastic composites for providing good physical and mechanical properties. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2014, 131, 40513.