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Thermal Characterization of Recycled Materials for Building Insulation

Author

Listed:
  • Arnas Majumder

    (Department of Civil Engineering, University of Salerno, Via Giovanni Paolo II 132, 84084 Fisciano, Italy)

  • Laura Canale

    (Department of Civil and Mechanical Engineering, University of Cassino and South Lazio, 03043 Cassino, Italy)

  • Costantino Carlo Mastino

    (Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Cagliari, 09123 Cagliari, Italy)

  • Antonio Pacitto

    (Department of Civil and Mechanical Engineering, University of Cassino and South Lazio, 03043 Cassino, Italy)

  • Andrea Frattolillo

    (Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Cagliari, 09123 Cagliari, Italy)

  • Marco Dell’Isola

    (Department of Civil and Mechanical Engineering, University of Cassino and South Lazio, 03043 Cassino, Italy)

Abstract

The building sector is known to have a significant environmental impact, considering that it is the largest contributor to global greenhouse gas emissions of around 36% and is also responsible for about 40% of global energy consumption. Of this, about 50% takes place during the building operational phase, while around 10–20% is consumed in materials manufacturing, transport and building construction, maintenance, and demolition. Increasing the necessity of reducing the environmental impact of buildings has led to enhancing not only the thermal performances of building materials, but also the environmental sustainability of their production chains and waste prevention. As a consequence, novel thermo-insulating building materials or products have been developed by using both locally produced natural and waste/recycled materials that are able to provide good thermal performances while also having a lower environmental impact. In this context, the aim of this work is to provide a detailed analysis for the thermal characterization of recycled materials for building insulation. To this end, the thermal behavior of different materials representing industrial residual or wastes collected or recycled using Sardinian zero-km locally available raw materials was investigated, namely: (1) plasters with recycled materials; (2) plasters with natural fibers; and (3) building insulation materials with natural fibers. Results indicate that the investigated materials were able to improve not only the energy performances but also the environmental comfort in both new and in existing buildings. In particular, plasters and mortars with recycled materials and with natural fibers showed, respectively, values of thermal conductivity (at 20 °C) lower than 0.475 and 0.272 W/(m⋅K), while that of building materials with natural fibers was always lower than 0.162 W/(m⋅K) with lower values for compounds with recycled materials (0.107 W/(m⋅K)). Further developments are underway to analyze the mechanical properties of these materials.

Suggested Citation

  • Arnas Majumder & Laura Canale & Costantino Carlo Mastino & Antonio Pacitto & Andrea Frattolillo & Marco Dell’Isola, 2021. "Thermal Characterization of Recycled Materials for Building Insulation," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(12), pages 1-16, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:14:y:2021:i:12:p:3564-:d:575533
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Joelsson, Anna & Gustavsson, Leif, 2009. "District heating and energy efficiency in detached houses of differing size and construction," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 86(2), pages 126-134, February.
    2. Cabeza, Luisa F. & Rincón, Lídia & Vilariño, Virginia & Pérez, Gabriel & Castell, Albert, 2014. "Life cycle assessment (LCA) and life cycle energy analysis (LCEA) of buildings and the building sector: A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 29(C), pages 394-416.
    3. Schiavoni, S. & D׳Alessandro, F. & Bianchi, F. & Asdrubali, F., 2016. "Insulation materials for the building sector: A review and comparative analysis," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 62(C), pages 988-1011.
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    Cited by:

    1. Maatouk Khoukhi & Abeer Dar Saleh & Ahmed Hassan & Shaimaa Abdelbaqi, 2021. "Thermal Characterization of a New Bio-Based Insulation Material Containing Puffed Rice," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(18), pages 1-12, September.
    2. Antonella Violano & Monica Cannaviello, 2023. "The Carbon Footprint of Thermal Insulation: The Added Value of Circular Models Using Recycled Textile Waste," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(19), pages 1-24, September.
    3. Rima Aridi & Jalal Faraj & Samer Ali & Mostafa Gad El-Rab & Thierry Lemenand & Mahmoud Khaled, 2021. "Energy Recovery in Air Conditioning Systems: Comprehensive Review, Classifications, Critical Analysis, and Potential Recommendations," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(18), pages 1-31, September.

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