Assessment of structure influence on thermal conductivity of hemp shives composite

Abstract

In past ten years area of green technologies and materials was the most growing industry sector in the world. It is related wit h global warming, air pollution and energy saving. Building sector intensively increased air pollu tion and is related with high energy consumptions. The use of renewable or recyclable materials can reduce these problems. In current work, thermal insulating materials from hemp shives and corn starch were investigated. Structures of various shives fractions were analyzed. Different sized shives by two indi cators bulk density and thermal conductivity were compared. Composite materials with various shives fractions and corn st arch were prepared. Different thermal treatment for composite hardening was used. Thermal conductivity and compressive strength of composites were determined. Thermal insulating composites with a high compressive strength and low thermal conductivity were developed.