Building Insulation Materials Research Articles

Impact of insulation on energy consumption and CO2 emissions in high-rise commercial buildings at various climate zones

Abstract This study investigates the impact of insulation on energy consumption and CO2 emissions in high-rise commercial buildings across various climate zones. Through a simulation-based approach using the Hourly Analysis Program (HAP), the effectiveness of insulation in reducing energy demand and carbon emissions are evaluated. The research includes multiple climatic regions of Afghanistan, including arid, semi-arid, and mountainous zones. Methodologically, detailed building characteristics, climatic data, and insulation materials are considered, with energy modeling techniques applied to assess the performance of insulation measures. Results indicate varying degrees of energy savings and CO2 emissions reduction associated with insulation across different climate zones, in cities such as Kabul, Herat, Mazar, and Kandahar. Furthermore, the study calculates CO2 emissions reduction resulting from insulation addition, emphasizing the importance of sustainable building practices in mitigating environmental impacts. By underscoring the scientific value of this research in addressing a pressing global challenge and providing actionable insights for building design and energy policy, this study contributes to the advancement of knowledge in the field of sustainable construction and environmental engineering.

PRODUCTION OF MYCELIUM-BASED COMPOSITE MATERIALS AND EVALUATION OF THERMAL INSULATION PERFORMANCE

ABSTRACT Increasing awareness of the adverse effects of materials used in the construction industry on the environment and health increases the tendency towards bio-based products based on principles such as circular economy and sustainability. Meanwhile, there is a tendency to solve the post-use waste problem and reduce carbon emissions by extending the service life of building materials or making recyclable materials widespread. Mycelium-based composites (MBC) constitute an innovative natural building material interface with the potential to be used as building insulation material. In producing MBC, a substrate is used because of the significant growth provided by lignocellulosic biomass. In this study, MBCs were produced by growing Pleurotus ostreatus on 16 substrates during a 28-day incubation period. Consequently, two composites with the best performance were selected from the preliminary research on the produced samples. It was aimed to determine the thermal, mechanical, physical properties, microstructure characterization and longterm performance of the selected composites. For this reason, thermal conductivity coefficient measurement, water absorption values, water vapor permeability, ultrasound velocity determination, mechanical strength tests and durability tests were carried out. The findings showed that composites containing beech sawdust and pulp paper had better properties than other substrates. Advanced research results showed that MBCs are promising as thermal insulation materials.

A discussion on the application of green building materials in the renovation of buildings

With the continuous improvement of peoples living standards, enhancing living conditions has gradually become a consensus for many. In addition to choosing new construction, the renovation of some old buildings has also gradually become a topic of discussion. In the process of building renovation, the selection of building materials has become a general concern. Green building materials are gradually entering the public eye, and green buildings have become a widely favored type of construction. The use of green building materials has become a trend. This paper, through introducing the concept, necessity, and characteristic advantages of green building materials, takes the example of the renovation design of an expert reception center to explore the feasibility of using green building materials in six aspects: building doors and windows, energy-saving glass, building walls, building insulation materials, decorative materials, and wood structure materials.

Structural properties and barrier performance of low-cost aerogel composites for building insulation

The high cost and weak mechanical properties of silica-based aerogel seriously affect its wide application in the field of building insulation. In this paper, low-cost SiO2 aerogel (WSA) was prepared based on water glass/water system, and the modulation of aerogel network structure was achieved under the dual effect of sodium methylsilicate (SMS) and pH. WSA exhibits extremely low density (∼88.5 kg/m3) and thermal conductivity (0.02114 W/(m·K)) as well as high hydrophobicity (150°). The cost of WSA is 53 % lower compared to atmospheric pressure drying and 21.5 % lower than commercial aerogel. On this basis, rock wool fiber felt (RWF) and ultrafine glass fiber wool felt (UGFW) were modified with WSA. The effect of fiber arrangement on the force-thermal coupling property of WSA@RWF was investigated. Meanwhile, the addition of WSA reduced the volumetric water absorption of RWF by 85.1 % and 91.4 %. Since the sandwich structure, the thermal conductivity of WSA@UGFW can be as low as 0.01168 W/(m·W), which is 44.7 % and 44.4 % lower than that of UGFW and WSA. It features a low density of 45.7 kg/m3 and a high hydrophobicity angle of 155.87°. In addition, the compressive strength of WSA@UGFW is increased by 16.5 times. Therefore, the aerogel materials prepared in this paper have great application potential as fire-proof building insulation materials.

