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Acoustic Insulation of Panels Made from Recycled Plastics and Resin
Summary
Researchers in Argentina found a clever way to recycle plastic waste (like packaging scraps that would otherwise be burned or dumped) into wall panels for homes, and these panels actually block noise better than the traditional wood-particle panels used in low-cost housing. Beyond the environmental win of keeping plastic out of landfills and dumps, better sound insulation matters for health too, chronic noise exposure at home is linked to stress, poor sleep, and even cardiovascular problems, so quieter walls could mean real quality-of-life benefits for residents.
In social housing are commonly used panels made with wood particles like partitioning walls, because of its low cost and ease of assembly, dry way. One problem with these panels is their low acoustic insulation. In the Experimental Economical Housing Center of Cordoba, Argentina, a research team has developed panels for housing made from recycled plastics and polyester resin, more ecological than the traditional ones made with wood particles, and with technical advantages. They are manufactured with recycled various plastics from food, perfumery or cleaning packaging, waste production from factories due to failures in sheet thickness or ink application. These panels contribute to the environmental decontamination, because they are made from plastic residues. Most of this waste is buried, accumulated or burned in municipal garbage dumps without any use, causing environmental degradation. The technical advantages of these panels are that they have higher acoustic insulation than conventional panels made with wood chips or fibers. They are also water resistant, and they have higher flexural resistance. This paper presents the study about the acoustic insulation property of this panel, comparatively with other conventional panels made with wood particles. Besides, different designs of multilayer panels for housing enclosures are presented, with steel frame structure, and the corresponding Sound Reduction Index of each alternative was calculated. The results were compared with the regulations in force in our country (IRAM Standard 4044 - 2014) regarding acoustic requirements, to verify its compliance.