TITLE:
Development of Composite Materials Based on Recycled Polystyrene and Wood Residues for Building Applications
AUTHORS:
Edem Chabi, Ernesto Cabral Houehanou, Guy Oyéniran Adéoti, Edmond Codjo Adjovi
KEYWORDS:
Wood-Polymer Composite, Wood Sawdust, Expanded Polystyrene, Particleboard, Sustainable Construction
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Applied Sciences,
Vol.14 No.12,
December
23,
2024
ABSTRACT: The building sector significantly influences the environment, notably through resource consumption and waste production. Evaluating locally available resources and adopting sustainable development practices are essential to mitigate this impact. This study proposes the fabrication of a wood-polymer composite by recycling polystyrene and wood sawdust. Polystyrene was dissolved in a solvent to obtain a polymer matrix, which was then reinforced with recycled wood sawdust. The mixture was cold-pressed to form composite panels. Physical properties such as density and absorption, as well as mechanical properties like the modulus of elasticity and flexural strength, were examined. Results show that the physical and mechanical properties of the composites vary with the particle size distribution of the wood particles. The modulus of elasticity and flexural strength increase with particle size. The maximum values obtained for the modulus of elasticity and flexural strength are 842 MPa and 3.16 MPa, respectively. These physical and mechanical characteristics indicate that the developed composite material can be used to manufacture elements such as furniture, false ceilings, and lightweight partitions, thereby contributing to more sustainable construction practices.