scholarly journals Fungal Based Biopolymer Composites for Construction Materials

Materials ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (11) ◽  
pp. 2906
Author(s):  
Iuliana Răut ◽  
Mariana Călin ◽  
Zina Vuluga ◽  
Florin Oancea ◽  
Jenica Paceagiu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Thermal Insulation ◽  
Renewable Resources ◽  
Heat Exposure ◽  
Construction Materials ◽  
Bacterial Spores ◽  
Fungal Mycelium ◽  
Insulation Material ◽  
Construction Sector ◽  
Low Costs ◽  
Microscopy Images

Environmental contamination, extensive exploitation of fuel sources and accessibility of natural renewable resources represent the premises for the development of composite biomaterials. These materials have controlled properties, being obtained through processes operated in mild conditions with low costs, and contributing to the valorization of byproducts from agriculture and industry fields. A novel board composite including lignocelullosic substrate as wheat straws, fungal mycelium and polypropylene embedded with bacterial spores was developed and investigated in the present study. The bacterial spores embedded in polymer were found to be viable even after heat exposure, helping to increase the compatibility of polymer with hydrophilic microorganisms. Fungal based biopolymer composite was obtained after cultivation of Ganoderma lucidum macromycetes on a mixture including wheat straws and polypropylene embedded with spores from Bacillus amyloliquefaciens. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and light microscopy images showed the fungal mycelium covering the substrates with a dense network of filaments. The resulted biomaterial is safe, inert, renewable, natural, biodegradable and it can be molded in the desired shape. The fungal biocomposite presented similar compressive strength and improved thermal insulation capacity compared to polystyrene with high potential to be used as thermal insulation material for applications in construction sector.

scholarly journals Evaluation of Physical Properties of Mycelium-Based Bio Composites for Use As Facade Insulation Material

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Frank Dehn ◽  
Engin Kotan
Keyword(s):  
Physical Properties ◽  
Thermal Insulation ◽  
Beech Wood ◽  
Fungal Mycelium ◽  
Insulation Material ◽  
Test Results ◽  
Construction Sector ◽  
Rice Husks ◽  
Insulation Materials ◽  
Base Substrate

Abstract Background: To evaluate the usability of mycelium-based materials for construction, first tests were carried out to determine their suitability for thermal insulation. Different substrate compositions were tested for various physical properties. The compositions and experimental setups used are described in the “Methods” section. Results: Materials based on fungal mycelium were found to have promising properties for use in the construction sector. Their thermal conductivities are comparable to those of commercially available ecological insulation materials. As material properties turned out to be dependent on the substrate used for the production of mycelium materials, further optimisation is required. Conclusion: For first preliminary tests [1] to study the performance of mycelium-based materials, different additives (beech wood, rice husks, coffee silver skin, perlite rock) were added to a base substrate to determine their influence on physical properties. Compared to the characteristics of conventional thermal insulation materials, the test results obtained are rather promising and confirm suitability of mycelium-based materials for building. However, further systematic studies are needed to investigate options to improve major properties and to ensure reproducibility of mycelium materials with largely homogeneous properties.

Experimental Investigation of Thermal Conductivity from Insulation Based on Rice Hulks: Guarded and Calibrated Hot Box Method

2021 ◽  
Vol 1046 ◽  
pp. 71-76
Author(s):  
Yokasta García Frómeta ◽  
Francisco Ramírez Rivera ◽  
Víctor González Holguín ◽  
Jesús Cuadrado
Keyword(s):  
Thermal Conductivity ◽  
Energy Efficiency ◽  
Thermal Insulation ◽  
Agricultural Residues ◽  
Insulation Material ◽  
Construction Sector ◽  
Economic Activities ◽  
Standard Process ◽  
Box Method ◽  
Passive Techniques

In developing countries, large quantities of agricultural residues associated with harvests are generated, given that agriculture is one of the most important economic activities. The valorization of these residues for the construction sector could contribute to the improvement of energy efficiency in buildings. Through passive techniques, the construction of insulating thermal-acoustics panels, blocks, and aggregate for reinforced concrete can improve the energy efficiency. In this study, an experiment was performed to measure thermal conductivity of the Agricultural-Thermal Insulation Panel (ATIP) based on rice hulks. These Agricultural-Thermal Insulation Panels were elaborated follow a standard process to compaction of the rice hulks to be employed as insulation material with a panel dimension of 200x200x34.5(mm3). A “Hot Box” configuration was used to obtain the thermal conductivity of the panels, using different temperature gradients between hot and cold chambers.

