Eco-efficient acoustic and thermal conditioning using false ceiling plates made from plaster and wood waste

This paper aims at developing a new construction application from new composite materials based on gypsum and wood waste from demolition (such as wood shavings and sawdust). The study provides a physical and mechanical characterization of such composites and a new construction application that consists of plates for the construction of discontinuous false ceilings has been proposed. First, a theoretical study of the mechanical behaviour of the false ceiling plates was carried out using finite element analysis. Subsequently, real specimens were produced in the laboratory following an experimental process based on the data obtained from the theoretical study. The mechanical properties, the thermal conductivity and the sound absorption capacity of the new plates were studied. Finally, the new products were evaluated in a theoretical study of a commercial site in restoration in order to analyse the potential sound and thermal improvements. It was found that only the plates perforated with wood waste in the form of shavings or sawdust at 10 wt% and 20 wt% addition were sufficient to reach the minimum values of acoustic conditioning required by Spanish regulations. The potential thermal improvement gained by using the new false ceiling plates has been analysed. The greatest thermal improvement occurs when the plates with 20% of wood shavings were used.