Study on the Coupled Heat Transfer of Conduction, Convection, and Radiation in Foam Concrete Based on a Microstructure Numerical Model

Foam concrete is a typical cement-based porous material; its special microstructure endows it with excellent properties, such as light weight, energy efficiency, thermal insulation, and fire resistance. Therefore, it is widely used as a thermal insulation material for buildings. The heat transfer modes of foam concrete include conduction, convection, and radiation. However, previous studies considered conduction to be the dominant mode, often neglecting the effects of convection and radiation. In this study, a stochastic numerical model of the foam concrete microstructure is established based on the statistical parameters of the pore structure. With this model, the heat transfer mechanism of foam concrete is analyzed at the mesoscopic level, and the equivalent thermal conductivity is calculated. By comparing four different working conditions, the influence of conduction, convection, and radiation on the heat transfer of foam concrete is analyzed, and the specific contribution rates of conduction, convection, and radiation are calculated. The results show that the convection effect is weak due to the pore size being smaller than 1 ; so, the influence of convection can be neglected in the heat transfer analysis of foam concrete. The contribution of radiation increases with the decrease in foam concrete density and the increase in temperature difference. When the temperature difference is 40 and the density is 300 , the contribution of radiation exceeds 20. Therefore, for low-density and high-temperature difference situations, the influence of radiation cannot be ignored. The heat transfer in foam concrete is mainly through conduction, but with the decrease in density and the increase in temperature difference, the contribution of conduction shows a downward trend. Nevertheless, the contribution of conduction is still much larger than that of radiation and convection.

Preparation and properties of low-temperature self-expanding foamed ceramics utilizing lepidolite mica ore and ceramic tile polishing waste

Foamed ceramics were prepared at temperatures of 1175 °C, 1200 °C, 1225 °C, 1250 °C, and 1275 °C using lepidolite mica ore, ceramic tile polishing waste, and fly ash as raw materials, with borax as a fluxing agent. The main source of the foaming material was determined as SiC, followed by anorthite and iron oxide, based on the X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns of the raw materials and the thermal analysis (TG-DTA) results of the raw materials and SiC. The effects of the raw material ratio and borax content on the samples' phase composition, compressive strength, microstructure, thermal insulation, and corrosion resistance were systematically studied. The results show that the pore structure of the foamed ceramics sintered at 1225 °C with 25 wt% lithium mica ore, 50 wt% ceramic tile polishing waste and 25 wt% fly ash were uniform. However, based on the above ingredients, 18 wt% borax was added to reduce the firing temperature by 300 °C. After firing at 925 °C and holding for 30 min, the samples' average pore size, bulk density, compressive strength, and porosity were 0.58 mm, 0.66 g/cm3, 10.256 MPa, and 83.1 wt%, respectively. It exhibits good thermal insulation and corrosion resistance, and its performance meets the requirements for building insulation materials, making it an energy-saving and environmentally friendly building material.

Experimental study on preparation and performance of the Corn Straw Fiber (CSF) reinforced EPS concrete

With the full factor experimental design method carried out, 20 sets of EPS concrete specimens with different mass fractions of Corn Straw Fiber (CSF) and Expanded-Polystyrene (EPS) particles were designed to study their density, water absorption, compressive strength, flexural strength, splitting tensile strength, mass loss and strength loss after freeze-thaw cycles, and changes in thermal conductivity, to evaluate the effect of CSF content and EPS content on the properties of EPS cement-based composites. The experimental results show that adding CSF can improve the mechanical properties of EPS concrete while reducing its density, the maximum increase rate of compressive strength is 69.7 %, with a maximum value of 1.12 MPa; The maximum improvement rate of flexural strength is 127.38 %, with a maximum value of 0.885 MPa; The maximum improvement rate of splitting tensile strength is 68.07 %, and the maximum value is 0.256 MPa. After 50 standard freeze-thaw cycles, straw fibers can delay the quality loss of EPS concrete, but show adverse effects on its strength loss, the maximum quality loss rate is 4.23 %, and the maximum loss rates for the three strengths are 24.46 %, 24.22 %, and 24.61 %, respectively. In addition, in terms of improving the thermal insulation performance of EPS concrete, the role of the two aggregates is manifested as EPS > CSF, and the thermal conductivity coefficient values under different aggregate dosages were obtained, when the content of EPS is 1.4 % and the content of CSF is 4 %, the minimum thermal conductivity value is 0.0402 W/(m·°C), and the thermal conductivity coefficient of calcium silicate board is 0.0378 W/(m °C) by the thermal conductivity coefficient formula of composite materials. which can serve as a reference for selecting building insulation materials in areas with high temperature differences.

