Microstructure and compressive strength of gypsum-bonded composites with papers, paperboards and Tetra Pak recycled materials

• The incorporation of recycled papers, paperboards and Tetra Pak as filling materials in brittle matrices presents aninteresting approach in the utilization of waste materials for building construction. This paper examines the compressivestrength and microstructure of gypsum-bonded wastepaper-based composites. Recycled wastepaper of varioustypes (office paper, magazine paper and newspaper), cardboards, paper boxes and Tetra Pak were shredded to shortlength strips of about 4 × 18 mm. The shredded materials were used as filling materials in natural gypsum in a ratioof 1:3 (v/v), and water was added to the mix. The paste was formed in cylindrical samples measuring 10 cm in lengthand 5 cm in diameter. Seven different types of composites were produced depending on the material used. Thecomposite products with newspaper and magazine paper had significantly lower density and compressive strength(p < 0.05) than the others. However, the differences were small to have any practical importance. The density valuesranged between 1.26 and 1.34 g/cm3, and compressive strength was the lowest (4.48 N/mm2) in the gypsum–magazinepaper composites and the highest (6.46 N/mm2) in the gypsum–Tetra Pak I composites. Since the samplesproduced in this study exhibited adequate compressive strength, the products could be suitable for such applicationsas interior walls in building constructions. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) examination of the fractured surfacesrevealed needle-like structures of gypsite crystals surrounding the fibers, which indicates good adhesion between thehydrophobic matrix and lignocellulosic fibers.

Ämnesord

LANTBRUKSVETENSKAPER  -- Lantbruksvetenskap, skogsbruk och fiske -- Trävetenskap (hsv//swe)

AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES  -- Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries -- Wood Science (hsv//eng)

TEKNIK OCH TEKNOLOGIER  -- Materialteknik -- Kompositmaterial och -teknik (hsv//swe)

ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY  -- Materials Engineering -- Composite Science and Engineering (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

Forestry and Wood Technology

Skog och träteknik

Publikations- och innehållstyp

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