Use Of Thermal Insulation Materials Research Articles

Reducing Carbon Footprint by Using Thermal Insulation Materials in Palestinian Buildings

Buildings account for 39% of emission worldwide. The study aims to clarify the effects of thermal insulation materials used in West Bank Palestinian buildings, to demonstrate their capacity to reduce emissions and saving cost. Using a variety of records from the Engineers Syndicate and the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics, a thorough study of buildings in the West Bank area was carried out to determine the number and area of buildings. Additionally, data from sources of energy was collected for the study years 2018–2021. Following the use of thermal insulation materials to the buildings, computations were then equipped with thermal insulation materials, and calculations to estimate the energy savings and reductions in carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions. The results show, using insulating materials reduce energy consumption by 27.23% and CO₂ emissions significantly. It is anticipated that the cost recovery period for new construction is 0.39 to 1.09 years, and for repaired buildings it is between 4.34 and 7.2 years. Depending on the location and typical temperature of the area. The study recommends working for the widespread use of insulating materials in all new construction and for retrofitting existing structures. These initiatives will support international efforts to reduce emissions and achieve sustainable development goals in addition to improving energy efficiency.

Weather ageing effects on the long-term thermal conductivity and biological colonisation of thermal insulating mortars with EPS, cork and aerogel

The use of thermal insulation materials in the opaque walls is one of the best strategies toward the improvement of the thermal performance of the building envelope, thereby contributing to increase the energy efficiency of the built environment. In this context, an increasing number of studies are focusing on the development of mortars with enhanced thermal performance, i.e., thermal insulating mortars. However, considering the innovative character of these materials, reliable data on their long-term performance is still lacking, particularly concerning the thermal performance and suitability to refurbishment works. The aim of this paper is to evaluate the long-term thermal conductivity and biological colonisation of industrially produced and experimentally designed thermal mortars with EPS, cork and silica aerogel aggregates. The long-term performance of the mortars was assessed prior, during and after exposure to three accelerated ageing tests including elevated temperature, freeze–thaw cycles and high humidity levels. For each test, an empirical model (i.e., Arrhenius law, Peck model, and Coffin-Manson equation) was used to compute the acceleration factor, thus allowing to correlate the accelerated and natural ageing results and to estimate the degradation levels that would be obtained after 10 years of exposure to natural weather conditions. The results of the thermal conductivity show that a maximum increase of 10 % and 30 % can be obtained after ageing for the industrially produced and experimentally designed mortars, respectively. Moreover, all mortars were susceptible to mould growth, with the greatest biological colonisation levels obtained after the high moisture content ageing for the experimentally designed mortars.

FABRICATION OF THERMAL BIO-INSULATOR FROM OIL PALM TRUNK FIBER: ANALYSIS OF THERMAL, PHYSICAL AND MECHANICAL PROPERTIES

The majority of air conditioning systems, including both cooling and heating systems, consume a significant amount of electrical energy as a result of their high electrical consumption and prolonged periods of operation. The use of thermal insulation materials in the building can help conserve electrical energy used for room conditioning systems. Natural fibers are used as an alternative in the production of thermal insulation, which is commonly referred to as bio-insulators. The utilization of oil palm trunk (OPT) fiber as the primary material for thermal insulation shows promise. This study aims to determine the specific attributes of OPT fiberboard that make it suitable for use as a thermal bio-insulator. The features examined encompass physical, mechanical, thermal, and fire-resistant attributes. The OPT fiber underwent a treatment process involving boiling at a temperature of 80℃ for a duration of 30 minutes. The fiberboard is manufactured using epoxy adhesive and calcium carbonate additive, and then printed using the hand lay-up process and cold-compaction technique. The physical characteristics of fiberboard indicate that there is a direct relationship between its density and water absorption. Testing revealed that fiberboard has a low thermal conductivity and high heat capacity value. By including calcium carbonate, the burning time of the fiberboard was tested and seen to decrease, indicating a delay in the fiberboard burning process, as evidenced by the extended flame suppression time. The density of OPT fiberboard varies between 0.48 and 0.70 gr/cm3. The absorbency of water is inversely related to its density. Water absorption capacity generally rises with decreased density. The obtained heat capacity value is 1.28-2.38 J⁄(g℃). The mechanical value ranges from 1.00 to 3.55 MPa. The incorporation of calcium carbonate significantly impacts the thermal and mechanical characteristics of the fiberboard. The produced OPT fiberboard satisfies the requirements for good thermal, physical, and mechanical characteristics, making it a suitable bio-insulation material for buildings.