Engineering Sulfur-Containing Polymeric Fire-Retardant Coatings for Fire-Safe Rigid Polyurethane Foam.

With the advantages of lightweight and low thermal conductivity properties, polymeric foams are widely employed as thermal insulation materials for energy-saving buildings but suffer from inherent flammability. Flame-retardant coatings hold great promise for improving the fire safety of these foams without deteriorating the mechanical-physical properties of the foam. In this work, four kinds of sulfur-based flame-retardant copolymers are synthesized via a facile radical copolymerization. The sulfur-containing monomers serve as flame-retardant agents including vinyl sulfonic acid sodium (SPS), ethylene sulfonic acid sodium (VS), and sodium p-styrene sulfonate (VSS). Additionally, 2-hydroxyethyl acrylate (HEA) and 4-hydroxybutyl acrylate are employed to enable a strong interface adhesion with polymeric foams through interfacial H-bonding. By using as-synthesized waterborne flame-retardant polymeric coating with a thickness of 600µm, the coated polyurethane foam (PUF) can achieve a desired V-0 rating during the vertical burning test with a high limiting oxygen index (LOI) of >31.5vol%. By comparing these sulfur-containing polymeric fire-retardant coatings, poly(VS-co-HEA) coated PUF demonstrates the best interface adhesion capability and flame-retardant performance, with the lowest peak heat release rate of 166kW m-2 and the highest LOI of 36.4vol%. This work provides new avenues for the design and performance optimization of advanced fire-retardant polymeric coatings.

New Composites Derived from the Natural Fiber Polymers of Discarded Date Palm Surface and Pineapple Leaf Fibers for Thermal Insulation and Sound Absorption.

New composites made of natural fiber polymers such as wasted date palm surface fiber (DPSF) and pineapple leaf fibers (PALFs) are developed in an attempt to lower the environmental impact worldwide and, at the same time, produce eco-friendly insulation materials. Composite samples of different compositions are obtained using wood adhesive as a binder. Seven samples are prepared: two for the loose natural polymers of PALF and DPSF, two for the composites bound by single materials of PALF and DPSF using wood adhesive as a binder, and three composites of both materials and the binder with different compositions. Sound absorption coefficients (SACs) are obtained for bound and hybrid composite samples for a wide range of frequencies. Flexural moment tests are determined for these composites. A thermogravimetric analysis test (TGA) and the moisture content are obtained for the natural polymers and composites. The results show that the average range of thermal conductivity coefficient is 0.042-0.06 W/(m K), 0.052-0.075 W/(m K), and 0.054-0.07 W/(m K) for the loose fiber polymers, bound composites, and hybrid composites, respectively. The bound composites of DPSF have a very good sound absorption coefficient (>0.5) for almost all frequencies greater than 300 Hz, followed by the hybrid composite ones for frequencies greater than 1000 Hz (SAC > 0.5). The loose fiber polymers of PALF are thermally stable up to 218 °C. Most bound and hybrid composites have a good flexure modulus (6.47-64.16 MPa) and flexure stress (0.43-1.67 Mpa). The loose fiber polymers and bound and hybrid composites have a low moisture content below 4%. These characteristics of the newly developed sustainable and biodegradable fiber polymers and their composites are considered promising thermal insulation and sound absorption materials in replacing synthetic and petrochemical insulation materials in buildings and other engineering applications.

