Durability, recyclability and life cycle of green insulating panels hemp shiv based

Abstract

There is currently a growing need for sustainable and environmentally friendly materials. Previous studies demonstrate that a promising candidate is the use of hemp shiv and recycled cardboard for insulating applications. This study focuses on the durability, recyclability and life cycle of the material, in order to validate the real eco-friendly grade. To validate the durability of the material sample protected with two different vegetable coating (colophony and gum arabic) and the use of citric acid to enhance cellulose crosslinking were tested with different life span up to 17 months in ambient conditions. Thermal insulation properties were assessed measuring the heat transfer through the material. Acoustic insulation properties were evaluated using a Kundt tube within a frequency range of 100–6500 Hz. Mechanical tests, including compression, shear and bending, were performed to assess the material’s strength. Results demonstrated that there is not noticeable reduction of the properties over the time tested, however, there is a fluctuation of the properties depending on ambient conditions ( moisture manly). The 100% of the composite material could be reused as a raw material for remanufacture new panels. Nevertheless the life cycle analysis demonstrate that it is necessary to reduce the energy consumption during the fabrication to obtain a negative CO2 emission.