Development of sustainable sandwich panels with cementitious faced reinforced with 3D jute and mallow fabric and polymeric core

Abstract

The construction industry has sought to develop lighter, more resistant and sustainable products, resulting in incessant research into the application of renewable, low-cost and recyclable materials as an alternative to new raw materials. The Amazon region has an extensive biodiversity, among which jute and mallow fibers are found, these are produced by several riverside communities. However, nowadays, these fibers are losing space in the market, the great majority being destined to the production of sacks, leading many companies that explored this raw material to bankruptcy. Based on this problem, this study aims to produce and evaluate the performance of sandwich panels made of cement-face plates reinforced with 3D jute and mallow fabric and with partial replacement of Portland cement by thin concrete waste, and polymeric core composed of recycled polypropylene with the addition of short fibers of jute and mallow. Prototypes of sandwich panels will be produced on a laboratory scale of 400 x 400 x 26 mm (width x length x thickness) that makes it possible to study the panel's properties properly. To achieve the objectives, the properties of the core, the faces and the sandwich panel will be evaluated through physical-chemical, mechanical, microstructure, thermal-acoustic and durability analyses. Thus, the use of these raw materials is expected to add social, economic and sustainable value. Furthermore, it allows for an increase in the properties of the composite and provides its applicability on a commercial scale, since this type of material has the purpose of replacing walls and partitions with no structural function, intended for offices, businesses and homes. (AU)