Influence of particle size of wood residues on the properties of mineral composites: part 2: gypsum-wood

Abstract Construction and demolition waste (CDW) wood can be incorporated into natural fibre composites, reducing environmental impacts, contributing to the development of more sustainable materials, products, and processes. The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of particle size distribution of wood particles from construction and demolition residues (RCD) on the physical and mechanical properties of gypsum-wood composites. The wood particles (plywood, eucalyptus spp. and pinus spp.) were milled with hammers at different times and then characterised. Slow paste gypsum and water were also used. The gypsum-wood composites were produced with different binder/wood ratios in relation to water/gypsum set at 0.70 by mass. The study concludes that composites produced with the composition P1,2, either with plywood or pinus, or with the proportions 11% or 15% present the lowest hardened bulk density values, while the composites produced with the composition P1, or with eucalyptus, or with the proportion of 7.5% present greater flexural and compression strength.