New eco-friendly hybrid composite materials for civil construction

This paper concerns the development of new hybrid composite materials using granulated cork, a by-product of cork industry, cellulose pulp, from recycling of paper residues, and hemp fibres. The binder used is either cellulose pulp or lime-pozzolan mixture. Such materials may be used as composite boards and mortars for non structural elements of construction, such as dry walls and ceiling or floor levelling and filling. The possibility of using these composites in conjugation with light structural supports has been studied. The paper will present the properties and the manufacturing methods used to produce the above mentioned promising eco-friendly composites that can unfold ways of using industrial wastes as new construction materials with excellent inherent thermal and acoustic properties