Simulated and experimental study on effect of thermal insulation layer on temperature field and heat dissipation of roadway surrounding rock

As mining activities extend deeper, intense heat dissipation from surrounding rock has become the most significant factor leading to heat hazards in deep mines. Laying the thermal insulation layer (TIL) along the roadway walls is an effective measure to reduce heat dissipation. This study is to investigate the temperature field and heat dissipation evolution of roadway surrounding rock after applying thermal insulation layer (TIL) by numerical simulation and similar experiment. The study shows that (i) The simulation curves agree well with the experimental data, which confirms the reliability of the mathematical model and numerical simulator; (ii) The application of TIL slows down the cooling of surrounding rock temperature field, the cooling ring radius decreased by 8.13 % after 10 years of ventilation; (iii) The effect of TIL on the equivalent thermal resistance (ETR) is most significant in early ventilation, and the thermal insulation effect decreases with time; (iv) The heat insulation rate is positively correlated with the TIL thickness and the convective heat transfer coefficient, and negatively with the thermal conductivity of TIL. This study provides the theoretical basis for the use of thermal insulation materials in underground mines.

Experimental assessment of concrete masonry units integrated with insulation and phase change material: A wall-pattern study

The installation of functional materials, including thermal insulation materials (TIMs) and phase change materials (PCMs), in concrete masonry unit (CMU) block (brick) walls is expected to obtain high thermal performance. However, since the apparent thermal capacity of PCMs is affected by a variety of factors, how to use PCMs rationally becomes a complex and systematic issue. At the same time, how to combine PCMs with TIMs in building envelope to achieve high stationary and transient thermal performances simultaneously is also an important issue that arises with the application of PCMs. The quantitative impact of the key factors, including the underlying patterns of the functional materials themselves, as well as others such as wall pattern, the location, quantity, and handling of the functional materials, is still not clear. In this study, a wall pattern analysis is experimentally performed for the integration of TIM and PCM in CMU-block walls. Walls equipped with various volumes of the two functional materials in eight placement modes under three representative thermal conditions are measured and discussed. The performance associated with the wall modes is completely analyzed. Thermal bridging is found to be a key factor in weakening the effect of the functional materials filled in wall cavities. In addition, the optimal locations and volumes of the functional materials are obtained. This study thermally reveals and gathers effect laws and applied principles, and provides data reference for the proper use of TIM and PCM outfitted building envelopes.

A quantitative comparison on the use of thermal insulation materials in three European countries through the TEnSE approach: Challenges and opportunities

Europe has about 75 % of energy inefficient buildings and 8 % of population in energy poverty with difficulties of affording energy bills for keeping adequate levels of warmth, cooling, lighting, and energy use for household appliances in building stock. The implementation of thermal insulation in existing buildings would allow to address both energy efficiency and energy poverty and to align with the Net Zero Emission Scenario. This research proposes an inverse decision-making approach to investigate on the reasons behind the use of some thermal insulation materials in three countries within the European Economic Area (Italy, Norway, and Portugal), differing in terms of Energy Poverty as well as environmental and legislative contexts. For this reason, four macro-domains objectives, framed in Technical (T), Environmental (En), Safety (S) and Economic (E) topics, named as TEnSE, were considered. Ten thermal insulation materials commonly used in these countries were compared to understand which of four perspectives affects their choices in current times among several stakeholders. As none of the selected materials has obtained the highest score among stakeholders and their use is presumably due to buildability, challenges and opportunities in their future implementation are discussed considering different climate ‘what-if’ scenarios.

Examining the performance of thermal insulation materials used in buildings for noise insulation

Urbanization is spreading throughout the world as a result of rising population. Accordingly, airway, seaway, road, and railway transportation networks are expanding. Advancements in transportation and population growth result in significant increases in environmental noise. Increased noise levels have a negative impact on people's health and cause a variety of issues such as sleep disorders and communication problems. Consequently, various noiseproofing (insulation) regulations and codes have appeared in various countries. However, studies conducted recently have shown that in order for providing sustainable quality of life, it is recommended that the noise level should not exceed certain values. On maximum noise levels for comfortable living places have revealed that adequate and enough insulation levels should be satisfied using the criteria specified in specifications. Nowadays, building energy savings have increased significantly with the use of thermal insulation materials used in buildings. This study investigates the performances of commonly used thermal insulation materials in buildings on noise insulation. Namely, the effects of various wall thicknesses and thermal insulation materials on noise insulation performance were studied. Outdoor and indoor noise levels were measured in a heavily trafficked workplace area of Konya, Turkey, which is identified as sample noise noise source of this study. It was found out in the study that while some thermal insulation materials provide adequate noise insulation in a specific noise frequency range, some others not adequate.

