Resinas naturales en la elaboración de tableros a base de corcho y cartón reciclados

Abstract

Abstract: This research developed and evaluated a sustainable biocomposite made from cork and shredded cardboard, bonded with polyurethane resin (PR) and pine resin (PR). The study analyzed 24 test specimens using different resin percentages (15%, 20%, 25%, and 30%). The results showed that PR04, with 30% resin, achieved the highest flexural strength at 20.47 kgf/cm², meeting the NTE INEN 2262 standard. Regarding physical resistance, the PR specimens made with polyurethane resin showed less than 1.5% swelling, exceeding the UNE 56.905 standard for humid environments. Furthermore, its thermal performance is noteworthy, with a conductivity of 0.0166 W/m·K, making it ten times more insulating than currently available boards. Acoustically, this material exhibited a conductivity of 8.20 dBA, validating its use in technical panels. The economic study also demonstrated that samples made with natural resin (NR) reduce production costs by 34%, positioning it as an environmentally friendly and highly competitive alternative in the Ecuadorian market. It was concluded that this biocomposite material is a viable circular economy solution with high technical value and, above all, low environmental impact, fulfilling all the stated objectives.