Investigation of energy efficient thermal insulating composite from hemp shives and starch

Abstract

Improving energy efficiency of buildings, increasing attention is paid for the use of effective renewable resources. It is more often thought about efficient thermal insulating, acoustic and decorative materials produced from renewable resources: wood wastes, agricultural crops, non- crops and their parts. For centuries fibre hemps have been used for the production of ropes and cloths as well as structural, reinforcing or thermal insulating material in building area. Fibres and shives from the processing may be used as loose fill thermal insulating materials or for the production of composites (matts, slabs, blocks and etc.) when binding materials are present. For the production of such composites, lime, cement, resins and etc. may be used as binders. The use of such binders aggravates the utilization of these materials; therefore, the research with bio- binders has been conducted in seventies. One of the most common binders of this type is starch. It is one of the cheapest bio- materials which are used in paper, cardboard, textile and glue production. The object of this research is a composite from fibre hemp shives and starch binder. The work presents the production technology of composite and physical -mechanical properties.