Exploring the Use of Wood Pellets as a Sustainable Alternative for Indoor Insulation

Aseel Hussien (), Aref Maksoud, Ahmed Abdeen and Eslam Nofal
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Aseel Hussien: Department of Architectural Engineering, University of Sharjah, Sharjah 27272, United Arab Emirates
Aref Maksoud: Department of Architectural Engineering, University of Sharjah, Sharjah 27272, United Arab Emirates
Ahmed Abdeen: Department of Architectural Engineering, University of Sharjah, Sharjah 27272, United Arab Emirates
Eslam Nofal: Department of Architectural Engineering, University of Sharjah, Sharjah 27272, United Arab Emirates

Sustainability, 2023, vol. 16, issue 1, 1-18

Abstract: This study utilized industrial waste in the form of wood pellet shavings as a sustainable alternative for indoor insulation, aiming at improving materials’ performance, reducing energy consumption, and promoting efficient waste management. Samples were made with various percentages of wood pellets mixed with clay, sand, and lime at 2%, 5%, and 10%. The physical and mechanical tests revealed that water exposure decreases samples’ mechanical and thermal properties. Despite the literature suggesting that a mixture with higher amounts of natural fibers often exhibits lower thermal conductivity, this study found that samples with higher proportions of wood pellets performed worse than expected. The reduction in performance is believed to be due to the increased water input into the mixture during the flow table test. Further, results show that samples with 2% exhibit high thermal conductivity compared to 5% and 10% due to having fewer voids within them than the other mixtures, showing a clear correlation between the wood pellet amount and sample density. This reveals an apparent lack of correlation between the density samples and thermal conductivity. However, given their impressive hygroscopic qualities, the materials show promising solutions as an indoor air regulatory aid.

Keywords: wood pellets; sustainable materials; indoor insulation; buildings; industrial waste (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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