Insulation Materials Made with Vegetable Fibres - Nearly Zero Energy Building Refurbishment - page 423

Table 5 Properties of some vegetable fibres

Material Density

(kg/m 3 )

Thermal
conductivity (W/m/K)

Heat capacity
(J/kg/K)

Air coefficient flow
(m 3 /(m*s*Pa))

167*10 -6 Hemp 30-42 0.038 2,300

230*10 -6 Linen 35-60 0.038 1,600

Straw - 0,05-0,07 - -

Peat/moss 48 0.037 - -

Coarse sawdust 160 0,058-0,071 1,000 -

Fine sawdust 180 0,058-0,071 1,000 -

http://www.ekologiskabyggvaruhuset.se/746/hampisolering-med-majsstarkelse ;
http://www.ekologiskabyggvaruhuset.se/638/linisolering ;
http://www.goshandel.se/Broschyrer/Alla_Egenskaper.pdf
http://www.rakennustieto.fi/lehdet/ry/index/lehti/5wvdVAMVQ.html ;
http://www.rakennusperinto.fi/Hoito/Korjaus_artikkelit/fi_FI/
Vanhan_talon_eristeista%20/ ;
http://www.konto.fi/fi/tuotteet/eristaminen )

4.5 Environmental Properties

Vegetable fibrous materials are eco-friendly materials that are biodegradable and
recyclable and have good environmental performance. As previously described,
assessing the environmental properties of the materials is difficult. Still, some
quantitative approaches have been suggested and used, see Table 6 from

(Papadopoulos 2005 ) as an example.
In conclusion, vegetable fibres have good energy and environmental perfor-
mances as summarized below in (Olesen and Plackett).

• Very good strength and tensile properties. In relation to its weight the best bast
fibres attain strength similar to that of Kevlar.
• Very good heat, sound, electrical and chemical insulating properties.
• Combustibility.
• Biodegradability.

Table 6 Environmental properties/impacts of some vegetable fibres

Production Use Total

Material
Flax 0.25 0.25 0.5

Cotton 0.25 0.25 0.5

Cellulose 0.25 0 0.25

Cork 0.25 0.25 0.5