Sustainable Biocomposites for Construction

Typical construction materials and practices have a large ecological footprint. Many materials are energyintensive to produce, and construction and demolition debris constitutes a large percentage of U.S. landfill volume. Biocomposites are structural materials made from renewable resources that biodegrade in an anaerobic environment after their useful service life to produce a fuel or feedstock to produce a biopolymer for a new generation of composites. These materials are being researched and developed to replace less eco-friendly structural and non-structural materials used in the construction industry. In this study, the mechanical behavior of biocomposites made from cellulose acetate and polyhydroxybutyrate matrices and hemp fiber (fabric) have been characterized experimentally. The data shows that these biocomposites have mechanical properties similar to structural wood. The biocomposites studied have the potential to be used for scaffolding, formwork, flooring, walls and for many other applications within buildings, as well as temporary construction.