Abstract
This study presents the preparation and property characterization of a konjac glucomannan (KGM)/starch based aerogel as a thermal insulation material. Wheat straw powders (a kind of agricultural waste) and starch are used to enhance aerogel physical properties such as mechanical strength and pore size distribution. Aerogel samples were made using environmentally friendly sol–gel and freeze drying methods. Results show that starch addition could strengthen the mechanical strength of aerogel significantly, and wheat straw addition could decrease aerogel pore size due to its special micron-cavity structure, with appropriate gelatin addition as the stabilizer. The aerogel formula was optimized to achieve lowest thermal conductivity and good thermal stability. Within the experimental range, aerogel with the optimized formula had a thermal conductivity 0.04641 Wm−1 K−1, a compression modulus 67.5 kPa and an elasticity 0.27. The results demonstrate the high potential of KGM/starch based aerogels enhanced with wheat straw for application in thermal insulation.
Highlights
People’s living standards have been greatly improved with rapid economic growth, the energy consuming level becomes much higher, raising considerable social concerns about energy crisis and environmental problems
This study presents the preparation and property characterization of a konjac glucomannan (KGM)/starch based aerogel as a thermal insulation material
The results demonstrate the high potential of KGM/starch based aerogels enhanced with wheat straw and starch for application in thermal insulation
Summary
People’s living standards have been greatly improved with rapid economic growth, the energy consuming level becomes much higher, raising considerable social concerns about energy crisis and environmental problems. To reduce CO2 emissions, numbers of low-energy buildings and passive houses have been built in German (Beck, Heinemann, Reidinger, & Fricke, 2004).On the other hand, a large amount of energy is used for space heating and air conditioning, especially in extremely hot and cold climate regions, and the real estate has great potential for energy saving by rational use of resources. Energy conservation policy can be enforced and implemented by the development of thermal insulation materials. Thermal insulation materials are composed of organic polymers, such as polyurethane foam, polystyrene foam, glass wool, etc. Possessing extremely low density and large surface area, aerogel was invented by Kistler in 1931 (Kistler, 1931) and has been used as insulation material, e.g. in space suit and aerospace detector
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