Research of the strength properties of nonwoven materials of sheep wool

The work carried out physical and mechanical studies of nonwoven materials using universal tensile testing machine “Tinius Olsen H25S”. Nonwoven materials were produced at the enterprise of IE “Miras” (Taraz city). A mechanical needle punching method was used for the production of nonwoven fabric. This method is environmentally friendly, since adhesives or impregnation is not used in production, and the use of high temperatures at which harmful substances are released into the atmosphere is not provided. The following strength indicators of the nonwoven material were determined: the average value of the breaking load, strength and elongation at break along and across the edge of the nonwoven material. The studied nonwoven materials can be used in the footwear industry in the form of insoles, linings and insulating intermediate parts, as building insulation materials, as well as in products for various technical purposes. The production of nonwoven materials is low-cost, which ensures affordable prices for products made from them.

Preparation and characteristic of palmitic acid/flower-shaped CuS composite phase change material for effective heat storage and photothermal conversion

Designing and synthesizing the excellent heat storage and photothermal integrated composite phase change materials (PCMs) is an effective strategy for solar energy utilization. This work focuses on two kinds of CuS (cuboidal and 3D flower-shaped) with different morphology were designed as substrates and photothermal materials, and PA/F–CuS and PA/C–CuS composite PCMs have been prepared by melt-blending and vacuum impregnation method. Through SEM and pore structure characterization as well as leakage testing, it is proved that 3D layered flower-shaped CuS not only exposes the large specific surface area and rich adsorption sites, but also 2D thin layers can perform multiple reflections to improve the utilization rate of solar energy. The flower-shaped CuS is more suitable for the supporting material. Noteworthy, the latent heat of PA/F–CuS can reach 226.3 J/g, and the thermal conductivity is 0.3447 W/(m·K). Furthermore, compared with pure PA, the photothermal property of PA/F–CuS increased by 49.22–84.59%, and the photothermal conversion efficiency can reach 70.3%. This work provides an innovative idea for the design and manufacture of composite PCMs related to medium and low temperature solar energy storage, and has broad application potential in the field of thermal energy storage such as solar energy utilization and building insulation materials.

Computational characterisation of the heat flow meter method applied to moist bio-based insulating building materials

This paper investigates the role of moisture content on the measurement of the thermal conductivity of wood-based low-density fibreboards (LDFs) used for building insulation. To that purpose, a computational code of coupled transfers was used to simulate the widely used Heat Flow Meter (HFM) method. To widen the range of study, the thermal conductivity is obtained with a mixing law model to account for the properties and fractions of the constitutive phases. This mix law model was fitted from thermal conductivity values reported for commercial LDFs. The prediction of the heat flow density during the HFM test was compared with the measurements for dry and wet LDF. Through a series of case studies, the simulations showed that, in the case of moist products, the thermal conductivity determined by the HFM method was overestimated by up to 20%. This overestimate depends on the density distribution, thickness, moisture content, and measurement parameters such as time and the equilibrium criterion. Recommendations are made to limit this error.

Multifunctional and recyclable aerogel/fiber building insulation composites with sandwich structure

Fire, electromagnetic (EM) pollution, and sustainability require building insulation with fire resistance, EM interference shielding, and recyclability. However, fewer building insulation materials can fulfill these multifunctional requirements. Here, we report a multifunctional building thermal insulation material with a sandwich structure that uses SiO2 aerogel powder as the insulating filler phase, α-Al2O3 fiber as the refractory reinforcing phase, and carbon fiber mat (CFF) as the electromagnetic interference shielding layer prepared by the mixing-pressing-drying method. The effects of different SiO2 aerogel power contents on fire resistance, thermal insulation, and hydrophobicity, the effects of different carbon fiber contents on EMI performance, and the effects of CFF as an interlayer on compressive strength and recyclability were investigated. The results demonstrated exceptional fire resistance properties and low thermal conductivity (0.0529 W/m·K) with a SiO2 aerogel powder content of 11.2 wt%. Specifically, the structure of the aerogel/fiber composite remains intact and the temperature of the non-heated surface is lower than 75.8 ℃ after 4 min of continuous flame combustion. It can achieve a commercial shielding standard of 20 dB at a carbon fiber content of 5 wt%. In addition, CFF as interlayers can effectively improve the compression strength of the material and solve the problem of difficult recycling of carbon fiber. In conclusion, this sandwich structure of multifunctional aerogel/fiber composites provides new ideas for the manufacture of fire resistance, energy-saving, EM-protection, and recyclable building insulation materials.

