Abstract
The development of thermal insulation materials from sustainable, natural fibrous materials is desirable. In the present study, cellulose fiber based insulation foams made of bleached chemi thermo mechanical pulp (CTMP) have been investigated. To improve water resistance, the foams were impregnated with hydrophobic extractives from the outer bark of birch (Betula verrucosa) and dried. The surface morphology of the foams and the distribution of the deposited particles from the extractives were observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The modified foams showed improved water resistance, as they did not disintegrate after immersion in water for 7 days, whereas the unmodified foam did. Compared to the unmodified foam, the modified foams absorbed 50% less moisture within 24 h. The modification had no negative effects on the thermal insulation properties, fungal resistance or compressive strength of the foams. The proposed approach is simple and can be easily integrated into plants working based on the biorefinery concept.
Acknowledgments
C. Zheng would like to acknowledge the China Scholarship Council for offering financial support to his PhD program. The Swedish Research Council Formas is acknowledged for the financial support provided to this research project named “Energy-efficient cellulosic insulation products/panels for green building solutions”. Rottneros AB (Söderhamn, Sweden) is acknowledged for providing the raw materials.
References
Al-Homoud, M.S. (2005) Performance characteristics and practical applications of common building thermal insulation materials. Build. Environ. 40:353–366.10.1016/j.buildenv.2004.05.013Search in Google Scholar
Ardente, F., Beccali, M., Cellura, M., Mistretta, M. (2008) Building energy performance: a LCA case study of kenaf-fibres insulation board. Energ. Buildings 40:1–10.10.1016/j.enbuild.2006.12.009Search in Google Scholar
ASTM standard (2014) C1338. Standard test method for determining fungi resistance of insulation materials and facings.Search in Google Scholar
Budaiwi, I., Abdou, A. (2013) The impact of thermal conductivity change of moist fibrous insulation on energy performance of buildings under hot-humid conditions. Energ. Buildings 60:388–399.10.1016/j.enbuild.2013.01.035Search in Google Scholar
Cai, L., Fu, Q., Niu, M., Wu, Z., Xie, Y. (2016) Effect of chlorinated paraffin nanoemulsion on the microstructure and water repellency of ultra-low density fiberboard. BioResources 11:4579–4592.10.15376/biores.11.2.4579-4592Search in Google Scholar
Cichewicz, R.H., Kouzi, S.A. (2004) Chemistry, biological activity, and chemotherapeutic potential of betulinic acid for the prevention and treatment of cancer and HIV infection. Med. Res. Rev. 24:90–114.10.1002/med.10053Search in Google Scholar PubMed
Ekman, R. (1983) The suberin monomers and triterpenoids from the outer bark of Betula verrucosa Ehrh. Holzforschung 37:205–211.10.1515/hfsg.1983.37.4.205Search in Google Scholar
Ezeonu, I.M., Price, D.L., Simmons, R.B., Crow, S.A., Ahearn, D.G. (1994) Fungal production of volatiles during growth on fiberglass. Appl. Environ. Microb. 60:4172–4173.10.1128/aem.60.11.4172-4173.1994Search in Google Scholar PubMed PubMed Central
Fridén, M.E., Jumaah, F., Gustavsson, C., Enmark, M., Fornstedt, T., Turner, C., Sjöberg, P.J., Samuelsson, J. (2016) Evaluation and analysis of environmentally sustainable methodologies for extraction of betulin from birch bark with a focus on industrial feasibility. Acs. Sym. Ser. 18:516–523.10.1039/C5GC00519ASearch in Google Scholar
Hammond, G., Jones, C. Inventory of carbon and energy: ICE. Sustainable Energy Research Team, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Bath, UK, 2011.Search in Google Scholar
Herrera, J. (2005) Assessment of fungal growth on sodium polyborate-treated cellulose insulation. J. Occup. Environ. Hyg. 2:626–632.10.1080/15459620500377667Search in Google Scholar PubMed
