Development of a low carbon emission composite sandwich panel

Development of a low carbon emission composite sandwich panel

A low carbon emission construction material using waste streams and natural fibres is developed in this study. The mechanical behaviour of sandwich panels constructed with varying core and skin materials is investigated and optimised their performance for structural applications. The investigated sandwich panels involve the use of two different types of fabric (hemp and recycled PET) and three different types of waste-based core materials (composite wood, recycled plastic, and styrofoam). Skins for the sandwich panels were fabricated with bio-epoxy resin by vacuum infusion. The mechanical (tensile) and thermal (glass transition temperature) properties of skins were investigated under different environmental conditions (normal air, water, hygrothermal, saline water, and elevated temperatures). A theoretical model has been developed to calculate the bending capacity of the sandwich panels. The main findings of this study indicate that the proposed design of sandwich panels can reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 90% compared to traditional sandwich panels. Moreover, elevated temperatures have a greater detrimental effect on composite skin performance than any other environmental factor investigated in this study. Hemp skins are more susceptible to environmental effects than recycled PET skins. A higher core stiffness makes panels less likely to fail from indentation. Moreover, the core strength is the dominant factor for predicting failure loads for brittle core sandwich panels, while skin strength is the governing factor for flexible core sandwich panels. Through the optimisation of material selection and manufacturing processes, this study contributes to the advancement of eco-friendly composite technologies and the development of circular economies. It is recommended that further research should be conducted in order to determine the feasibility of large-scale production, long-term durability, and recyclability.