An experimental evaluation of a hybrid bio-composite based on date palm petiole fibers, expanded polystyrene waste, and gypsum plaster as a sustainable insulating building material

Gypsum plaster is essential in construction as a thermal insulator and decorative material. This study aims to protect the environment by valorizing two commonly found wastes in Algeria, namely date palm petiole fibers (DPP) and expanded polystyrene waste (EPS), to produce a gypsum plaster hybrid biocomposite material comparable to, or better than, neat gypsum plaster (NGP). Hand-made samples with different DPP mass loadings (0; 5; 10; and 15%), EPS mass ratios (0.3%), or both were used. Different morphological, mechanical, and thermophysical tests were performed on the produced hybrid composites. FTIR shows the characteristic peaks for gypsum, polystyrene, and fibers. XRD shows that NGP, EPS, and DPP are 71.58, 29.91, and 52.93% crystallinity, respectively. Compression strengths, flexural strengths, and young modulus show that EPS, DPP, or both significantly reduce all mechanical properties of prepared samples. The biocomposites produced had lower thermal conductivity (λ) (0.265–0.414 W/(m.K) at 24◦C) and bulk density (ρ) (852–925 kg/m3) than reference NGP samples witch have 0.425 W/(m.K) in thermal conductivity and 977 kg/m3 in therm of bulk density. Based on a comparative study, gypsum plaster reinforced with DPP, EPS, or both exhibits potential as a viable alternative to insulation materials, thereby offering a sustainable solution for construction purposes.

Optimising building envelope and insulation materials for energy efficiency and life-cycle cost in Cypriot residences

ABSTRACT Residential buildings consume approximately 36% of total electricity consumption in Cyprus and this is expected to continue increasing in the coming years. This study explores the potential for energy savings in residential buildings in Cyprus through optimising building envelopes and insulation materials. Using building information modelling and energy modelling software, the study analyses 120 combinations of building envelopes and eight insulation materials, identifying an optimal combination of wall, roof, and flooring materials that could result in 32% energy load reductions and 27% lower life-cycle costs compared to the median scenario. High-density rock wool insulation on roofs and double-glazed windows were also found to offer both monetary and energy performance benefits. A sensitivity analysis revealed that the current high energy prices could provide greater economic incentives to adopt these optimisation strategies. Optimising building materials in Cyprus could play a critical role in climate strategy while also offering significant economic benefits.

A thermophysical investigation of the potential for the use of wastepaper for insulation building materials

Several sectors produce more waste. Therefore, comprehensive steps are needed to ensure environmentally sustainable and economically feasible waste recovery. The main objective of the study was to investigate the potential of giving a second life to waste, which constitutes a heavy financial and environmental burden for the factories, by its valorisation in the manufacture of new materials such as insulation and energy-efficient construction materials. By a good choice of treatment and implementation methods, paper pulp waste was considered to be a raw material that can replace many synthetic products widely used in the construction field. The research aimed to characterise wastepaper for possible use as a raw material in composites for insulation in buildings. This was done with a drying treatment of the WP to eliminate the water content and analysed the chemical composition to ensure the absence of toxic elements where there might behuman contact. Analytical methods used were both physical and chemical such as granulometry, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy/EDX, Brunauer, Emmett and Teller and Fourier transform infrared. Finally, it was necessary to identify the thermal performance and microstructure for practical application.

Enhancing the thermal storage performance of biochar/paraffin composite phase change materials: Effect of oleophobic modification of biochar

Composite phase change materials (PCMs) possess excellent temperature-regulating capabilities, which can effectively reduce building energy consumption, ultimately contribute to energy saving and carbon reduction. In this study, oleophobic modification was carried out on the Zn modified - white pine biochar. The resultant oleophobic material (Zn-WPC-A) showed excellent supporting capability in the preparation of paraffin wax (PW)/biochar composite PCMs (PW/Zn-WPC-A). The oleophobic properties of biochar could effectively prevent PW leakage, and resulted in a high PW loading rate of 84.26% and an encapsulation efficiency of 82.26%. Zn-WPC-A demonstrated good physical and chemical compatibility with PW. The inclusion of Zn-WPC-A effectively promoted the nucleation in the crystallization process of PW. PW/Zn-WPC-A exhibited a thermal conductivity 3.28 times that of pure PW, displaying excellent thermal responsiveness. The fusion enthalpy of PW/Zn-WPC-A was 107.2 J/g. Furthermore, it displayed excellent stability within the working temperature range with no leakage observed. Simulated housing application experiments illustrated that the use of PW/Zn-WPC-A as building insulation material effectively slowed down the variation rate of indoor temperature. Therefore, the composite PCM using oleophobic modified biochar as supporting material showed excellent thermal performance and strong temperature-regulating capability.

