Physical and mechanical properties of wood-gypsum composites from demolition material in rehabilitation works

This paper presents the results of an experimental characterization of the physical and mechanical properties of wood-gypsum composites. The additives used consisted of wood shavings and sawdust from wood waste mixed in various proportions. The results showed that increasing the amount of wood waste reduced density and Shore C hardness. It was also observed that a rise in the percentage of wood waste slightly lowered thermal conductivity. This fall was more pronounced in the compounds containing wood shavings than in those with sawdust in the same proportion. In addition, the mechanical properties of the composite material were lower than in the reference samples. A 40% addition yielded a decrease in flexural strength of 61% for samples with sawdust (S40) and 65% for samples with wood shavings (WS40). Regarding mechanical resistance to compression, the compound with sawdust waste at 40% (S40) saw a reduction of 71% and 78% for the compound with wood shavings at 40% (WS40). (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.