Experimental Research on a Feasible Building Insulation Material Based Reed in China

  • LIU Tiantian ,
  • PENG Yizhe ,
  • LIU Lifang ,
  • CAI Chenghan ,
  • WANG Shuang ,
  • LI Hongqiang
Expand
  • 1. College of Civil Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha 410082, China
    2. College of Civil Engineering, Hunan University of Science and Technology, Xiangtan 411201, China
    3. School of Energy and Power, Jiangsu University of Science and Technology, Zhenjiang 212100, China
    4. National Center for International Research Collaboration in Building Safety and Environment (NCIRCBSE), Hunan University, Changsha 410082, China
    5. Key Laboratory of Building Safety and Energy Efficiency of the Ministry of Education, Hunan University, Changsha 410082, China

Online published: 2025-01-09

Supported by

This research is supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 52076070, No. 52008166) and the Natural Science Foundation of Hunan Province (No. 2021JJ30256, No. 2022JJ30139).

Copyright

Science Press, Institute of Engineering Thermophysics, CAS and Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature 2024

Abstract

The seemingly useless reeds are prepared as thermal insulation materials, which not only meet the requirements of environmental sustainability but also enhance the added value of reeds, creating new economic benefits. The hydrophobicity of raw biomass surfaces leads to problems such as weak bonding strength and non-dense structure in the formed materials, as well as issues related to the residual insect infestations on the surface. In this study, reed straw was used as the raw material, and foamed geopolymer was used as the binder to prepare building insulation materials based reed. To improve the interfacial adhesion performance between reed straw and foamed geopolymer, a thermochemical modification method-thermal carbonization, was proposed. In this study, the mechanical properties and hydraulic properties of the studied materials with different degrees of surface thermal modification were tested, especially the fire resistance performance, and weathering resistance performance rarely found in published literature. When the surface thermal modification condition of reed straw was 250°C (30 min), the comprehensive performance of reed-based building insulation materials was the best, when the studied material density was 321.3 kg/m3; the compressive strength was 0.59 MPa; the thermal conductivity was 0.101 W/(m∙K); the pH was 11.27; the moisture absorption rate was 25.1%, and the compressive strength loss rate in wet-dry cycles was 18.5%. In addition, it had excellent fire resistance performance and weathering resistance performance. This new material can be widely used to improve the thermal insulation of traditional buildings and as sandwich filler in prefabricated buildings, such as preparing insulating walls.

Cite this article

LIU Tiantian , PENG Yizhe , LIU Lifang , CAI Chenghan , WANG Shuang , LI Hongqiang . Experimental Research on a Feasible Building Insulation Material Based Reed in China[J]. Journal of Thermal Science, 2025 , 34(1) : 176 -187 . DOI: 10.1007/s11630-024-2072-3

