Final Report Summary - ECO-PCCM (Eco-houses based on eco-friendly polymer composite construction materials)
The scientific and technological research objectives of ECO-PCCM project were:
development of renewable natural fibre composites based on annually grown plant (rice straw, hemp, kenaf, cotton, sisal, flax) and wood (cellulose) fibres and bioderived renewable polymers (starch based, PLA), suitable for structural applications;
application of various forms of plant fibres: short, long, continuous, woven fabrics and non-woven mats and investigation of their influence on 3P (properties / performance / price) ratio;
- tailoring of the fibre / matrix interactions and interface characterisation in GREENECO composites;
- development of suitable means of connecting panellised natural fibre composite structural components, with an emphasis on ease of assembly and modification during the life of the building;
- development of panellised components with integral thermal and acoustic insulation for improvement of energy efficiency in eco-buildings;
- development of appropriate manufacturing technique suitable for rapid industrial application, a wide range of products and optimised low-production costs;
- pre-industrial prototype realisation and characterisation;
- waste minimisation - reuse and recycling: Reuse and recycling of thermosetting and thermoplastic based composites by mechanical/thermal treatment. Design of recycling facilities for transformation/conversion of solid-plastic waste into polymer mortars for the low-cost building industry. Development of materials and process that allow an easy deconstruction-recycling-reuse, selective demolition process, methods for recycling-reuse of polymer composite construction wastes, etc.
The work that was performed during the project was divided into the following work packages (WPs):
WP1: Development of renewable eco-friendly composites, suitable for structural components
WP2: Design and processing of panellised natural fibre composite structural components and suitable means for their connecting
WP3: Development of panellised components with integral thermal and acoustic insulation for improvement of energy efficiency in eco-buildings
WP4: Development of appropriate manufacturing technique suitable for rapid industrial application, a wide range of products and optimized low-production costs
WP5: Waste minimisation - reuse and recycling
WP6: Project management.
During the three years of the ECO-PCCM project, all the WPs were completed.
The objectives of the first WP were the following:
a) development of renewable natural fibre eco-friendly composites;
b) application of various forms of plant fibres and their influence on 3P (price / performance / properties) ratio;
c) tailoring of the fibre / matrix interactions and interface characterization in ecocomposites.
The milestone of this package was the development of thermoplastic biocomposites at lab scale for properties assessment.
The second WP had the following objectives:
a) design and processing of panellised natural fibre composite structural components;
b) development of suitable means for connecting with an emphasis on ease of assembly and modification during the life of the building.
The milestone that was achieved during this WP was the production of demonstrators with the optimised materials composition to achieve targets to be tested on WP3 and WP4.
The third WP aimed to the development of panellised components with integral thermal and acoustic insulation for improvement of energy efficiency in eco-buildings, which was achieved in due time.
The fourth WP aimed to the development of appropriate manufacturing technique suitable for rapid industrial application, a wide range of products and optimised low-production costs. This objective was also achieved in due time.
The objectives of the fifth WP were the following:
a) development and design of recycling-reuse facilities for transformation / conversion of solid-plastic waste (not only from construction activities) into polymer mortars for the low-cost building industry;
b) development of methods-guidelines for the waste minimisation after the use of the eco-friendly polymer construction composites in the building / structures;
c) development of materials and process that allow an easy deconstruction-recycling reuse, selective demolition.
The milestone of this project, which was achieved in due time was the development of methods-guidelines for the waste minimisation of eco friendly composites.
The objectives of the sixth WP were the following:
a) project progress control and planning;
b) exploitation and dissemination of results, intellectual property rights (IPR) securing;
c) interaction with related project and international association.
development of renewable natural fibre composites based on annually grown plant (rice straw, hemp, kenaf, cotton, sisal, flax) and wood (cellulose) fibres and bioderived renewable polymers (starch based, PLA), suitable for structural applications;
application of various forms of plant fibres: short, long, continuous, woven fabrics and non-woven mats and investigation of their influence on 3P (properties / performance / price) ratio;
- tailoring of the fibre / matrix interactions and interface characterisation in GREENECO composites;
- development of suitable means of connecting panellised natural fibre composite structural components, with an emphasis on ease of assembly and modification during the life of the building;
- development of panellised components with integral thermal and acoustic insulation for improvement of energy efficiency in eco-buildings;
- development of appropriate manufacturing technique suitable for rapid industrial application, a wide range of products and optimised low-production costs;
- pre-industrial prototype realisation and characterisation;
- waste minimisation - reuse and recycling: Reuse and recycling of thermosetting and thermoplastic based composites by mechanical/thermal treatment. Design of recycling facilities for transformation/conversion of solid-plastic waste into polymer mortars for the low-cost building industry. Development of materials and process that allow an easy deconstruction-recycling-reuse, selective demolition process, methods for recycling-reuse of polymer composite construction wastes, etc.
The work that was performed during the project was divided into the following work packages (WPs):
WP1: Development of renewable eco-friendly composites, suitable for structural components
WP2: Design and processing of panellised natural fibre composite structural components and suitable means for their connecting
WP3: Development of panellised components with integral thermal and acoustic insulation for improvement of energy efficiency in eco-buildings
WP4: Development of appropriate manufacturing technique suitable for rapid industrial application, a wide range of products and optimized low-production costs
WP5: Waste minimisation - reuse and recycling
WP6: Project management.
During the three years of the ECO-PCCM project, all the WPs were completed.
The objectives of the first WP were the following:
a) development of renewable natural fibre eco-friendly composites;
b) application of various forms of plant fibres and their influence on 3P (price / performance / properties) ratio;
c) tailoring of the fibre / matrix interactions and interface characterization in ecocomposites.
The milestone of this package was the development of thermoplastic biocomposites at lab scale for properties assessment.
The second WP had the following objectives:
a) design and processing of panellised natural fibre composite structural components;
b) development of suitable means for connecting with an emphasis on ease of assembly and modification during the life of the building.
The milestone that was achieved during this WP was the production of demonstrators with the optimised materials composition to achieve targets to be tested on WP3 and WP4.
The third WP aimed to the development of panellised components with integral thermal and acoustic insulation for improvement of energy efficiency in eco-buildings, which was achieved in due time.
The fourth WP aimed to the development of appropriate manufacturing technique suitable for rapid industrial application, a wide range of products and optimised low-production costs. This objective was also achieved in due time.
The objectives of the fifth WP were the following:
a) development and design of recycling-reuse facilities for transformation / conversion of solid-plastic waste (not only from construction activities) into polymer mortars for the low-cost building industry;
b) development of methods-guidelines for the waste minimisation after the use of the eco-friendly polymer construction composites in the building / structures;
c) development of materials and process that allow an easy deconstruction-recycling reuse, selective demolition.
The milestone of this project, which was achieved in due time was the development of methods-guidelines for the waste minimisation of eco friendly composites.
The objectives of the sixth WP were the following:
a) project progress control and planning;
b) exploitation and dissemination of results, intellectual property rights (IPR) securing;
c) interaction with related project and international association.
