Preliminary investigations on sandwich panels made of aluminium skins and arch-corrugated core

Sandwich panels have been widely used in engineering due to their high mechanical strength and stiffness with a low density. The work presents the development and characterisation of a sustainable structural sandwich composite made of recycled aluminium skins bonded to a corrugated arch core obtained by cutting discarded aluminium cans. An epoxy system is used to bond the skins to the core. The structure is tested under a three-point bending test (ASTM C393) to evaluate its potential as a structural material. The sustainable core leads to significant specific mechanical properties, being a promising alternative for recycling discarded cans into an engineered product, adding greater value to waste and contributing to the growth of the circular economy.