Semester of Graduation

Fall 2024

Degree

Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering (MSME)

Department

Mechanical and Industrial Engineering

Document Type

Thesis

Abstract

Abstract

This study focused on incorporating self-healing, flame retardancy, and energy harvesting capabilities into the wood composite to contribute to more sustainable and energy-efficient building practices. Oriented strand board has been widely used as sheath for roofing or dry walls in residential buildings. Residential buildings account for a large portion of energy consumption. Therefore, an oriented strand board with energy harvesting capability is highly desired. Additionally, flame retardancy and damage self-healing and end-of-life recycling are also critical features for buildings.

In this study, we prepared a novel oriented strand board by constructing sandwich structures. The face sheets of the sandwich are made of short wood fiber reinforced shape memory vitrimer with flame retardancy, which is a thermoset polymer cross-linked from a low-molecular weight branched polyethyleneimine (PEI) and an ester-containing epoxy monomer (diglycidyl 1,2-cyclohexanedicarboxylate, DCN). The core of the sandwich is made of form-stable phase change material by impregnating a phase change material paraffin wax into an open-cell polyurethane (PU) foam. Comprehensive characterizations were conducted on the sandwich composite. Key results demonstrated that the wood composites exhibited tensile strength of 54 MPa, effective thermal regulation, complete healing of delamination and penetration area closing, and excellent recyclability. The research successfully developed a multifunctional wood composite that meets structural and aesthetic standards while introducing advanced functionalities crucial for modern building applications.

Date

11-1-2024

Committee Chair

Guoqiang Li

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Available for download on Friday, August 01, 2025

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