This application is a National Stage entry for PCT application Serial No. PCT/AU2010/001174 filed on Sep. 10, 2010 and claims the benefit of Australian Application 2009904404 filed on Sep. 11, 2009.
The present invention generally relates to a building panel.
The reference to any prior art in this specification is not, and should not be taken as an acknowledgement or any form of suggestion that the prior art forms part of the common general knowledge.
Concrete building panels are known, and the usage of these panels in constructing buildings is on the increase. An important ingredient in conventional concrete used to make building panels is Portland cement. The production of Portland cement results in the emission of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere which can impact negatively upon the environment. Moreover, Portland cement production is not only highly energy-intensive, next to say steel and aluminium, but also consumes significant amounts of natural resources. The resulting wall panels are also comparatively heavy which can make them difficult to handle.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a building panel which is lightweight and environmentally friendly when compared with panels made from Portland cement, or at least provide a useful commercial alternative.
According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a building panel including:
Geopolymer concrete production is less energy-intensive and results in lesser carbon dioxide emissions than Portland cement, thereby making the building panel more environmentally friendly than existing Portland cement based panels. In addition, geopolymer concrete is inherently lighter than Portland cement which makes the resulting panels easier to handle.
Preferably, each protective layer is an outer skin layer. In one embodiment, the building panel includes two protective layers on either side of the core.
The panel may define a tongue along one edge and a groove along an opposite edge to facilitate interconnection of the panels.
The panel may include one or more tubular longitudinal formers located within the core, the longitudinal formers defining longitudinal passages along which air can move within the core. The longitudinal passages may be arranged within the core to form two staggered rows.
The panel may include a pair of tubular transverse formers defining transverse channels in air-communication with respective rows of passages. Each transverse former may define apertures in register with openings of respective longitudinal formers.
The panel may include tubular inlet formers embedded in a face of the panel, and defining inlets in air-communication with the transverse channels. Each inlet former may define an opening in register with an aperture of a transverse former.
One or more faces of the panel may include a pattern. The pattern may resemble a brick wall. The panel may define a door or window opening.
In one embodiment, the first geopolymer concrete has a density of about 600-900 kg/m3 whereas the second geopolymer concrete has a density of about 1,100 kg/m3.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a building including at least one water storage reservoir, the reservoir including at least one of the building panels.
The building may further include rooms located above the water storage reservoir, the rooms including at least one of the building panels.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for forming a building panel, the method including the steps of:
Prior to the step of forming the core, the method may include the steps of:
The step of forming the core may involve:
The step of forming the protective layer adjacent the core may involve pouring second geopolymer concrete over the first geopolymer concrete.
The method may further include the steps of:
Preferred features, embodiments and variations of the invention may be discerned from the following Detailed Description which provides sufficient information for those skilled in the art to perform the invention. The Detailed Description is not to be regarded as limiting the scope of the preceding Summary of the Invention in any way. The Detailed Description will make reference to a number of drawings as follows:
According to an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a building panel 2 in the form of a wall panel as shown in
Geopolymer concrete is a class of synthetic aluminosilicate materials formed using no Portland cement and instead utilises the fly ash byproduct from coal-burning power stations. Caustic soda, sodium silicate and a foaming agent can also be used when making the geopolymer concrete which has excellent compressive strength, and other properties suited for building construction applications. The bulk cost of chemicals needed to manufacture geopolymer concrete is cheaper than those required in forming Portland cement.
Geopolymer concrete production is less energy-intensive and results in lesser carbon dioxide emissions than Portland cement, thereby making the building panel 2 more environmentally friendly than existing Portland cement based panels. In addition, geopolymer concrete is inherently lighter than Portland cement which makes the resulting panel 2 easier to handle.
The building panel 2 and method for forming the building panel 2 is described in detail below.
As can best be seen in
As can best be seen in
As can best be seen in
The exterior face 20 of the panel 2 defines a pattern resembling a brick wall.
A method for forming a building panel 2 is now described with reference to
Turning to
Turning to
Turning to
As shown in
Turning to
Turning to
Turning to
As shown in
The panel forming method further involves curing the building panel 2 within the mould 30. The mould 30 is conveyed by the conveyor 52a to a tilt station 56. The tilting station 56 tilts the separated building panel 2 into an upright position. At the tilt station 56, the upright and cured building panel 2 is separated from the mould 30 which is removed. The stencil 32 is also removed from the building panel 2.
Another conveyor 52b can then convey the upright building panel 2 to a stacking station 58 where multiple building panels 2 can be stacked together.
A person skilled in the art will appreciate that many embodiments and variations can be made without departing from the ambit of the present invention.
For example, the building panel 2 may define a door or window opening.
The dimensions indicated in the Figures are in millimetres, and are by way of example only.
In compliance with the statute, the invention has been described in language more or less specific to structural or methodical features. It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to specific features shown or described since the means herein described comprises preferred forms of putting the invention into effect. The invention is, therefore, claimed in any of its forms or modifications within the proper scope of the appended claims appropriately interpreted by those skilled in the art.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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2009904404 | Sep 2009 | AU | national |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
---|---|---|---|---|
PCT/AU2010/001174 | 9/10/2010 | WO | 00 | 3/5/2012 |
Publishing Document | Publishing Date | Country | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
WO2011/029149 | 3/17/2011 | WO | A |
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Entry |
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Hardjito, D., “Studies of fly ash-based geopolymer concrete”, Nov. 2005, Ph. D, Curtin University of Technology, Dept. of Civil Engineering. |
Number | Date | Country | |
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20120159877 A1 | Jun 2012 | US |