Development and Characterization of Bio-Materials for Sustainable Construction

全球对可持续新材料的需求越来越关注。人们的兴趣迫使工业界改变其回收利用和生物降解的方法，并用可再生材料取代目前的石油基材料。一些石油塑料产品是可回收的，但大部分仍然在我们的垃圾填埋场结束。该研究将评估与非食品相关的农业植物纤维材料，如大麻，红麻和黄麻与环氧树脂的混合物，该环氧树脂已被大豆，松树或蓖麻油等生物基树脂取代。将评估小型和大型复合材料的性能（例如拉伸、压缩、弯曲弯曲强度、夏比冲击韧性、循环疲劳和高低温耐久性），以确定其作为土木工程建筑材料的适用性。将研究机械和化学材料相互作用的基本机制。新的市场应用可能包括空心管、快速建筑用夹层板、镶板、瓷砖、建筑壁板和原位混凝土模板。

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.