Sustainable Lignocellulosic Composites Derived from Recycled Paper and Cardboard for Building Applications.

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Sustainable Engineering
• Waste Valorization

Background:

• Growing environmental concerns necessitate the valorization of post-consumer waste.
• Circular economy principles drive the search for sustainable building materials.
• Recycled paper and cardboard present opportunities for developing eco-friendly composites.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop lightweight sandwich composites using recycled paper and cardboard for thermal and acoustic insulation.
• To evaluate the influence of core composition and face layers on composite performance.
• To assess the potential of these composites for non-structural interior applications.

Main Methods:

• Manufacturing core panels from 100% paper, 100% cardboard, and a 50-50 mixture, with foaming agents.
• Combining cores with medium-density fiberboard (MDF), oak veneer, and date palm fibers as face layers.
• Evaluating thermal conductivity and sound absorption coefficients; microstructural analysis using SEM-EDX.

Main Results:

• Composites with cardboard-rich cores exhibited higher porosity and improved thermal insulation.
• Panel design modifications, including perforations and increased thickness, enhanced sound absorption.
• Both core composition and face layer type significantly impacted the performance of the sandwich composites.

Conclusions:

• Recycled paper and cardboard are viable sustainable materials for producing lightweight insulation panels.
• The developed composites demonstrate potential for effective thermal and acoustic insulation in interior applications.
• This study supports the use of waste materials in creating functional, eco-friendly building components.