Natural fibre-reinforced sandwich structural panels for building applications

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The objective of this project is to produce, on an industrial scale and using a single step molding procedure, three layers sandwich panels composed two composite skins made from wood polymer composites (WPC) and a low density core made of a structural polymer foam (SPF) with and without wood addition. These panels will be light weight and multi-functional due to the foamed core (increased flexural rigidity and impact strength) as well as providing thermal and acoustic insulation due to the cellular structure. Overall, four important aspects will be investigated: 1) to produce and characterize mechanically and thermally symmetric and asymmetric panels, 2) to develop predictive models for the mechanical and thermal properties of symmetric and asymmetric panels, 3)to optimize the processing conditions relating morphology to properties of symmetric and asymmetric panels, and 4) to study the effect of recycling and long term properties of all the panels produced. The project will deliver knowledge and technology for the development of new environmentally responsible structural sandwich materials with excellent thermal and structural properties. The new products developed in this project will have applications in residential and industrial buildings for load bearing walls and roof panels.