Evaluation of Structure Influence on Thermal Conductivity of Thermal Insulating Materials from Renewable Resources

1970 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 208-212 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jolanta VĖJELIENĖ ◽  
Albinas GAILIUS ◽  
Sigitas VĖJELIS ◽  
Saulius VAITKUS ◽  
Giedrius BALČIŪNAS
Keyword(s):  
Thermal Conductivity ◽  
Thermal Insulation ◽  
Renewable Resources ◽  
Raw Materials ◽  
Raw Material ◽  
Barley Straw ◽  
Insulation Material ◽  
Insulating Materials ◽  
Insulation Materials ◽  
Thermal Insulating

The development of new thermal insulation materials needs to evaluate properties and structure of raw material, technological factors that make influence on the thermal conductivity of material. One of the most promising raw materials for production of insulation material is straw. The use of natural fibres in insulation is closely linked to the ecological building sector, where selection of materials is based on factors including recyclable, renewable raw materials and low resource production techniques In current work results of research on structure and thermal conductivity of renewable resources for production thermal insulating materials are presented. Due to the high abundance of renewable resources and a good its structure as raw material for thermal insulation materials barley straw, reeds, cattails and bent grass stalks are used. Macro- and micro structure analysis of these substances is performed. Straw bales of these materials are used for determining thermal conductivity. It was found that the macrostructure has the greatest effect on thermal conductivity of materials. Thermal conductivity of material is determined by the formation of a bale due to the large amount of pores among the stalks of the plant, inside the stalk and inside the stalk wall.http://dx.doi.org/10.5755/j01.ms.17.2.494

scholarly journals The impact of radiant heat on various types of plasterboard walls

2021 ◽  
Vol 352 ◽  
pp. 00001
Author(s):  
Stanislava Gašpercová ◽  
Linda Makovická Osvaldová ◽  
Erik Richnavský
Keyword(s):  
Thermal Insulation ◽  
Fire Protection ◽  
Building Materials ◽  
Construction Materials ◽  
Green Building ◽  
Radiant Heat ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Construction Sector ◽  
Almost All ◽  
The Impact

The future of the whole world focuses on reducing waste produced by people. As the construction sector is one of the biggest producers of waste, a great deal of effort has been made to introduce this trend in modern construction. The “green” building sector, therefore, draws attention to natural and recyclable building materials. These include natural thermal insulation such as cork, fiberboard, hemp insulation, and even sheep wool insulation. Almost all types of such insulation are made from waste materials which, were they not reused in the form of thermal insulation, would end up as municipal or biodegradable waste. At the same time, we should point out that almost all “green” construction materials are flammable. This feature is not very advantageous from the point of view of fire protection and it can significantly affect the fire safety of a construction. It is for this reason that the main objective of this research was to determine the impact of a radiant heat source on various types of thermal insulation used as plasterboard filling and to evaluate the possibilities of their use in sandwich constructions for fire protection purposes.

scholarly journals Optimum Thickness of Thermal Insulation with Both Economic and Ecological Costs of Heating and Cooling

Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (13) ◽  
pp. 3835
Author(s):  
Robert Dylewski ◽  
Janusz Adamczyk
Keyword(s):  
Thermal Insulation ◽  
Construction Materials ◽  
Optimum Thickness ◽  
Degree Days ◽  
Transfer Coefficients ◽  
Cooling Period ◽  
Heating And Cooling ◽  
Optimum Heat ◽  
Materials Used ◽  
Building Walls

