Impact characterization of bio-based sandwich panels with cork core

Currently, for ecological and economic reasons, cellulosic fibres obtained from plants have enormous advantages for industrial applications. For example, the automotive sector suggests the use of composites reinforced with natural fibres due to their biodegradability, availability, low cost, and non-abrasive properties. However, due to the low resistance to localized impact loads, the use of composite materials is still a problem for many applications. In this context, sandwich composites can be a solution to overcome this problem, especially when they incorporate cork as a core. Cork has an alveolar structure, and it presents high specific strength and stiffness, near zero Poisson coefficient, high tolerance to the impact loads, impervious to liquid and gases, resistance to reactive agents and microorganisms, resistance to wear and fire, very low thermal conductivity, good acoustic insulation capacity and excellent damping characteristics. Therefore, this work intends to produce and characterize a novel bio -sandwich panel with a cork core and a laminate facing reinforced by date palm leaflets and using a green epoxy resin. The benefits of this new bio - sandwich, in terms of impact strength, will be determined by comparison with a bio -compo site laminate involving the same resin reinforced with date palm leaflets. It was possible to conclude that the cork core was responsible for lower impact loads and higher restored energy. (C) 2022 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V.

Automated summary

Due to ecological and economic reasons, cellulosic fibres obtained from plants have advantages for industrial applications. However, their use in composites is still problematic. This research focuses on developing a novel bio-sandwich panel with a cork core and a laminate facing reinforced with date palm leaflets, showing lower impact loads and higher restored energy.