Interview to Nora Lardiés, technician of the department of Composites of Aimplas
Which tendencies appreciate in the application of composites in the sector of the edificación and of the habitat?
The composites (thanks to his properties of low weight, high resistance to the corrosion and good mechanical properties) are substituting to traditional materials in this sector as they are the steel, the ceramics, the marble, the concrete, etc., in all type of constructions, as for example, faã§ades, catering of buildings, beams, panels, furniture of interior, sanitary ware, etc. The last tendencies are related with the improvement of the isolation, greater ease in the installation and the reduction of costs, among others.
They are conscious the prescriptores/architects of the advances that are attaining in this field?
We, from Aimplas, try to give the maximum diffusion and visibility to all the advances realised with materials composed in this sector. This day that organise in Barcelona is a proof of this. But many times, the architects find with a problem of fault of rule since the enter new materials, although his properties are a lot better that the ones of the traditional, comports a change of legislation and even of mentality, so much of the architects as of the legislators. This supposes an important fetter to the hour to use these new materials under construction.
In which measure can help the materials composed to the professionals of the construction to surpass the so severe crisis that suffers the sector?
In periods of crisis the sector of the rehabilitation takes leadership and the composites are excellent in reinforcing beams, rehabilitate faã§ades, isolate, etc. On the other hand, in periods of crisis also is important reinventarse and give solutions to traditional problems in this sector. The composites, with his interesting and advantageous properties (ligereza, specific mechanical resistance, resistance to the corrosion, electrical isolation, dimensional stability, resistance to high temperatures, recycling…) offer a fan of possibilities that can and have to help to the despegue of the sector.
In which elements/structure of a building can go in today the compound materials?
The compound materials can form part of practically all the areas of a building, from the pillars, beams, insulating and fireproof materials in panels, faã§ades, etc., until internal furniture like pieces of furniture of design, sanitary ware…The possibilities are infinite.
It could give us some examples of singular buildings where the composites have had a strong leadership?
For quoting some, the new headquarters of the BBVA in Madrid (hybrid structure in sandwich composite-steel), the Museum Queen Sofia (core of poliuretano with external layer of gelcoat) and the Hotel Seen Riviera in Benidorm (reform of the façade with pieces of composite -fibre of glass and resin- joined between yes with adhesive structural).
From Aimplas, signal several advantages of the compound materials: flexibility of forms, resistance to climatic variations, absorption of vibrations, thermal sensors and acoustic insulation, resistance to the fire, ease of setting and durability. It could deepen in each one of them?
In matter of flexibility of forms can indicate him that they exist different processes of transformation, but in general, can achieve any form thanks to that the matrix is a viscous resin that toughens by the addition of catalysts adopting the form of the mould that contains it.
Regarding the resistance to climatic variations, so much the matrix like the fibre have high resistance in front of extreme environingingments like high temperatures, environingingments corrosivos, humidity, resistance to rays UV, etc. The compound materials absorb besides the vibrations thanks to that the matrix transfers the efforts of some fibres to others.
The most extended constructions in composites are the structures sándwich that consist of a core (of PVC, PU or wood of raft among others) and two leathers, that is the matrix with a reinforcement of fibre. This type of structures sándwich are very good thermal sensors and acoustic insulation.
On the other hand, depending on the requirement of the requirements (normative), can achieve composites with big resistance to the fire, since they exist numerous resistant resins to the fire according to degrees very diverse (for example phenolic resins). Another possibility is to add fireproof additives to any resin.
With regard to the ease of setting, when being much lighter that other materials, are easier to install, requires less time of setting and less hand of work.
Finally, his durability is practically boundless thanks to his properties of resistance in front of atmospheric agents, chemical products and his resistance to the corrosion. By this reason the costs of maintenance are practically invalid.
They are going in also the composites in the sector of the civil work? In which applications?
Yes, thanks to the properties commented previously are using in bridges and runways, tanks, pipes, debuggers of water, oil platforms, wind shovels, swimming pools, profiles for systems of wired up, etc.
How they can contribute the composites in two increasingly sued concepts in the construction as they are the ‘sustainability' and the ‘energetic efficiency'?
The concept of sustainability is related with the rational consumption of the power, the utilisation of materials no harmful with the environingingment and recyclable materials, the minimisation of waste during the construction and the cycle of life, etc.
The contribution of the composites in this subject is enormous, since they are increasingly light and some are renewable and recyclable. Besides, They are beginning to use resins and pertinent fibres of renewable sources (for example pertinent resin of soya or potato and fibres of linen hemp or jute) or even of industrial waste, as well as free resins of estireno.
The processes of transformation of composites require of less power and less time that the transformation of metals or concrete. For example, a beam of concrete requires 28 days only for fraguar, whereas a beam of composites is list for his installation in 15 days, does not require painting, is easier to transport, fast and easy to install.
Another important factor is the time of life of the composites, that is a lot of elder that the one of the materials used traditionally in the world of the construction and, besides, his maintenance is very reduced or invalid.
The fact added that the compound materials are very good insulation contributes enormously to an increase of the energetic efficiency of the building, since they reduce the consumption of heating in winter and of air conditioned in summer.
In what next projects is working Aimplas in the field of the composites for the construction?
Aimplas Has worked recently in the project ‘Nanohábitat', whose aim centres in the industrial investigation of new materials based in nanotechnology, that can contribute to the industrial diversification in the sectors of construction and habitat contributing products with new functionalities, as for example autorreparación, optical properties, biocida, superhidrofobicidad, superoleofobicidad, resistance to the fire, and dissipation of static load.
Also worked in the project ‘Cleansurface' with the end to improve the superficial properties of products of Solid Surface and avoid his ensuciamiento.
At present is working in the project ‘Neuprod' with the end of revalorizar pneumatics out of use for his utilisation in the sector of the construction among others.
