I am conducting material research for the construction industry in Ghana, with the goal of reconstituting building methods by combining alternative materials into a new, efficient, and sustainable building system. The materials should be used in modular prefabricated wall panels and structures for residential housing.

Here are the specific requirements for the research:

1. Material Feasibility and Selection:
Identify materials that are cost-effective, sustainable, and readily available in Ghana or Africa.
The materials should include, but are not limited to, aerated concrete slabs, manufactured wood (engineered wood), mesh, and steel.
Evaluate the feasibility of using these materials in combination. The final combination of materials should reduce costs by at least 40% compared to traditional block building methods.
Consider alternative materials that may offer superior performance based on the outlined goals.
2. Material Properties:
The selected materials should meet the following criteria:
Thermal Efficiency: Provide superior indoor cooling by repelling heat from the outside and allowing heat transfer from the interior to the exterior.
Lightweight: The materials should be lightweight to enable ease of transportation, especially in remote or rural areas of Ghana.
Fast Construction: The materials should contribute to a significant reduction in construction time, allowing for faster build cycles in a prefabricated, modular environment.
Structural Strength: The materials should be equal to or stronger than traditional methods in terms of durability and resilience, able to withstand environmental factors such as high heat, humidity, and potential seismic activity.
3. Layering and Assembly:
Explore the best layering technique to achieve the thermal properties mentioned. Consider how the combination of aerated concrete slabs, manufactured wood, mesh, and steel could be layered to achieve a heat-repelling exterior while allowing heat transfer from the interior.
Provide alternative or optimized material combinations that may work better for this layering technique.
4. Bonding Methods:
Research binding methods suitable for prefabrication and modular construction, such as adhesive systems, mechanical fasteners, or thermal welding.
Ensure that the method chosen is durable, quick to apply in a factory setting, and enhances the overall strength and thermal performance of the layered materials.
5. Cost and Efficiency Analysis:
Provide a cost analysis for the materials, comparing their price and availability with traditional block-building methods in Ghana.
Suggest methods to further reduce costs by optimizing sourcing, production, and transportation.
The cost of the final product should be reduced by at least 40% compared to traditional building methods.
6. Sustainability:
Consider the environmental impact of the selected materials. Ideally, they should be sourced sustainably and have a reduced carbon footprint compared to traditional construction methods.
Investigate the recyclability or reusability of the materials.
7. Testing and Validation:
Propose strategies for testing the viability and performance of the materials. This could include thermal efficiency tests, strength tests, and accelerated aging tests to determine the long-term durability.
Suggest any prototype development processes that could validate the performance of these materials in real-world conditions.
8. Scalability and Local Production:
Research whether these materials can be produced locally in Ghana, or if they can be sourced from nearby African countries at competitive prices.
Identify any logistical or supply chain challenges that might arise in sourcing or producing these materials locally.
Outcome Expectations:
Provide a detailed material recommendation that meets the outlined goals, including the best combination of materials, optimal layering techniques, bonding methods, and strategies for testing and scaling.
Include a cost-benefit analysis, a feasibility assessment, and a sustainability review of the proposed materials and methods.