Thermal Insulation Mechanism, Preparation, and Modification of Nanocellulose Aerogels: A Review.

Energy problems have become increasingly prominent. The use of thermal insulation materials is an effective measure to save energy. As an efficient energy-saving material, nanocellulose aerogels have broad application prospects. However, nanocellulose aerogels have problems such as poor mechanical properties, high flammability, and they easily absorbs water from the environment. These defects restrict their thermal insulation performance and severely limit their application. This review analyzes the thermal insulation mechanism of nanocellulose aerogels and summarizes the methods of preparing them from biomass raw materials. In addition, aiming at the inherent defects of nanocellulose aerogels, this review focuses on the methods used to improve their mechanical properties, flame retardancy, and hydrophobicity in order to prepare high-performance thermal insulation materials in line with the concept of sustainable development, thereby promoting energy conservation, rational use, and expanding the application of nanocellulose aerogels.

Air-conditioning cost savings, CO2 emission benefits and return on investment by using waste in porotherm bricks in hot-arid and warm-temperate climates

Building energy consumption has dramatically increased globally during the last few decades. This energy is primarily utilized to keep air-conditioned buildings at a comfortable temperature. As the worldwide demand for energy increases, net-zero or green buildings will undoubtedly become more and more crucial to address challenges related to climate change. It is well-known in this regard that the use of thermal insulation materials inside the building can contribute with temperature management and thermal comfort by preventing heat transmission. The present study examines the thermo-economic aspects of porotherm blocks filled with discarded insulations. Six different types of insulation were therefore investigated, and each was inserted into the porotherm brick cavities, including plastic powder, tire powder, cloth powder, leather powder, rockwool, and coconut pith. The effects of these newly developed brick configurations on air-conditioning costs, carbon dioxide emissions and payback time are compared to those of conventional porotherm blocks and burnt clay bricks. Thermo-physical properties of the aforementioned insulating materials, as well as porotherm brick and burnt clay brick, were established by experimental analysis. The thermo-economic analysis was carried out based on the number of degree-hours of heating and cooling to determine the building's annual energy usage. The thermo-economic performance of insulation-stuffed porotherm bricks was evaluated in two locations in India with distinct climatic characteristics: (28.57° N 75.12° E) New Delhi (warm-temperate climate) and (28.00° N 73.30° E) Bikaner (hot-arid climate). The rockwool porotherm brick wall demonstrated the best results in terms of lower unsteady transmittance, greater air conditioning cost-savings, appropriate payback spans, and improved yearly carbon mitigation values of 0.29 W/m2K, 0.83 $/m2, 0.95 years, and 15.65 kg/kWh, respectively, in hot-dry climates.

Effect of Exposure to Environmental Cycling on the Thermal Conductivity of Expanded Polystyrene.

The global effort to reduce energy consumption generated by buildings involves the increasing use of thermal insulation materials, with expanded polystyrene representing one of the most used materials to this end. The thermal performance of expanded polystyrene has been extensively studied; however, information on the effect of exposure to cyclic environmental conditions on its thermal performance is limited. Therefore, we conducted such a study, which is presented in this article. In the first stage, samples were subjected to 28 days of preconditioning to accelerate the increase in moisture in the material. The second stage involved exposure to 40 freeze–thaw cycles of 12 h each. The weight and thermal conductivity of the samples were measured before and after exposure, and the compression behavior was also analyzed. The results show a decrease in the thermal performance of expanded polystyrene exposed to cyclic environmental conditions, as demonstrated by an increase in the water content of the material under the same measurement conditions and an increase of 5.06% in the average thermal conductivity. The influence of this increase on the thermal performance of commonly used wall construction elements was also been studied and presented in this article. A decrease of 7.59% in the compressive stress of the material at 10% strain was also demonstrated.

Internal insulation systems and their assessment for historic buildings by hygrothermal simulation

The paper examines possible solutions for the use of internal insulation in listed buildings. Massive thick walls of historic buildings represent large heat losses and the use of thermal insulation materials from the inside is a possible solution to increase the energy efficiency of historic buildings. However, the use of thermal insulation from the interior is accompanied by a number of risks associated with condensation, mould growth and damage to the perimeter structure. It is necessary to perform dynamic simulations to verify the thermal-humidity behaviour of the structure. The article describes materials suitable for the purpose of internal insulation, their advantages and disadvantages and a description of dynamic simulations by which their effects on the thermal-humidity behaviour of the perimeter wall of a historic building are assessed.

