Fundamentals on the development of ecological high class insulation composites made from natural plant fibres
Abstract
The task of this project is to determine the basic principles and industrial possibilities of manufactur-ing an insulation board for outside-use, which is composed of natural fibres. Key aspects of this study are the compliance of sustainability, the increase in energy efficiency and the total abandonment of toxicological and eco-toxicological constituents in favour of natural alter-natives. The insulation board, developed in the course of this project is designed to be fettled di-rectly. Thus, there is no need for additional construction parts such as fettling-plates. The content of insulation material can also be increased without resulting in an increase in wall thickness. An in-crease in the content of insulation-material results in a higher potential of conservation of energy Flax fibres generally have good structural-physical properties. However, the actual transverse tensile strength and the actual hydrophobic properties need to be greatly improved, in order to achieve an ability to fettle. Further challenges of this study encompass the substitution of toxicological and eco-toxicological substances and the development of a hydrophobic end-layer. These substances should be exclusively composed of renewable ecologically harmless products. Additives are necessary to provide fire-and insect-protection and to decrease the hygroscopicity of the insulation board without diminishing the effectiveness of the binder. In this process the compatibility of all components and the functionality are of extreme importance. Fire behaviour, resistance to insect damage and to fun-gicidal decay are affected by these. The improvement of this system is alleviated by the variety of commercially available natural products. The methods used to improve the transversal tensile strength of the insulation boards include im-plementation and activation of thermoplastic biopolymers during the carding process, improvement of the starch- and protein- based pastes as well as mechanical strain hardening. Ecological alterna-tives as urea, soda, aluminium hydroxide, magnesium sulphate, potassic hydrogen carbonate, vege-table silicates and different combinations of these basic substances have to be tested. These are likely substitutes for the currently used toxicological flame – and insect-retardants (boric com-pounds). To develop a hydrophobic layer the newest products based on natural latex, natural waxes and resins can be used. In particular the fire behaviour of hydrophobising agents has to be further investigated. After completion of these basic studies the transfer of the resulting, ecologically harm-less, yet effective material to use in industrial manufacturing is initiated. Tests are required to de-termine to what extent modification and adaptations to the industrial equipment are necessary for serial production of ecological insulation boards.
Publikationen
Project staff
Norbert Mundigler
Ass.Prof.i.R. Dipl.-Ing. Dr.nat.techn. Norbert Mundigler
norbert.mundigler@boku.ac.at
Project Leader
01.09.2010 - 31.12.2012
BOKU partners
External partners
steindl new starch
DI Roman Steindl
partner
Waldviertler Flachshaus GmbH
Reinhard Appeltauer
partner