Biocomposites. A Sustainable alternative for construction

Abstract

As the construction industry is the sector of human activities that consumes the most natural resources and uses more energy intensively, generating considerable environmental impacts, whether related to the consumption of matter and energy or associated with the generation of solid, liquid and gaseous wastes, the construction sector has a key role to play in achieving the global objectives of sustainable development. In this communication, a synthesis of the state of the art on the use of biocomposites in the construction is presented. The characteristics and properties of the biocomposites are described, their advantages and disadvantages, their applications in the construction are referred to, as well as the LNEC experience and know-how in the evaluation of these materials and the aspects that must be investigated to improve their performance in buildings. This presentation leads to the conclusion that while biocomposite products already perform satisfactorily in many construction applications, they still need to be upgraded in some specific characteristics that are undergoing research and technological development. It is expected that, in the near future, biocomposites exhibit longer durability, greater fire and moisture resistance and better thermal and acoustic insulation performance, especially when synergistically combined with nanomaterials, fulfilling the exigent requests of the construction industry and finding a consolidated entrance in a market that is difficult to penetrate but where pressure from both legislation and the public is rising.