Sustainable elements from re-growing raw materials

Sandwich materials show a high stability at a comparatively low weight. Goal of this DBU project was to produce a light natural sandwich material (LNS) based on re-growing resources as well as to develop LNS-product prototypes.

Sustainable elements from re-growing raw materials
Cross-section of different LNS-sheets
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The entire process chain of plant cultivation, harvest technology, manufacturing of the LNS-core, sticking together of core and cover layer materials to LNS-materials as well as the prototype development of prefabricated parts and products was tested and optimised.

LNS-materials consist of a honeycomb core from hollow plant stalks (natural tubes) which are embedded in a glue foam matrix and sticked together rectangularly with cover layers of plywood. Raw material of the foam matrix is a glue from vegetable oil. The LNS-sheets are a durable high-quality product that can be won at a low energy level, and can be disposed off thermally or through processing to chipboards in the after-use phase.

LNS can replace conventional sandwich materials which are manufactured at a high energy level from synthetic materials and cause considerable waste disposal problems.