TRIFIBRE: Development of Sustainable Natural Insulation Using Kapok, Coconut, and Corn Fibers

The sudden rise of global temperature has become a passing concern, intensifying the need of immediate action in mitigating the significant challenges on living conditions and environmental sustainability. Commercial insulators, while effective, contribute to environmental degradation due to high carbon emissions, non-biodegradability, and hazardous organic compounds. This study explores the potential of developing a sustainable thermal insulator using a combination of natural fibers: kapok, corn husk, and coconut husk. These fibers are locally available agricultural waste products known for their thermal resistance and eco-friendliness. The Kruskal-Wallis test was employed to determine whether the significant difference existed between the different variety of trifibre and the commercial insulator given the non-parametric nature of the data. Results showed that Trifibre A holds a thermal conductivity that ranges from 0.06640 to 0.06640W/mmK, Trifibre B holds 0.17582 to 0.18593W/mmK, Trifibre C with 0.15101 to 0.15893W/mmK, and the commercial insulator holds 0.31425 to 0.32182W/mmK. These results show minimal difference compared to commercial insulators, which makes it a probable alternative or substitute to commercial insulators. The study emphasizes the potential for optimizing the fiber blends through structural modifications or hybridization to further improve their insulation performance.