Thermophysical Parameters and Hygrothermal Simulation of Aerogel-Based Fibre-Enhanced Thermal Insulating Renders Applied on Exterior Walls

Marco Pedroso, Maria da Glória Gomes, José Dinis Silvestre, Ahmed Hawreen () and Inês Flores-Colen ()
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Marco Pedroso: Civil Engineering Research and Innovation for Sustainability (CERIS), Departamento de Engenharia Civil, Arquitetura e Georecursos (DECivil), Instituto Superior Técnico (IST), Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Rovisco Pais, 1049-001 Lisbon, Portugal
Maria da Glória Gomes: Civil Engineering Research and Innovation for Sustainability (CERIS), Departamento de Engenharia Civil, Arquitetura e Georecursos (DECivil), Instituto Superior Técnico (IST), Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Rovisco Pais, 1049-001 Lisbon, Portugal
José Dinis Silvestre: Civil Engineering Research and Innovation for Sustainability (CERIS), Departamento de Engenharia Civil, Arquitetura e Georecursos (DECivil), Instituto Superior Técnico (IST), Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Rovisco Pais, 1049-001 Lisbon, Portugal
Ahmed Hawreen: Department of Highway and Bridge Engineering, Technical Engineering College, Erbil Polytechnic University, Erbil 44001, Iraq
Inês Flores-Colen: Civil Engineering Research and Innovation for Sustainability (CERIS), Departamento de Engenharia Civil, Arquitetura e Georecursos (DECivil), Instituto Superior Técnico (IST), Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Rovisco Pais, 1049-001 Lisbon, Portugal

Energies, 2023, vol. 16, issue 7, 1-33

Abstract: Aerogel-based renders have been the subject of research in the last few years due to their high thermal insulation characteristics and the need for buildings to become more energy-efficient. This study compares the hygrothermal behaviour of an aerogel-based render (reference) with the same base formulation, replacing the powder with three different fibres (aramid 0.5%, sisal 0.1%, and biomass 0.1%, by total volume) that can be used in buildings’ envelopes. The experimental programme allowed us to characterise and compare the thermophysical properties of the different formulations and then simulate the hygrothermal performance of these solutions when applied to walls for different climatic conditions, considering additional parameters such as total water content, drying potential, water content levels, and thermal insulating performance. These thermophysical parameters were then included in hygrothermal numerical simulations. The results allowed us to verify that the incorporation of fibres improved the hygrothermal properties due to lower capillary absorption and higher water vapour permeability. These renderings showed a high potential for application to building envelopes in different climatic conditions, improving their energy efficiency by up to 20% when compared to other conventional solutions.

Keywords: energy-efficient building; fiber; hygrothermal performance; nanomaterial; silica aerogel; thermal insulation; thermal render (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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