Development and Characterization of Bio-Materials for Sustainable Construction

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Attention has been growing globally on the need for new materials that are sustainable. Interest is forcing industry to change their approach to recyclability, bio-degradability and to replace current, oil-based materials with renewable ones. Some petroleum plastic based products are recyclable, but large portions still end up in our landfills. The research will evaluate non-food related agricultural plant-based fibre materials such as hemp, kenaf and jute mixed with an epoxy resin that has been substituted with a large percentage of bio-based resins such as soybean, pine or castor oils. The performance (e.g. tensile, compression, flexural bend strength, Charpy impact toughness, cyclic fatigue and high and low temperature durability) of small and larger scale composites will be evaluated to determine their suitability as civil engineering construction materials. The fundamental mechanisms of mechanical and chemical material interactions will be investigated. New market applications could include hollow tubes, sandwich panels for rapid construction, panelling, tiles, building siding and stay-in-place concrete forms.