Characterization of a Thermal Insulating Material Based on a Wheat Straw and Recycled Paper Cellulose to Be Applied in Buildings by Blowing Method

Abstract

The thermal envelope is a key component of a building’s energy efficiency. Therefore, considerable efforts have been made to develop thermal insulating materials with a better performance than the existing products. However, in the current climate change scenario, these materials must be sustainable, principally during their production stage. In this context, the use of recycled raw materials and agro-industrial waste can be the basis of a material with a low environmental impact and a good thermal performance. In this study, cellulose and wheat straw were characterized. Then, they were mixed in different proportions and densities and the best thermal behavior was selected. The materials were chemically analyzed by TAPPI 2007, thermogravimetric and infrared spectroscopy, together with the measurement of their thermal conductivity with a thermal property analyzer based on the transient line heat source method. The results show that both raw materials are chemically similar to each other. When mixed, they have a thermal conductivity ranging from 0.031 to 0.036 (W/mK), being comparable with several conventional thermal insulators. On the other hand, to achieve the commercial use of this material, an installation through a blowing process has been proposed and proves to be highly promising, achieving a proper density and efficiency in its application.

A Biodegradable Composite of Poly (3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) with Short Cellulose Fiber for Packaging

“…The increase in the polymer/filler mass ratio (PHBV/CE) generated larger defects on the composite surface, such as a rougher surface as a function of rising CE concentration, revealing the incorporation of cellulose fibers in the polymeric matrix. Morphologies characteristic for this filler as reported in the literature 26,27 .…”

Thermal insulation material produced from recycled materials for building applications: cellulose and rice husk-based material

“…One of the strategies to address the climate crisis and resource depletion is the transition to a circular economy (Foster, 2020). By transforming agricultural waste materials like rice husks into valuable resources, we promote reuse and diminish reliance on non-renewable resources (Carlos Javier et al, 2023;Soto et al, 2023).…”

Assessment of Modular Construction System Made with Low Environmental Impact Construction Materials for Achieving Sustainable Housing Projects

“…To install the wheat straw using the blowing technique, it was necessary to process the material with two passes through a biomass chopper; it consists of a mechanism of rotating blades mounted on a metal chassis with an electric motor of 11 (kW) power. In this way, a more homogeneous material was obtained, with fibers of a length of less than 5 (cm) [27].…”