Rambushield: Evaluating the Thermal Conductivity and Resistance of Rambutan (Nephelium lappaceum L) Peels as an Insulating Material

The growing reliance on air conditioning and cooling devices due to extreme heat emphasizes the urgent need for sustainable and affordable eco-friendly insulation options. Sunlight exposure increases excessive heat, prompting the use of air conditioners, electric fans, and other cooling devices. Using a quantitative experimental method, data were gathered by measuring the thermal conductivity and thermal resistance of bio-composite material as an insulator in comparison to commercial insulators. The samples were tested using a FOX 200 Heat Flow Meter to measure thermal conductivity. Thermal resistance was calculated using the sample thickness and the conductivity value from the machine’s datasheet. Results showed that the first rambutan fiber with the binding agent had a thermal conductivity of 0.34046 W/mmK and thermal resistance of 0.06635667 m².K/W, while adding another binding agent slightly increased conductivity (0.38279 W/mmK) and reduced resistance (.07460667 m².K/W). Commercial insulation had significantly better performance, with a conductivity of 0.02740 W/mmK and resistance of 2.61793667 m².K/W. The findings confirm a significant difference in thermal conductivity between the experimental and commercial setups, indicating varying insulation capacities. The study highlights the potential of rambutan peels as an alternative insulation material, though its thermal performance is significantly lower than commercial insulation. The higher thermal conductivity and lower thermal resistance of rambutan fiber indicate it is less effective at preventing heat transfer.