Hoang, C.P., Kinney, K.A., Corsi, R.L., Szaniszlo, P.J. (2010) Resistance of green building materials to fungal growth. Int. Biodeterior. Biodegradation. 64:104–113.10.1016/j.ibiod.2009.11.001Search in Google Scholar
Holmbom, T., Holmbom, B. (2014) A novel natural hydrophobisation technology utilising birch bark extractives. NWBC conference proceeding, Stockholm, Sweden. pp. 305–306.Search in Google Scholar
Jahangiri, P., Korehei, R., Zeinoddini, S.S., Madani, A., Sharma, Y., Phillion, A., Martinez, D.M., Olson, J.A. (2014) On filtration and heat insulation properties of foam formed cellulose based materials. Nord. Pulp. Pap. Res. J. 29:584–591.10.3183/npprj-2014-29-04-p584-591Search in Google Scholar
Jahangiri, P., Logawa, B., Korehei, R., Hodgson, M., Martinez, D.M., Olson, J.A. (2016) On acoustical properties of novel foam-formed cellulose-based material. Nord. Pulp. Pap. Res. J. 31:14–19.10.3183/npprj-2016-31-01-p014-019Search in Google Scholar
Karunasena, E., Markham, N., Brasel, T., Cooley, J.D., Straus, D.C. (2001) Evaluation of fungal growth on cellulose-containing and inorganic ceiling tile. Mycopathologia 150:91–95.10.1023/A:1010920611811Search in Google Scholar
Kerr, L.L., Pan, Y.L., Dinwiddie, R.B., Wang, H., Peterson, R.C. (2009) Thermal conductivity of coated paper. Int. J. Thermophys. 30:572–579.10.1007/s10765-009-0565-7Search in Google Scholar
Keskin, H., Kucuktuvek, M., Guru, M. (2015) The potential of poppy (Papaver somniferum Linnaeus) husk for manufacturing wood-based particleboards. Constr. Build. Mater. 95:224–231.10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2015.07.160Search in Google Scholar
Korehei, R., Jahangiri, P., Nikbakht, A., Martinez, M., Olson, J. (2016) Effects of drying strategies and microfibrillated cellulose fiber content on the properties of foam-formed paper. J. Wood. Chem. Technol. 36:235–249.10.1080/02773813.2015.1116012Search in Google Scholar
Krasutsky, P.A. (2006) Birch bark research and development. Nat. Prod. Rep. 23:919–942.10.1039/b606816bSearch in Google Scholar PubMed
Li, D., Iversen, T., Ek, M. (2015) Hydrophobic materials based on cotton linter cellulose and an epoxy-activated polyester derived from a suberin monomer. Holzforschung 69:721–730.10.1515/hf-2014-0261Search in Google Scholar
Pásztory, Z. (2013) Improved heat insulation system (Mirrorpanel) for construction of wood buildings. Holzforschung 67:715–718.10.1515/hf-2012-0198Search in Google Scholar
Pinto, P.C., Sousa, A.F., Silvestre, A.J., Neto, C.P., Gandini, A., Eckerman, C., Holmbom, B. (2009) Quercus suber and Betula pendula outer barks as renewable sources of oleochemicals: a comparative study. Ind. Crops. Prod. 29:126–132.10.1016/j.indcrop.2008.04.015Search in Google Scholar
Sedlbauer, K. (2002) Prediction of mould growth by hygrothermal calculation. J. Build. Phys. 25:321–336.10.1177/0075424202025004093Search in Google Scholar
Symon, A.V., Veselova, N.N., Kaplun, A.P., Vlasenkova, N.K., Fedorova, G.A., Lyutik, A.I., Gerasimova, G.K., Shvets, V.I. (2005) Synthesis and antitumor activity of cyclopropane derivatives of betulinic and betulonic acids. Bioorg. Khim. 31:286–291.10.1007/s11171-005-0039-zSearch in Google Scholar PubMed
Taghiyari, H.R., Karimi, A., Tahir, P.M., Choo, A.C.Y. (2015) Effects of Nanotechnology on Fluid Flow in Agricultural and Wood-Based Composite Materials. Agricultural Biomass Based Potential Materials. Springer International Publishing, Switzerland. pp. 73–89.10.1007/978-3-319-13847-3_4Search in Google Scholar
Vėjelis, S., Gnipas, I., Keršulis, V. (2006) Performance of loose-fill cellulose insulation. Mater. Sci. 12:338–340.Search in Google Scholar
Xie, Y., Tong, Q., Chen, Y., Liu, J., Lin, M. (2011) Manufacture and properties of ultra-low density fibreboard from wood fibre. BioResources 6:4055–4066.10.15376/biores.6.4.4055-4066Search in Google Scholar
Xu, J., Sugawara, R., Widyorini, R., Han, G., Kawai, S. (2004) Manufacture and properties of low-density binderless particleboard from kenaf core. J. Wood. Sci. 50:62–67.10.1007/s10086-003-0522-1Search in Google Scholar
©2017 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston
