Characterization of Buriti (Mauritia flexuosa) Foam for Thermal Insulation and Sound Absorption Applications in Buildings

Felippe Fabrício Dos Santos Siqueira,Lívio César Cunha Nunes,Renato Lemos Cosse,Fernando Augusto De Noronha Castro Pinto,Paulo Henrique Mareze,Caio Frederico E Silva

doi:10.3390/buildings11070292

Abstract

Exploring new construction materials with low environmental impact leads to innovation in buildings and also to the expansion of environmental sustainability in the construction industry. In this perspective, the thermal insulation and the sound absorption performances of Buriti (Mauritia flexuosa) foam were analyzed for potential application in buildings. This material is of plant origin, it is natural, renewable, abundant, and has a low environmental impact. In this research, characterizations were made by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), apparent density, thermogravimetry (TGA and DTG), thermal conductivity, and sound absorption. The SEM analysis revealed a predominantly porous, small, and closed-cell morphology in the vegetable foam. Due to its porosity and lightness, the material has an apparent density similar to other thermal insulating and sound-absorbing materials used commercially. The evaluation of thermogravimetric (TGA/DTG) results demonstrated thermal stability at temperatures that attest to the use of Buriti foam as a building material. Based on the thermal conductivity test, the Buriti foam was characterized as an insulating material comparable to conventional thermal insulation materials and in the same range as other existing thermal insulators of plant origin. Concerning sound absorption, the Buriti foam presented a low performance in the analyzed frequency range, mainly attributed to the absence of open porosity in the material. Therefore, understanding the sound absorption mechanisms of Buriti foam requires further studies exploring additional ways of processing the material.

Highlights

Among the various materials employed in the construction market, attention can be drawn to the traditional thermal insulators and sound absorbers, which are generally produced either with non-renewable synthetic materials of fossil origin or with materials from natural resources processed with high energy consumption
The results show that the thermal decomposition of the material occurred through three thermal events, confirmed from the peak temperature (Tp ), which corresponds to the point where the rate of mass variation of the sample is at maximum, observed in the DTG
The production of samples from the crushed vegetable foam can increase the open-air gaps as a way to improve the sound absorption performance of the material. In this original and unprecedented research, the thermal insulation and sound absorption performance of Buriti foam were analyzed for potential application in buildings, contributing to the variety and sustainability of civil construction inputs

Summary

Introduction

Among the various materials employed in the construction market, attention can be drawn to the traditional thermal insulators and sound absorbers, which are generally produced either with non-renewable synthetic materials of fossil origin or with materials from natural resources processed with high energy consumption. They are expensive to produce and have several negative implications for the environment [4,5,6,7,8]

Methods

Results

Conclusion