10 - Fibrous insulation materials in building engineering applications

Abstract

This chapter introduces basic material and mechanical characteristics of fibrous insulation materials in building engineering applications. Starting with the physical fundamentals of the raw material, the authors move to the issues of the manufacturing process that leads to certain common characteristics, thoroughly working out the physical and thermal properties of the fibrous insulation materials. Coupled heat and mass transfer through a fibrous insulation in buildings is studied, and a wide area of applications of fibrous materials in buildings are discussed. The fibrous insulation materials, various heat and mass transfer models in fibrous insulation, fibrous composites, properties of the composites, and their applications in buildings are reviewed also. The chapter provides a guide to the fundamentals and latest developments in building technology for fibrous materials.