Characterization of Thermal Bio-Insulation Materials Based on Oil Palm Wood: The Effect of Hybridization and Particle Size

Abstract

Oil palm wood is the primary biomass waste produced from plantations, comprising up to 70% of the volume of trunks. It has been used in non-structural materials, such as plywood, lumber, and particleboard. However, one aspect has not been disclosed, namely, its use in thermal insulation materials. In this study, we investigated the thermal conductivity and the mechanical and physical properties of bio-insulation materials based on oil palm wood. The effects of hybridization and particle size on the properties of the panels were also evaluated. Oil palm wood and ramie were applied as reinforcements, and tapioca starch was applied as a bio-binder. Panels were prepared using a hot press at a temperature of 150 °C and constant pressure of 9.8 MPa. Thermal conductivity, bending strength, water absorption, dimensional stability, and thermogravimetric tests were performed to evaluate the properties of the panels. The results show that hybridization and particle size significantly affected the properties of the panels. The density and thermal conductivity of the panels were in the ranges of 0.66–0.79 g/cm3 and 0.067–0.154 W/mK, respectively. The least thermal conductivity, i.e., 0.067 W/mK, was obtained for the hybrid panels with coarse particles at density 0.66 g/cm3. The lowest water absorption (54.75%) and thickness swelling (18.18%) were found in the hybrid panels with fine particles. The observed mechanical properties were a bending strength of 11.49–18.15 MPa and a modulus of elasticity of 1864–3093 MPa. Thermogravimetric analysis showed that hybrid panels had better thermal stability than pure panels. Overall, the hybrid panels manufactured with a coarse particle size exhibited better thermal resistance and mechanical properties than did other panels. Our results show that oil palm wood wastes are a promising candidate for thermal insulation materials.

A Review of Sustainable Bio‐Based Insulation Materials for Energy‐Efficient Buildings

“…The value of the thermal conductivity of the composite thermal panel is between 0.067 and 0.154 W m -1 K −1 . [104] The bio-foams are the better alternative for the construction of buildings which is most desirable and has very low thermal conductivity. It results in high recommendations due to the costeffectiveness and not being harmful to the environment.…”

Recycling of organic residues to produce insulation composites: A review

“…As visible in Table 1, thermal insulation boards usually have higher densities than loose-fill materials. Most studies on bio-based insulation boards from Table 1 show a positive relationship between density and thermal conductivity: The higher the density of composite boards, the higher the thermal conductivity (Mawardi et al, 2021). The particle size affects the porosity and density of the composites.…”

“…The particle size affects the porosity and density of the composites. If convection is prevented, larger particles result in lower thermal conductivities but also in lower mechanical strength of the composites (Mawardi et al, 2021). The worst thermal conductivity and thus best insulation properties have loose fibres.…”

Optimization of Particle Size and Ramie Fiber Ratio on Hybrid Bio Panel Production from Oil Palm Trunk as Thermal Insulation Materials

“…Previous reports were carried out on OPT as one of the potential raw materials for bio panel thermal insulation [Mawardi et al, 2021a[Mawardi et al, , 2021bMawardi, Aprilia, Faisal, & Rizal, 2022]. It was discovered that the thermal insulation of hybrid bio panels made from OPT is affected by manufacturing process variables such as particle size, raw material properties, binders and composition, press durations, and fiber ratio.…”