Partition Having Increased Fixing Strength

Abstract

A partition is adapted to support a fixture and has a front surface to which the fixture may be affixed and a back surface that faces away from the fixture. The partition comprises a plasterboard and a reinforcing board, the reinforcing board being located between the plasterboard and the front surface, and the plasterboard comprising at least 1 wt % fibre and at least 1 wt % polymer is additive.

Claims

1. A partition that is adapted to support a fixture, the partition having a front surface that is for affixing a fixture thereto and a back surface that is for facing away from the fixture, the partition comprising a plasterboard and a reinforcing board, the reinforcing board being located between the plasterboard and the front surface, and the plasterboard comprising at least 1 wt % fibre and at least 1 wt % polymeric additive.

2. A partition according to claim 1, characterised in that the ability of the partition to retain a screw is 1.5 times greater than that of the plasterboard alone.

3. A partition according to claim 2 having a screw pull-out strength greater than 1000 N.

4. A partition according to claim 1, wherein the plasterboard and the reinforcing board are glued together.

5. A partition according to claim 4, wherein the glue is a viscoelastic glue.

6. A partition according to claim 1, wherein the plasterboard and the reinforcing board are connected with double sided glue tape.

7. A partition according to claim 1, wherein the plasterboard and the reinforcing board are secured to each other by means of mechanical fixings.

8. A partition according to claim 7, wherein the plasterboard and the reinforcing board are secured to each other by means of screw fixings.

9. A partition according to claim 7, wherein the reinforcing board is offset relative to the plasterboard in the plane of the partition.

10. A partition according to claim 7, wherein the reinforcing board has a thickness in the range 6-19 mm.

11. A partition according to claim 7, wherein the reinforcing board comprises gypsum as a major component.

12. A partition according to claim 11, wherein the reinforcing board comprises at least 1 wt % fibres and at least 1 wt % of a polymeric additive.

13. A partition according to claim 11, wherein the plasterboard comprises at least 2 wt % fibre.

14. A partition according to claim 11, wherein the plasterboard contains at least 3 wt % polymeric additive, preferably at least 5 wt % polymeric additive.

15. A partition according to claim 11, wherein the fibres in the plasterboard are glass fibres.

16. A partition according to claim 11, wherein the polymeric additive is a starch.

Description

COMPARATIVE EXAMPLE 1

[0035] A gypsum plasterboard containing 2 wt % amount fibres and 6 wt % amount starch.

[0036] EXAMPLE 1

[0037] A dual layer board formed from two plasterboards according to Comparative Example 1, joined together on their faces.

[0038] Heavyweight anchorage (washbasin) eccentric downward loading test

[0039] Panels were subjected to a heavyweight anchorage (washbasin) eccentric downward loading test following the methodology set out in BS5234: Part 2: 1992Annex K.

[0040] Tests were carried out at a temperature of 15-20 C. and a relative humidity of 50-60%.

[0041] The load was supported by a bracket held by five general purpose screws.

[0042] The results are given in Table 1.

TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Load at failure (bracket becomes detached) Comparative Example 1 350N Example 1 912N

[0043] Screw Pull-Out Strength

[0044] Screw pull-out tests were carried out on samples measuring 100 mm by 100 mm that had been conditioned at a temperature of 23 C. and a relative humidity of 50%. A 50 mm single thread wood screw was inserted into the sample, passing through a metal loop positioned on the surface of the sample. The screw was tightened to a torque of 100 cNm.

[0045] The specimen was then mounted in a Zwick Universal Testing Machine and a 10N pre-load applied to the screw along the axis of the screw. Subsequently, the load was increased by setting a constant cross-head speed of 10 mm/minute until pull out was achieved.

[0046] The results are given in Table 2, which shows the average taken from 5 samples.

TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 2 Screw pull-out strength (N) Comparative Example 1 643 Example 1 1636

[0047] Screw Pull-Out Strength After Cyclic Loading

[0048] Screw pull-out tests were carried out as described above, except that after the step of applying a pre-load to the screw and before the step of increasing the load by setting a constant cross-head speed of 10 mm/minute until pull out was achieved, the load applied to the screw was cycled between 10N and 500N for 100 times.

[0049] The results are given in Table 3, which shows the average taken from 5 samples.

TABLE-US-00003 TABLE 3 Screw pull-out strength (N) Comparative Example 1 635 Example 1 2023

[0050] Screw Pull-Out Strength of Re-Fitted Screw

[0051] Screw pull-out tests were carried out as described above, except that before the step of mounting the sample in the Universal Testing Machine, the screw was removed, reinserted into the sample and tightened to a torque of 100 cNm.

[0052] The results are given in Table 4, which shows the average taken from five samples.

TABLE-US-00004 TABLE 4 Screw pull-out strength Comparative Example 1 517 Example 1 1844