A Study of Physical, Mechanical and Thermal Properties for Thermal Insulation from Narrow-leaved Cattail Fibers

Abstract The objective of this research was to study physical, mechanical and thermal properties of insulation boards prepared from narrow-leaved cattail fibers by using Methylene Diphenyl Diisocyanate (MDI) as a binder. Hot pressing was employed to produce single layered plain thermal insulation boards with the size 350x350x10 mm. The physical, mechanical and thermal properties of the boards were investigated. The test results showed that the insulation boards from narrow-leaved cattail fibers had good physical and mechanical properties tested according to the standard of TIS. 876-2547. Thermal conductivity measured in accordance with the ASTM C518 revealed that the board with a density of 200-400 kg/m3 had the thermal conductivity values ranging from 0.0438-0.0606 W/m K, which was less than that of fibrous materials and cellular materials, such as low-density wheat straw board, particleboard from mixture of durian peel and coconut coir, kenaf binderless board, expanded perlite and vermiculite with the same density range. According to the test results, it can be concluded that this insulation boards from narrow-leaved cattail fibers were an excellent insulating component for energy saving and environmentally friendly. Additionally, these insulation boards could be used to produce furniture with an advantage to help, and get rid of weeds.