CompositesWorld
Issue link: https://cw.epubxp.com/i/742140
NEWS CompositesWorld.com 33 away as Germany to export its modular housing for resettlement of Syrian refugees. "e need is so large," Mussio points out. "We are not yet sure how many houses will be built, but there is potential for thousands." Intensive industrial manufacturing Fast onsite build of the MVC Wall System is possible because most of the construction is completed in the MVC factory. "We have industrial production of the building components," explains Mussio. ese include pultruded structural profiles — such as columns and beams — and then the "blade" sandwich panels for walls and ceilings. e walls are rolled out complete with window and door openings and with electrical installations inside (Fig. 1, p. 36). When the components arrive at the building site, they only need to be assembled, and then painted and finished with plumbing and light fixtures, floor coverings, etc. e panels use glass fiber-reinforced polyester resin facesheets, produced via continuous lamination (Step 3, p. 34) and include an orthophthalic gel coat surface resistant to ultraviolet radiation. MVC Wall System e glass fiber rovings used in pultrusions (Roving 366) and panel facings (Roving ME 3050) are supplied by Owens Corning Fiber- glas A.S. LTDA (Rio Claro, SP, Brazil). e orthophthalic polyester resin — which includes alumina trihydrate to meet fire resistance requirements — is sourced from Reichhold Do Brasil LTDA (São Paulo). e composite facesheets are continuously laminated, cut and then bonded to EPS (expanded polystyrene) or polyisocyan- urate (polyiso) foam cores with polyurethane adhesive in low- pressure vacuum presses (Step 4, p. 34). Before they are bonded between the facesheets, the foam core slabs are routered and pre- fitted with the electrical conduit and outlet boxes. EPS foam offers an insulation value (heat resistance) of R-4 to R-5, while polyiso foam is rated as R-6 for 1-inch thickness (the higher the value, the greater the insulation; see Learn More, p. 38). Although it is not used in the MVC Wall System, fiberglass batting is rated at R-3. "For the climate in Brazil, where we don't have a cold winter, EPS is sufficient," Mussio notes, adding that "for Europe, however, polyiso foam is needed. We don't change the thickness of the panels, but instead change the insulation Affordable construction materials for emerging communities MVC Plasticos' modular construction system is based on industri- alized production of composite sandwich panels and pultruded profiles. The MVC Wall System offers safe, energy-efficient and attractive residential structures (photo on p. 32) that can be built at a rapid pace. The modular concept also has given a significant boost to Brazil's effort to promote public education, with MVC's multiple school building designs (examples above and right), and has become an important facet of MVC Plasticos' module/model development efforts. Source | MVC Plasticos