Study of the properties and hygrothermal behaviour of alternative insulation materials based on natural fibres

Abstract

The paper describes the results of a research focused on the development of natural thermal and acoustic insulation materials. They are mainly materials based on locally available agricultural waste (mainly in the third-world countries). In particular, this waste includes stems of rice and other plants. The paper describes the behaviour of these materials under different humidity conditions and the possibility to influence their properties by varying the ratio between organic and inorganic binders. Using the results, general conditions for the suitability of the application of these materials in building constructions were defined. Keywords: natural fibres, moisture content, thermal conductivity, rice stems, cotton stems, thermal insulation lanek opisuje rezultate raziskav usmerjenih v razvoj naravnih materialov za toplotno in akusti~no izolacijo. To so prete`no materiali, ki predstavljajo lokalno dosegljive kmetijske odpadke (ve~inoma v tretjem svetu). To so zlasti stebla ri`a in drugih rastlin.^lanek opisuje obna{anje teh materialov pri razli~nih pogojih vla`nosti in mo`nosti za vplivanje na njihove lastnosti pri razli~nih razmerjih organskih in anorganskih veziv. Na podlagi rezultatov so bili dolo~eni splo{ni pogoji za primernost in uporabnost teh materialov v gradbeni{tvu.