Recycling of cork residues into cork-cement panels or light-weight concrete

abstract

The work presented here concerns the study of the mechanical properties of cement-cork composites, so as to forecast any applications for these kind of composites, and thus increase the value of this particular material. The cork (the bark of Quercus suber L.) used in this work was of Portuguese origin. The composites in this research work were produced under two different ways/shapes: as concrete samples and as panels (both according to the applicable standards). In concrete form the cork composites, had poor mechanical properties and did not meet the requirements for use as structural lightweight concrete. Even the application of treatments deigned to improve properties did not bring about a sufficient improvement. Cork-cement panels met all the requirements defined in the appropriate European Standard, except bending strength. More research is underway to improve bending strength of cork panels, to understand why the cork-concrete specimens did not perform well, and to improve their properties.

keywords

PORTLAND-CEMENT; TROPICAL HARDWOODS; TENSILE-STRENGTH; WOOD; COMPATIBILITY; COMPOSITES; HYDRATION; HEARTWOOD

subject category

Engineering; Materials Science

authors

Pereira, C; Jorge, FC; Irle, M; Ferreira, JMF; Neves, AS; Coutinho, JS

our authors

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