Sustainable insulation: UAEU research introduces eco-friendly building material
A new study from the United Arab Emirates University presents a biodegradable alternative for thermal insulation in construction.
image: A new study from the United Arab Emirates University presents a biodegradable alternative for thermal insulation in construction
Credit: Chemical & Petroleum Engineering Department, United Arab Emirates University, PO Box 15551, United Arab Emirates
In a significant stride towards sustainable construction, researchers at the United Arab Emirates University (UAEU) have developed an innovative thermal insulation material using bio-polyesters filled with date pits. This biodegradable composite offers a promising alternative to conventional insulation materials that are often derived from non-renewable resources.
Led by Amal Mlhem and Thomas Teklebrhan, the team of researchers has successfully created a poly(-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) composite filled with date palm pits (DPP). The study, published in the Journal of Bioresources and Bioproducts, revealed that the thermal conductivity values of these composites ranged between 0.086 and 0.100 W/(m·K), making them highly effective for insulation purposes.
The research was conducted in response to the alarming increase in CO2 emissions due to the excessive use of non-renewable energy sources. The building sector, which accounts for one-third of global CO2 emissions, stands to benefit significantly from such sustainable materials. The United Arab Emirates, where almost 90% of the total electricity is consumed by buildings, is particularly poised to advantage from this development.
The study demonstrated that the DPP-filled PHB composites not only provided excellent thermal insulation but also exhibited high compressive strength, reaching up to 80 MPa with 30% filler content. Moreover, these composites showed promising water absorption of less than 6% and tensile strength in the range of 6–14 MPa.
The authors highlighted the potential of these bio-based composites as a sustainable solution for building engineering and cleaner production. The use of waste date pits as filler in the PHB matrix presents an economically viable and environmentally friendly approach to material development.
See the article:
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jobab.2023.12.004
Original Source URL
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2369969823000786
Journal