Building Thermal Insulation—Biodegradable Sugarcane and Coconut Fiber

Abstract

Apparent thermal conductivity, Λ, measurements were conducted on sugarcane and coconut fiber specimens using LaserComp “FOX 304” and Holometrix “Rapid-k” heat-flow meters. Both heat-flow meters were built and operated in accordance with ASTM C 518. The Λ measurements for sugarcane and coconut fiber were investigated over the density ranges 70 to 120 kg/m³ and 40 to 90 kg/m³ over the mean test temperature ranges 18 to 32°C and 13.2 to 21.8°C, respectively.

The experimental results for sugarcane and coconut fiber indicated the general trend associated with that of loose-fill thermal insulation. Using the Method of Least Squares, empirical relationships for calculating Λ. as a function of temperature and density for sugarcane and coconut fiber were developed. The percentage deviation of the measured apparent thermal conductivities from the empirical relation ships was less than ±3% for both sugarcane and coconut fiber.

The results indicated that sugarcane and coconut fiber show minimum Λ at 100 kg/m³ and 80 kg/m³, respectively. The minimum Λ vary with temperature and ranged from 0.046 W/m.K to 0.049 W/m·K and 0.048 W/m·K to 0.049 W/m·K, respectively. The minimum apparent thermal conductivities of both sugarcane and coconut fiber are within the range of those normally associated with building thermal insulation.

Keywords

sugarcane fiber coconut fiber fibrous insulation building insulation apparent thermal conductivity cellulosic insulation biodegradable

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Kochhar

G. S.

Manohar

, 1997, “Use of Coconut Fiber as a Low-Cost Thermal Insulator,” Insulation Materials: Testing and Applications: Third Volume, ASTM STP 1320,

Graves

R. S.

Zarr

R. R.

, Eds., American Society for Testing and Materials, pp. 283–291.

CARIRI Service Project Report, 1996, Investigation of sugarcane and coconut fiber. Tunapuna, Trinidad and Tobago: Caribbean Industrial Research Institute; Report No. 794/796.

American Society for Testing and Materials, 1995, “Standard Test Methods for Density and Specific Gravity of Plastics by Displacement,” Annual Book of ASTM Standards, ASTM D 792–91, pp. 174–177.

LaserComp FOX 304, 1994, “Heat Flow Meter Thermal Conductivity Instrument,” Information Sheet, LaserComp; Wakefield, MA, USA.

Holometrix Rapid-k, 1994, “Heat Flow Meter Thermal Conductivity Instrument,” Operation and Maintenance Manual, Holometrix; 25 Wiggins Avenue, Bedford, MA, USA.

American Society for Testing and Materials, 1976, “Steady State Thermal Transmission Properties by Means of the Heat Flow Meter,” American Society for Testing and Materials, ASTM C 518–76, pp. 496–527.

McElroy

D. L.

Yarbrough

D. W.

Graves

R. S.

, 1978, “The Thickness and Density of Loose-Fill Insulations after Installation in Residential Attics,” Thermal Insulation: Materials and Systems, ASTM STP 922,

Powell

F. J.

Matthews

S. L.

, Eds., American Society for Testing and Materials, Philadelphia, pp. 493–505.

Bankvall

, 1973, “Heat Transmission in Fibrous Materials,” Journal of Testing and Evaluation, Vol. 1, No. 3, pp. 235–243.

Verschoor

J. D.

Greebler

Manville

N.J.

, 1952, “Heat Transfer by Gas Conduction and Radiation in Fibrous Insulation,” Transactions of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, Vol. 74, pp. 961–968.

10.

Bankvall

, 1974, “Mechanism of Heat Transfer in Permeable Insulation and their Investigation in a Special Guarded Hot Plate,” Heat Transmission Measurements in Thermal Insulation, American Society for Testing and Materials, ASTM STP 544, Philadelphia, pp. 34–38.

11.

Pratt

A.W.

, 1978, Heat Transmissions in Buildings, John Wiley and Sons-Interscience Publication, London, pp. 31–42.