The energy efficiency of the construction sector should be determined by the cleanliness of the environment and, thus, the health of society. The scientific aim of this article was to develop a methodology for determining the optimum thickness of thermal insulation, taking into account both economic and ecological aspects and considering both heating and cooling costs. The method takes into account the number of degree days of the heating period, as well as the number of degree days of the cooling period. Variants in terms of different types of thermal insulation, various types of construction materials for building walls, climatic zones and heat sources, were taken into consideration. In order to find the optimum thicknesses of thermal insulation, both in economic and ecological terms, a metacriterion was used. The optimum thicknesses of thermal insulation with the use of the metacriterion were obtained in the range of 0.11–0.55 m. It was observed that the values of the optimum heat transfer coefficients for economic and ecological reasons do not depend on the type of construction materials used for vertical walls. The type of applied heat source is of the greatest importance for the size of the economic and ecological benefits. The proposed mathematical model for determining the optimum thickness of thermal insulation with the use of a metacriterion is a kind of generalization of earlier models from the literature.

Neoteric Material Based on Renewable Resources for Metal-Contaminated Waters

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 3
Author(s):  
Iolanda-Veronica Ganea ◽  
Alexandrina Nan ◽  
Iulia Neamțiu ◽  
Călin Baciu
Keyword(s):  
Electron Microscopy ◽  
Renewable Resources ◽  
Absorption Spectrometry ◽  
Contaminated Water ◽  
Metal Release ◽  
Continuous Increase ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Environmental Media ◽  
New Material ◽  
Low Costs

A continuous increase of environmental pollution has been recorded worldwide, during recent decades, as a result of industrialization and urbanization. In particular, metal release in the environmental media may threaten human health, due to their persistence and accumulation in the food chain. We report here the functionalization of chitosan with poly(benzofurane-co-arylacetic) acid, which is a new material with the ability of complex metals from contaminated water. The synthesized polymer was structurally investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), X-ray photon electron microscopy (XPS), and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), while heavy metals were determined by atomic absorption spectrometry. Different isotherms and kinetic models were used to describe the absorption equilibrium and the behavior of the material, based on the initial pollutant concentration and contact time. The results are pointing out that such natural materials can be easily synthesized, at low costs, thus offering attractive solutions for wastewater treatment.

Cryogenic thermal insulating and mechanical properties of rigid polyurethane foams blown with hydrofluoroolefin: Effect of perfluoroalkane

2021 ◽  
pp. 0021955X2110626
Author(s):  
Tae Seok Kim ◽  
Yeongbeom Lee ◽  
Chul Hyun Hwang ◽  
Kwang Ho Song ◽  
Woo Nyon Kim
Keyword(s):  
Mechanical Properties ◽  
Thermal Conductivity ◽  
Thermal Stability ◽  
Cell Size ◽  
Thermal Insulation ◽  
Coefficient Of Thermal Expansion ◽  
Lower Surface ◽  
Polyurethane Foams ◽  
Insulation Material ◽  
Pu Foams

The effect of perfluoroalkane (PFA) on the morphology, thermal conductivity, mechanical properties and thermal stability of rigid polyurethane (PU) foams was investigated under ambient and cryogenic conditions. The PU foams were blown with hydrofluorolefin. Morphological results showed that the minimum cell size (153 μm) was observed when the PFA content was 1.0 part per hundred polyols by weight (php). This was due to the lower surface tension of the mixed polyol solution when the PFA content was 1.0 php. The thermal conductivity of PU foams measured under ambient (0.0215 W/mK) and cryogenic (0.0179 W/mK at −100°C) conditions reached a minimum when the PFA content was 1.0 php. The low value of thermal conductivity was a result of the small cell size of the foams. The above results suggest that PFA acted as a nucleating agent to enhanced the thermal insulation properties of PU foams. The compressive and shear strengths of the PU foams did not appreciably change with PFA content at either −170°C or 20°C. However, it shows that the mechanical strengths at −170°C and 20°C for the PU foams meet the specification. Coefficient of thermal expansion, and thermal shock tests of the PU foams showed enough thermal stability for the LNG carrier’s operation temperature. Therefore, it is suggested that the PU foams blown by HFO with the PFA addition can be used as a thermal insulation material for a conventional LNG carrier.

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