Comparative Analysis of the Use of Thermal Insulation Materials Depending on Climatic Conditions and Comfort Microclimate Supply Systems

The use of thermal insulation materials to reduce the heating and cooling demand of the building in order to provide energy efficiency is the main solution. But there is a wide range of these products on the market and, therefore, the choice and application of these materials is a rather difficult task, since many factors must be taken into account, such as environmental safety, cost, durability, climatic conditions, application technology, etc. Basically, comfort microclimate systems are designed based on normative standards, where the thickness of the thermal insulation material is selected depending on the required heat transfer resistance. These values are calculated taking into account climate conditions, that is the duration of the heating period, as well as taking into account sanitary and hygienic requirements. This article discusses the thermal performance of building materials, and also provides a comparative analysis of the use of thermal insulation materials depending on climatic factors and on the system providing comfort microclimate. Based on the calculations by mathematical modeling and optimization, it is advisable to choose the thickness of the thermal insulation, taking into account the capital and operating costs of the comfort microclimate systems. Comparing the optimization data with the normative one, the energy efficiency of the building increases by 50-70% when applying the optimal thickness of the thermal insulation layer, and when the thermal insulation layer is increased, the thermal performance of the enclosing structures has improved by 30%, which contributes to energy saving.

Fabrication of a Novel MgO-B2O3-SiO2-Zn Coating by Thermal Spraying

In automotive technology, the proper use of thermal insulation materials helps improve the performance and life of internal equipment and reduce maintenance cost. In this study, plasma spraying and flame spraying are used to prepare and coat a new MgO-B2O3-SiO2-Zn powder on the SUS304 substrate. The resulting coating as thermal insulation layer formed a networked microstructure between the substrates to improve the thermal insulation performance of the material. By validation of thermal radiation experiments, the thermal insulation effects of various ceramic powders were compared, the high-temperature and low-temperature thermal insulation materials for about 300 and 100 °C were determined, and the thermal insulation performance of the constructed material coatings was verified by analysis.

Application of Room Cooling and Thermal Insulation Materials to Maintain Quality of Okra during Storage and Transportation

A combination of room cooling and the use of thermal insulation materials to maintain okra quality under simulated storage and transportation was evaluated. Okra pods were packed in plastic baskets and either cooled at 18 °C or not cooled in a room for 2 h. After either room cooling or no cooling, the okra pods were covered with three different materials: (1) perforated linear low-density polyethylene (P-LLDPE), (2) two layers of heat-reflective sheet with thin nonwoven (HRS+TNNW), and (3) metalized foam sheet (MFS). Typical handling (TP) without cooling and covering with P-LLDPE was used as the control. The six treatments were conducted during simulated storage (18 °C for 48 h) and transportation (30 °C for 15 h). Results showed that MFS gave the best insulation properties (Qx and R-values), followed by HRS and TNNW. After room cooling, both HRS+TNNW and MFS materials delayed the time for pulp temperature to reach 18 °C (10 h), compared to P-LLDPE (2 h). TP presented the highest mass loss (17.8%) throughout simulated conditions, followed by cooling plus P-LLDPE (15.2%) and either of the thermal insulation materials with or without room cooling (3.6% to 5.2%), respectively. TP, cooling plus P-LLDPE, and no cooling plus MFS (44% to 56%) showed the highest percentage of decay, while cooling combined with both HRS+TNNW and MFS gave the lowest decay incidence (11–21%). Findings demonstrated that room cooling combined with HRS+TNNW had the highest efficiency for preserving cool temperature and reducing decay, compared to TP and room cooling plus MFS.

Experience in Fire Protection Design of Building External Insulation Material System

With the development of building energy conservation for many years, the use of thermal insulation materials has been vigorously promoted, which forms a pattern of coexistence of various structural forms. Building energy conservation, as a national development plan, has achieved good results, but it has also exposed many social problems. The most prominent of which is the fire resistance of thermal insulation materials. From the point of view of designers, this paper discusses the structural characteristics of the main parts of the enclosure structure, the unity of thermal insulation performance and fire prevention performance, and the application points of thermal insulation materials.

