Mechanical behaviour of a lightweight, three-layered sandwich panel based on the raw material maize

Abstract

Abstract Lightweight construction of composites is one of the strategies for developing material-saving panels, whereas light honeycomb boards or sandwich panels (SPs) based on foam or wood materials seem to be very promising in this context. The objective of the present work was the development of an SP with a reduced density based on nearly 100% expanded maize granular in the core layer, which was combined with 3 mm thin and stiff poplar plywood as face materials. In focus were mechanical and physical properties of the SPs, which should be applicable in the furniture industry and competitive with conventional wood composites such as fibreboards or particle boards.