Hygrothermal Durability of Biorenewable Composites for Construction
Author: Wilfred Vencil Srubar (III.)
Publisher:
Published: 2013
Total Pages:
ISBN-13:
DOWNLOAD EBOOKConventional infrastructure materials are both resource- and energy-intensive to manufacture, and their production contributes significantly to greenhouse gas emissions, global warming, and climate change. To address growing environmental concerns over infrastructure material production, innovative, fully biorenewable materials are being developed to replace materials that are manufactured from non-renewable resources. Naturally occurring biopolymers, such as polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) and polylactic acids (PLAs), have demonstrated suitability for use in wood-polymer composites (WPCs). However, the widespread applicability of fully biorenewable WPCs remains limited due to persistent concerns over their long-term durability performance, especially in high-humidity and wet environments. The results presented in this dissertation are the results of a comprehensive evaluation of the hygrothermal durability of fully biorenewable PHA-based WPCs. The primary objectives of this work were (1) to characterize the mechanical and kinetic moisture transport properties of PHA-based WPCs, (2) to assess their moisture resistance with and without fiber-matrix chemical modifications, (3) to propose a predictive model for moisture-induced deterioration, and (4) to simulate long-term, in-situ performance using a combination of experimental and numerical methods. The results from this research contribute to the development of design tools for material service-life prediction and materials selection for sustainable construction applications.