References

[1] Tsinghua University Building Energy Efficiency Research Center, Annual report on China building energy efficiency. China Building Industry Press, 2018, pp: 7–8.
[2] Davraz M., Koru M., Akdag A.E., et al., Investigating the use of raw perlite to produce monolithic thermal insulation material. Construction and Building Materials, 2020, 263: 120674.
[3] Zeng C., Yuan Y.P., Haghighat F., et al., Application of PCM-based thermal energy storage system in buildings: a state of the art review on the mathematical modeling approaches and experimental investigations. Journal of Thermal Science, 2022, 31(6): 1821–1852.
[4] Fantucci S., Garbaccio S., Lorenzati A., et al., Thermo-economic analysis of building energy retrofits using VIP-Vacuum insulation panels. Energy and Buildings, 2019, 196: 269–279.
[5] Liu L.F., Si Z., Li H.Q., et al., Experimental physical properties of an eco-friendly bio-insulation material based on wheat straw for buildings. Energy and Buildings, 2019, 201: 19–36.
[6] Wang S., Li H.Q., Si Z., et al., Experimental research on a feasible rice husk/geopolymer foam building insulation material. Energy and Buildings, 2020, 226: 110358.
[7] Hultberg M., Prade T., Bodin H., et al., Adding benefit to wetlands—Valorization of harvested common reed through mushroom production. Science of the Total Environment, 2018, 637–638: 1395–1399.
[8] Bakatovich, A., Gaspar F., Composite material for thermal insulation based on moss raw material. Construction and Building Materials, 2019, 228: 116699.
[9] Ouakarrouch M., Bousshine S., Bybi A., et al., Acoustic and thermal performances assessment of sustainable insulation panels made from cardboard waste and natural fibers. Applied Acoustics, 2022, 199: 109007.
[10] Savic A., Antonijevic D., Jelic I., et al., Thermomechanical behavior of bio-fiber composite thermal insulation panels. Energy and Buildings, 2020, 229: 110511.
[11] Mucsi Z.M., Hasan K.M.F., Horváth P.G., et al., Semi-dry technology mediated lignocellulosic coconut and energy reed straw reinforced cementitious insulation panels. Journal of Building Engineering, 2022, 57: 104825.
[12] Moujoud Z., Sair S., Ousaleh H.A., et al., Geopolymer composites reinforced with natural Fibers: A review of recent advances in processing and properties. Construction and Building Materials, 2023, 388: 131666.
[13] Suwan T., Maichin P., Fan M., et al., Influence of alkalinity on self-treatment process of natural fiber and properties of its geopolymeric composites. Construction and Building Materials, 2022, 316: 125817.
[14] Chen M.H., Tong H., Liu H., et al., A cyclic process for enzymatic hydrolysis and fermentation of lactic acid pretreated reed. Industrial Crops and Products, 2022, 181: 114848.
[15] Chen M.H., Wang Y.Q., Lu J., et al., Combinatorial pretreatments of reed straw using liquid hot water and lactic acid for fermentable sugar production. Fuel, 2023, 331: 125916.
[16] Zhang X.Y., Wang Y.Q, Lu J., et al., Biosurfactant promoted enzymatic saccharification of alkali-pretreated reed straw. Bioresource Technology, 2023, 372: 128665.
[17] Xie T., Wei R.C., Wang Z., et al., Comparative analysis of thermal oxidative decomposition and fire characteristics for different straw powders via thermogravimetry and cone calorimetry. Process Safety and Environmental Protection, 2020, 134: 121–130.
[18] Ge Y.P., Tian X., Huang D.W., et al., Understanding efflorescence behavior and compressive strength evolution of metakaolin-based geopolymer under a pore structure perspective. Journal of Building Engineering, 2023, 66: 105828.
[19] Beatriz M., Almeida J., Tadeu A., et al., Rice husk cement-based composites for acoustic barriers and thermal insulating layers. Journal of Building Engineering, 2021, 39: 102297.
[20] Raveendran K., Ganesh A., Khilar K.C., Pyrolysis characteristics of biomass and biomass components. Fuel, 1996, 75(8): 987–998.
[21] Biswas A.K., Umeki K., Yang W.H., et al., Change of pyrolysis characteristics and structure of woody biomass due to steam explosion pretreatment. Fuel Processing Technology, 2011, 92(10): 1849–1854.
[22] Jacquet N., Quiévy N., Vanderghem C., et al., Influence of steam explosion on the thermal stability of cellulose fibres. Polymer Degradation and Stability, 2011, 96: 1582–1588.
[23] Zhao J.J., Wang X., Li S., et al., Polypropylene fiber reinforced alkali-activated ultra-light foam insulation material: Performance study and mechanism analysis. Construction and Building Materials, 2023, 405:  133241.
[24] Aliaksandr B., Gaspar F., Boltrushevich N., Thermal insulation material based on reed and straw fibres bonded with sodium silicate and rosin. Construction and Building Materials, 2022, 352: 129055.
[25] Bakharev T., Thermal behaviour of geopolymers prepared using class F fly ash and elevated temperature curing. Cement and Concrete Research, 2006, 36: 1134–1147.
[26] GB 8624, Classification for the burning behavior of building materials and products. Standards Press of China, 2012, pp: 4.
[27] Viel M., Collet F., Lecieux Y., et al., Resistance to mold development assessment of bio-based building materials. Composites Part B: Engineering, 2019, 158: 406–418.
[28] Longhi M.A., Zhang Z.H., Walkley B., et al., Strategies for control and mitigation of efflorescence in metakaolin-based geopolymers. Cement and Concrete Research, 2021, 144: 106431.
[29] Kani E.N., Allahverdi A., Provis J.L., Efflorescence control in geopolymer binders based on natural pozzolan. Cement and Concrete Composites, 2012, 34(1): 25–33.
[30] Poletanovic B., Janotka I., Janek M., et al., Influence of the NaOH-treated hemp fibres on the properties of fly-ash based alkali-activated mortars prior and after wet/dry cycles. Construction and Building Materials, 2021, 309: 125072.
[31] Song X.P., Hao Y.X., Huang J., et al., Study on mechanical properties and destabilization mechanism of unclassified tailings consolidation body under the action of dry-wet cycle. Construction and Building Materials, 2023, 365: 130022.
Outlines

/