Composites from wood and ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer foam waste

   

Project no.: 09.3.3-LMT-K-712-22-0209

Project description:

Industrial waste issues have been recognized as a global. Increasing environmental regulations make it necessary to reduce, reuse or recycle different types of waste. To solve these problems, it is necessary to find ways to created new materials from waste – to create their composites. The project evaluated the suitability of industrial wood and ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer waste for the production of composite material. The granulometric characteristics of the waste were determined, the optimal composition of the composite and the parameters of the production process were selected. The physical properties of new composites have been investigated.

Project funding:

Project is funded by EU Structural Funds according to the 2014–2020 Operational Programme for the European Union Funds’ Investments priority “Development of scientific competence of researchers, other researchers, students through practical scientific activities” under Measure No. 09.3.3-LMT-K-712.


Project results:

The results of the project allow the production of new composites from commercial wood and ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer foam waste, reducing not only the environmental impact, but also the cost of materials. The strength of the resulting composite increases with density and is about 17% higher than that of commercial cork. The composite absorbs water well, its hardness is close to the cardboard from which shoes are made, and about 70% higher than that of commercial cork.

Period of project implementation: 2020-11-03 - 2021-04-30

Project coordinator: Kaunas University of Technology

Head:
Kristina Žukienė

Duration:
2020 - 2021

Department:
Department of Production Engineering, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Design