The Resysta formula consists of 60 percent rice husks, 22 percent salt and 18 percent mineral oil. This mixture is fed to an extruder equipped with a die that forms various different types of profiles.

Speaking to European Plastics News at the Spoga 2009 show, sales director Bettina Drews said that the material is developed at an MBM subsidiary company in Malaysia. She would not, however, reveal any details about additives used in the Resysta formulation, nor about the type of equipment used to produce the material and profiles.

MBM says Resysta is a ‘better wood’ material in outdoor furniture and decking as the rice husk does not absorb any water. The firm gives a 15-year guarantee on Resysta products against swelling, splitting, rot and cracking, and the product can be recycled after use. It says it can be processed like wood in terms of jointing, sanding, painting, oiling and gluing.

At the Spoga show, MBM demonstrated decking, chairs and tables all made in Resysta. Drews highlighted the company’s ‘bow’ lounger chair, which won a top 10 innovation award.

The bow chair profiles are re-heated and thermally formed into a curved shape – a possible not known with conventional WPC materials.

Resysta has a coefficient of thermal expansion of 3.6 x 10( 5) 1/K and a 1C chemical resistance rating to DIN 68861 Part1. While the fire performance rating is B2, it can be enhanced to B1 with appropriate additives.

MBM has been producing indoor and outdoor furniture for more than 50 years and has 2,000 employees worldwide. The company has set up a Resysta “think tank” to provide “unlimited creativity for architects and designers” and suggests that Resysta also has potential for applications such as sidings, jacuzzi covers and toys.