The application of sugar beet pulp in composite materials or as a component of plastic films will provide sugar beet producers with new fields of business in the future and reduces the consumption of fossil raw materials. We are working together with the Fraunhofer UMSICHT and with partners from agriculture and industry to investigate innovative and economical usage possibilities for beet pulp.
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The wood foam-textile-reinforced concrete sandwich element unites three significant advantages:
The outer layer of concrete can, as with the initial model with PUR foam, be kept very thin through the reinforcement with textile fibers. The result is a lightweight element with very good insulation properties and load bearing capacities. The lightweight construction saves material and transport energy. The sandwich element is recyclable and should be particularly flame-resistant, due to the materials applied
At the Fraunhofer WKI, we had already developed a wood foam in an earlier project, which can be utilized in the same ways as classic plastic foams. The application for which the new sandwich element can be used in construction depends on the adjustable properties of the wood foam. Particularly as regards compressive strength and thermal conductivity, the wood foams must exhibit certain properties in order to ensure fulfilment of the requirements for the load-bearing capacity and insulation value with the smallest possible component thicknesses. Through previous investigations at the Fraunhofer WKI, it is known that the species of wood from which the wood foam is produced and the bulk density of the foam heavily influence the thermal conductivity. Broadly speaking, the lower the bulk density, the better the thermal conductivity. Simultaneously, the compressive strength of the foam decreases with the bulk density. An optimal compromise needs to be found here in order to achieve the widest possible range of application for the sandwich element. For this reason, we initially produce wood foams using differing wood species and bulk densities and characterize the foam properties such as strength, thermal conductivity and moisture behavior.
We subsequently develop a manufacturing process for the sandwich element. The wood foam core and the textile concrete top layer must form a solid bond in order for the positive mechanical properties of these two materials to be utilized. We hereby follow two different approaches:
The production and design of the textile concrete is obtained from the projects carried out at the Institute for Joining and Welding Techniques (ifs). We verify the strength of the composite by means of tensile and shear tests. Once a sufficient composite has been produced, we characterize the material properties of the sandwich element, such as thermal insulation, moisture protection, sound insulation and fire protection. From all the results obtained, we then identify possible applications for the sandwich element.
We have developed sustainable sandwich elements that result in components with sufficient load-bearing capacity and thermal and acoustic effectiveness. The sandwich elements can be utilized in lightweight curtain-wall elements as well as for interior fittings.
Funding body:
German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety
Project management:
German Federal Institute for Research on Building, Urban Affairs and Spatial Development
Duration:
1.10.2016 to 1.10.2018
Fraunhofer Institute for Wood Research