Bio-Agglomerated Panels from Forest Waste The Case of Eucalyptus Globulus Labill

Abstract

This research describes the process of designing, developing, and validating bio-agglomerated panels made from capsules of Eucalyptus globulus Labill, an invasive species with a high environmental impact in Chile. The study is primarily positioned as applied research aimed at the development and technical validation of a biomaterial, carried out in the context of a thesis project guided over the course of an academic year and developed through research and close collaboration between students and teachers. Its purpose was to explore the technical and sustainable feasibility of transforming forest waste into a functional material, using design methodologies focused on material experimentation and the circular economy. The research was structured according to the Material Driven Design (MDD) and Territory-Based Biomaterials (BBT) approaches, integrating stages of territorial diagnosis, characterization of the raw material, formulation and manufacture of mixtures, application of physical-mechanical tests, and analysis of results. The panels obtained reached an average density of 0.82 g/cm³, water absorption of 6.3%, and tensile strength of 11.4 MPa, demonstrating structural stability and low permeability. The technical and material results obtained place the bio-agglomerate within the range of low-density lignocellulosic materials with potential applications in interior design. Beyond the technical results, the work recognizes the educational context in which the research was developed, without this dimension constituting an object of study in itself, demonstrating that undergraduate academic practice can contribute to the generation of applied knowledge in sustainable design.