Abstract

In this research, the use of peach pits in polypropylene-based composites has been investigated. Specimens manufactured with 50% and 60% peach pits were evaluated and compared with a control sample manufactured with 60% radiata pine wood and polypropylene. Both composites filled with peach pits presented improved physical properties, and higher porosity than radiata pine wood-based composites. In addition, the peach pits based composites showed lower mechanical properties than those made from pine particles. This difference increased when adding higher amounts of peach pits to the composites. The lower mechanical properties were attributed to the higher amount of extractives of the peach pits compared with pinewood.