Characterization of CaCO₃ Filled Poly(lactic) Acid and Bio Polyethylene Materials for Building Applications

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Acoustics
• Sustainable Building

Background:

• Noise pollution is a significant health concern, necessitating effective soundproofing building materials.
• Gypsum boards are common but perform poorly at high frequencies and raise environmental concerns.
• There is a need for sustainable, high-performance sound insulation materials.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the soundproofing properties of bio-based thermoplastic composites filled with calcium carbonate.
• To compare the performance of these novel materials against traditional gypsum boards.
• To assess the impact of filler morphology on composite mechanical and acoustic properties.

Main Methods:

• Two biopolymers (poly(lactic) acid, bio-polyethylene) were compounded with two types of calcium carbonate.
• Soundproofing properties were evaluated using impedance tubes.
• Morphology and mechanical properties of the composites were characterized.

Main Results:

• Calcium carbonate-filled bio-composites demonstrated superior sound barrier performance compared to gypsum.
• These materials exhibited four times higher sound insulation than gypsum, despite a decrease in some mechanical properties.
• Filler inclusion positively impacted production costs and maintained thermoplastic processing advantages.

Conclusions:

• Bio-based thermoplastic composites with calcium carbonate are a promising alternative to gypsum for sound insulation.
• These materials offer enhanced acoustic performance and sustainability for lightweight building solutions.
• Further research into filler morphology can optimize mechanical and acoustic characteristics.