Waste Utilization: Insulation Panel from Recycled Polyurethane Particles and Wheat Husks

Abstract

This study provides a solution for the utilization of two waste materials, namely the residues of soft polyurethane foam from the production of mattresses and winter wheat husks. Thermal insulation panels with a nominal density of 50–150 kg/m3, bonded one-component moisture curing polyurethane adhesive, were developed, and the effect of the ratio between recycled polyurethane foam and winter wheat husk on internal bond strength, compressive stress at 10% strain, water uptake, coefficient of thermal conductivity, and volumetric heat capacity was observed. The developed composite materials make use of the very good thermal insulation properties of the two input waste materials, and the coefficient of thermal conductivity of the resulting boards achieves excellent values, namely 0.0418–0.0574 W/(m.K). The developed boards can be used as thermal insulation in the structures of environmentally friendly buildings.

Polish Transition towards Circular Economy: Materials Management and Implications for the Construction Sector

“…Circular economy solutions help to maintain the added value of products and eliminate waste. The possibility of the reuse of natural resources after the end of a product’s life cycle supports their effective maintenance in economic circulation and, hence, limits their negative environmental impact [ 43 , 44 , 45 ].…”

“…Many materials of mineral and organic origin, such as natural rubber, wood and paper return to production as secondary raw materials. Greater significance is also attributed to the reuse of waste from production and purchase due to environmental and economic reasons [ 43 , 44 , 45 ]. The period between 2015 and 2018 saw a significant increase in the acquisition of selected groups of waste by production and trading entities.…”

Eco‐friendly polymer composites: A review of suitable methods for waste management

“…Crop residues are currently implemented in the development of acoustic and thermal panels. [246][247][248] According to Hassan and co-workers, [249] noise is a source of pollution, which implies over the economy and human health, so it is important to develop methods for sound insulation in buildings. They have used cotton, coconut, and sugarcane bagasse fibers in 10%, 15%, and 20% in volume fractions into green epoxy resin.…”

Sound-Absorption Coefficient of Bark-Based Insulation Panels

“…The planks of birch bark were used for a hundred years as sound absorbers under turf roofs in Sweden, serving also as waterproof membrane [23]. Natural materials such as bark, jute, flax, kenaf, hemp, coir fiber, wood, wool, coconut, straw, cane and corn husk can be designed as thermal and sound absorbers with the advantage of availability [24][25][26][27], sustainability [28][29][30][31][32][33][34][35] and biodegrability [36][37][38][39][40][41][42].…”