Development of fiberboard panels manufactured from reclaimed cement bags

Abstract

Discarded cement bags are an important construction solid waste, however the contamination with cement particles prevent them from being recycled back into cellulose fibers. In this work, the use of Kraft paper from reclaimed cement bags for the production of fiberboard panels is discussed. Two approaches to treat the paper prior to the making of the panels (shredding and pulping) were studied. The laboratory results showed that the washing phase of the pulping process was not capable of completely removing the cement particles from the paper as pointed out by X-ray diffraction tests. Thermogravimetric analysis showed the thermal stability of the paper under resin curing temperatures, thus allowing the use of this material in the production of thermoset polymer composite panels. The resulting panels produced with two resin contents (15% and 30%) were assessed in terms of water absorption and mechanical strength. The tests showed promising results for the panels produced with shredded paper and 30% resin. Improvements in the manufacturing process and the use of industrial-grade equipment can generate a product with a good mechanical performance, reduced cost and added environmental benefits.