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Material and process development for the production of wood-biopolymer sandwich panels based on renewable resources. Subproject 2 (BIO-SANDWICH)
Project
Project code: 28WB304002
Contract period: 01.01.2014
- 30.06.2016
Budget: 263,399 Euro
Purpose of research: Applied research
The demand for renewable raw materials in material and energetic uses is growing rapidly. The wood-based panel industry is one of the major consumers of wooden raw material. By selectively reducing the density of the panel structure, as done in sandwich panels, less material is necessary to achieve comparable properties. The project aims at the development of an innovative bio-based composite material based on wood and foamed bio-plastic derived from cellulose. The goal is to create a sandwich panel with a light, foamed core structure and high density wood-based facings. Based on a cellulose derivative a new expandable granulate will be developed in the project. This opens the possibility to substitute the so far used fossil based polystyrene. A parallel, critical observation by means of life cycle analysis (LCA) evaluates the product and eventually adjusts the project. For the production of such panels the plastic granulate, loaded with a propellant, is scattered between two layers of agglutinated wood particles. By heat and pressure the cover layers are compacted and the adhesive cures. Subsequently, the polymer phase softens, followed by the activation of the blowing agent. To allow the expansion of the polymer, the hot press opens to a predefined distance. By expansion the lightweight foam core bonds to the facings and forms a three layered sandwich panel. Through the project new approaches for the use of wood, as well as new possible uses for by-products of the timber industry can be developed. By substitution with bio-plastics instead of well-known polystyrene for the production of a foam core, an environmental friendly, resource efficient and lightweight material will be established.
Section overview
Subjects
- Forestry
- Process engineering
- Renewable Resources
- Climate Change
Framework programme
Funding programme
Excutive institution
Fraunhofer Institute for Environmental, Safety and Energy Technology (UMSICHT)