Вибір оптимальної товщини теплової ізоляції модульних будинків на основі багатокритеріального аналізу

Today modular construction is gaining popularity in the arrangement of production facilities. The purpose of the research is the theoretical substantiation of the choice of the optimal thickness of thermal insulation for external protections of modular buildings taking into account the evaluation criteria based on the method of hierarchy analysis. The article reflects the possibility of using modular buildings for residential and public needs. Given the peculiarities of the use of thermal insulation materials, such structures are erected in a short period of time due to the use of ready-made modules. It is also proposed to use multicriteria analysis to compare different thicknesses of thermal insulation of a modular building. The obtained results are presented in the form of petal diagrams and diagrams of global priorities, which made it possible to make an in-depth assessment of several thicknesses of thermal insulation. When conducting theoretical research, it should be noted that the importance of each of the criteria was taken into account for the selection of thermal insulation. An expert assessment was performed to determine the thickness of thermal insulation, which can be used for lightweight prefabricated structures of modular buildings. As a result of research, it was found that the most suitable thermal insulation material is polyurethane.

The use of thermal insulation materials in production and safety

An overview of the main problems in the use of thermal insulation materials in industry, during operation in critical conditions is presented. Thermal insulation improves the energy efficiency of the enterprise and creates a safe working environment in production. The data of experimental implementations at the facility of JSC "Caustic" plant, Volgograd, carried out from January to March 2020, have been considered and analyzed.

Modified Phenol Formaldehyde Reactive Oligomers

Polymeric heat-insulating materials based on casting phenolic foams have low thermal conductivity, reduced fire hazard, high operating temperatures, low cost of the starting components, and biostability. Due to these properties, they are superior in technical and economic indicators to mineral and other polymeric heat-insulating materials used in the construction industry. Low strength, tendency to smoldering, and high toxicity are significant limiting factors for the wider use of thermal insulation materials based on phenol formaldehyde oligomers. Modification of phenol-formaldehyde oligomers can improve the operational properties of materials and products based on them. One way is to introduce chemically active modified additives into the feedstock. As such compounds, metal chlorides of variable valence (FeCl3) and sodium hexafluorosilicate (Na2[SiF6]) were used in the work. It was established by studies that iron (III) salts of 2.0–2.6 wt.% are most effective in reducing toxicity. The simultaneous introduction of sodium hexafluorosilicate in an amount of 0.5 wt.% Allows to reduce the material consumption of products based on phenol formaldehyde oligomers.

The procedure for determination of the dependence of the cost of insulation materials on their thermophysical characteristics

Optimal insulation for the walls of the house is selected based on the material of construction and must meet several requirements. This article describes the method of justifying the dependence of the cost of heaters on their technical characteristics, based on a statistical analysis of price and thermophysical characteristics, used later in the development of optimization models for the selection and use of thermal insulation materials (heaters). To assess the quality of the resulting economic and mathematical model, the coefficient of determination was used. In order for the number of regressors (factors) not to affect the statistics of this coefficient, an adjusted coefficient of determination was also calculated, which gives a “penalty” for the factors included in the model.

Environmental impacts for polyurethane panels

According to the European targets for 2030, for managing a policy of improving the environmental sustainability of buildings it is essential to assess the buildings and building components impacts both in the construction and in the utilization phases. The use of building is essential on the environmental impacts (equal to about 90%) as consequence the commitment must be aimed at reducing energy consumption and CO2 emissions of buildings during their lifetime, through correct design and proper selection of materials and technologies; above all, the use of thermal insulation materials is fundamental. A useful support tool for manufacturers and designers for the eco-design innovation of products and production processes is the LCA - Life Cycle Assessment: the assessment allows to identify and to quantify energy, consumed materials and residues released as environment impact during the processes. Comparison of the environmental impact data of the different products it is possible by adopting the EPD - Environmental Product Declarations approach, which envisages, for each group of products, the elaboration of a specific technique, the PRC - Product Category Rules. In the building sector, among the thermal insulating materials currently in use, the rigid expanded polyurethane (thermoset polymeric insulation products with a substantially closed cell structure including both polymer types based on PIR and PUR), allows to obtain excellent characteristics of very low density masses, resulting in a reduction in energy consumption deriving from transport, installation and disposal or recycling at the end of life. Numerous studies on environmental impacts during the polyurethane life cycle have shown that the amount of resources consumed for the production of polyurethane foam is amortized in the use phase of buildings thanks to the energy savings determined by thermal insulation. Very important features of polyurethane is the high durability in time (higher or equal to the life of the building). This is demonstrated following some tests of physical characterization and verification of durability of rigid polyurethane insulation panels used in different types of building and construction, without maintenance: according to the determination of thermal conductivity and of the compressive strength is proven as the values are unchanged despite the years of use (over 40 years). The paper presents the LCA evaluation of a polyurethane panel; the durability of thermal properties has been verified by experimental tests.