Balanced Thermal Insulation, Flame-Retardant and Mechanical Properties of PU Foam Constructed via Cost-Effective EG/APP/SA Ternary Synergistic Modification.

To address the challenge of balancing the mechanical, thermal insulation, and flame-retardant properties of building insulation materials, this study presented a facile approach to modify the rigid polyurethane foam composites (RPUFs) via commercial expandable graphite (EG), ammonium polyphosphate (APP), and silica aerogel (SA). The resulting EG/APP/SA/RPUFs exhibited low thermal conductivity close to neat RPUF. However, the compressive strength of the 6EG/2APP/SA/RPUF increased by 49% along with achieving a V-0 flame retardant rating. The residual weight at 700 °C increased from 19.2 wt.% to 30.9 wt.%. Results from cone calorimetry test (CCT) revealed a 9.2% reduction in total heat release (THR) and a 17.5% decrease in total smoke production (TSP). The synergistic flame-retardant mechanism of APP/EG made significant contribution to the excellent flame retardant properties of EG/APP/SA/RPUFs. The addition of SA played a vital role in reducing thermal conductivity and enhancing mechanical performance, effectively compensating for the shortcomings of APP/EG. The cost-effective EG/APP/SA system demonstrates a positive ternary synergistic effect in achieving a balance in RPUFs properties. This study provides a novel strategy aimed at developing affordable building wall insulation material with enhanced safety features.

Thermogravimetric analysis and pyrolysis characterization of expanded–polystyrene and polyurethane–foam insulation materials

Expanded polystyrene (EPS) and polyurethane foam (PUF) are commonly used as building insulation material for energy savings; however, the fire risk is high because insulation material ignites easily and combusts upon exposure to external heat sources. Insulation materials are regarded as solid fuels, which undergo pyrolysis before combustion. Therefore, elucidating insulation material pyrolysis is an important aspect of efforts to predict combustion and fire phenomenon in these materials. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) was conducted to investigate the pyrolysis behavior of EPS and PUF in a nitrogen atmosphere using four heating rates. The results showed that the pyrolysis of EPS and PUF in nitrogen occurred through one- and two-weight loss reactions, respectively. Based on the pyrolysis temperatures obtained via TGA, the effective activation energies were determined using multiple model-free methods. The pre-exponential factors were calculated by applying the kinetic compensation effect from the reaction mechanism established using the model-fitting method. Additionally, the material activation energies and pre-exponential factors determined from experiments could be used as pyrolysis properties for numerical predictions of fire using the Fire Dynamics Simulator (FDS). Numerical simulations were conducted to validate the material activation energies and pre-exponential factors determined from experiments based on the FDS pyrolysis model.

APPLICATION OF CORK AS AN ECOLOGICAL MATERIAL IN THERMAL INSULATION OF BUILDINGS

In this paper, the possibility of using an environmentally friendly material - cork as a thermal insulation material for buildings will be pointed out. In today's world, energy efficiency and ecology are two of the most important problems facing our society. The great and growing need of society for construction and housing has raised the need for the use of innovative building materials in order to preserve the environment, reduce operating costs, i.e., life in them. The need for energy is increasing, with the energy becoming more expensive and there is less and less conventional energy, energy crises are becoming more frequent, and the environment is becoming more polluted. Therefore, there is a need to reduce energy consumption and find ways to generate energy that are sustainable and environmentally friendly. Energy efficient and environmentally friendly thermal insulation materials play a key role in reducing energy consumption and solving climate changes. The most energy-efficient and environmentally friendly insulation materials are those made from renewable or recycled resources, they have low built-in energy and a long lifespan