Advanced polymer wood composite

A polymer and wood fiber composite capable of formation into a structural member, which composite comprises a thermoplastic linear extrudate composition, the thermoplastic consisting essentially of:

• (a) about 45 to 70 wt-% of a polymer comprising vinyl chloride;
• (b) about 30 to 50 wt-% of wood fiber having a minimum dimension of about 0.3 mm and an aspect ration of about 1.8;
• (c) less than about 8 wt-% water;
• and wherein the polymer and the wood fiber are premixed at an elevated temperature and pressure such that an intimate admixture is formed in which the wood fiber is dispersed throughout a continuous polymer phase and wherein the composite has a Young's modulus greater than 600,000 psi.

A composite composition, capable of extrusion into a dimensionally stable structural member, which composition comprises a thermoplastic material consisting essentially of:

• (a) about 40 to 70 wt-% of a polymer comprising vinyl chloride;
• (b) about 30 to 50 wt-% of wood fiber having a minimum width of about 0.3 mm and a minimum length of about 0.54 mm and an aspect ration of greater than about 1.8;
• (c) about 0.1 to 25 wt-% of an intentionally recycled impurity comprising thermoplastic polymer, an adhesive, a paint, a thermoplastic resin or mixtures thereof;
• and
• (d) less than about 10 wt-% water;
• wherein the polymer and wood fiber are mixed at an elevated temperature and pressure such that an intimate admixture is formed in which the wood fiber is dispersed throughout a continuous polymer phase and wherein the composite has a Young's modulus greater than 600,000 psi.