On thermal characteristics and microstructure of a new insulation material extracted from date palm trees surface fibers

• Published in: Construction & building materials 2017-05, Vol.138, p.276-284
• Main Authors: Ali, Mohamed E., Alabdulkarem, Abdullah
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Analysis; Building insulation material; Date palm trees date surface fibers (DPSF); Differential scanning calorimetry; Fibers; Organic natural fibers; Scanning electron microscopy; Thermal conductivity; Thermal conductivity analysis; Thermal properties; Thermogravimetric analysis
• ISSN: 0950-0618; 1879-0526
• DOI: 10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2017.02.012

Cornstarch resin is used to bind date palm trees surface fibers (DPSF) in samples could be used for thermal insulation in buildings. The thermal conductivity of (DPSF) of the samples is obtained in the range 0.0475 and 0.0697W/m-K for different densities as seen below. Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA and DTGA) indicates that the degradation and decomposition of the fibers starts at 232°C where the sample loses only about 8.5% of its original mass and loses about 62% of its weight (triangle symbol) at about 475°C. The average range of the fiber’s diameter is 12–580µm. [Display omitted] •Thermal and microstructure of date palm tree surface fibers (DPSF) are obtained.•Thermal conductivity of the proposed insulation material are 0.0475 and 0.0697W/mK.•TGA and DTGA indicate the degradation and decomposition of fibers starts at 232°C.•DSC analysis is performed and the endothermic transition starts at 243°C to 382°C.•Cornstarch resin is used to bind the fibers that makes the insulation pure natural. Date palm trees surface fibers (DPSF) are one of the most common environmental waste in the Middle East. Thermal and microstructure of date palm tree surface fibers (DPSF) reveal that they could be used as a new building insulation material. Cornstarch is used as a resin to bind the fibers, which makes the insulation material totally natural. Thermal conductivity of the proposed insulation material is measured for four different densities and the results show that the minimum and maximum values are 0.0475 and 0.0697W/m-K, respectively. The Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) analysis of the fiber diameter shows the average range of the diameter is 12–580µm. Fourier Transformation-Infra Red (FT-IR) spectra of the fibers is obtained and shows that there are strong stretching peaks at 2918.45 and 2850.6cm−1 which may be due to the presence of Alkane (C-H) functional group. Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA and DTGA) indicates that the degradation and decomposition of the fibers starts at 232°C where the sample loses only about 8.5% of its original mass. The Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) analysis is performed and shows that the endothermic transition starts at around 243–382°C with a peak at 369°C. Three points bending test is used to determine the maximum flexural strength σ and the Young’s Modulus E for some specimens of bounded fibers and relationships between load-deflection and flexural strength-deflection are obtained. The proposed natural material is compara