Flexible Insulation Mats from Zostera marina Seagrass

Abstract

ABSTRACT The dead seagrass leaves accumulated on the seashores, also known as beach (seagrass) wracks, can be considered a sustainable and ecologically beneficial source for application in the construction sector. An innovative thermal insulation material composed of Zostera marina seagrass leaves was developed using bicomponent fibers as a binding agent. The bicomponent fibers consisted of polypropylene in the core and polyethylene in the sheath. This work aimed to investigate the effect of mat density on mechanical properties (compression and internal bond strength), thermal conductivity and fire properties. The seagrass-based (SG) mats were compared to reference mats consisting of wood fibers (WF). The digital and scanning electron microscopy investigation revealed the differences in the bonding mechanism between the two types of mats. Although slightly higher than WF mats, the thermal conductivity of SG mats still varied from 0.039 to 0.051 W m−1 K−1 and is comparable to those of other natural fiber-based boards with the same density range. The low peak heat release of SG mats (up to 63% lower than wood fiber-based mats) indicates their high resistance to fire. SG mats provide novel possibilities for using new environmentally friendly materials intended for ceiling and partition applications.