Fire behaviour and thermal characterization of OSB/Cork panels

Abstract

This bachelor thesis investigates the development and evaluation of innovative composite panel made from Oriented Strand Board (OSB) and cork. It examines how different factors, such as the thickness of the cork layer, its density, and the addition of flame retardants, affect the panels' fire behaviour and thermal properties. The initial section of the thesis introduces sandwich panels, with a special focus on the potential of OSB and cork composites. Later sections thoroughly study the physical properties of these panels, evaluating their fire resistance and thermal insulation through various testing methods, including mass loss calorimetry and the guarded hot plate method.