The MDF powder/PVC composite is a product with unique characteristics in the domestic market and offers a number of advantages for customers and consumers. With high durability, lightness and 100% recyclability, plastic wood has proved to be a good solution for the profile segment. Braskem's partner in the development of the new technology was Perfiltec, a company based in Caxias do Sul (RS) specializing in the production of extruded profiles for the construction, furniture, and automotive industries, among other sectors. The interest in new opportunities in the market brought the two companies together and inspired the launch of the Infinity line, a series of Perfiltec products based on the PVC/MDF composite. The new line includes outdoor furniture, construction applications, and the agricultural market. "This was another case of development of a solution alongside our customers, with great results. We have combined the characteristics of PVC polymer with MDF powder and found a very interesting technology for several segments. This product already has a large market abroad, and we expect growth in Brazil soon," according to Wagner Ormanji, Application Engineer at Braskem. Although the appearance is similar to natural wood, the new PVC solution presents many important differences and advantages, such as: increased durability and mechanical strength, lower weight, low water absorption, anti-pest immunization, and flame-retardant material. Sustainability is another strong feature of the composite. During the production of the plastic wood, Perfiltec reuses the MDF powder of the furniture industry, a traditional sector in the Caxias do Sul region, which until then was wasted in the environment or incinerated, at high costs. The company also offers consumers a reverse logistics system in which it is able to collect the products of the Infinity line for recycling. Currently, the composite is offered exclusively by Perfiltec as a raw material for products with prices 35% below the market average. With positive perspectives, the company and Braskem are already developing new applications of the composite for bodies and floors of buses and trucks. "The PVC/MDF composite is an innovative product that has did not exist in the market a few years ago. With the recovery of the economy, our expectation is to sell between 70 and 80 metric tons of the composite per month, including opportunities in the automotive market," commented Loreci Miranda, Director of Perfiltec.
