Fique as a Sustainable Material and Thermal Insulation for Buildings: Study of Its Decomposition and Thermal Conductivity

Fique as a Sustainable Material and Thermal Insulation for Buildings: Study of Its Decomposition and Thermal Conductivity

Gabriel Fernando García Sánchez, Rolando Enrique Guzmán López, Roberto Alonso Gonzalez-Lezcano

Buildings consume a large amount of energy during all stages of their life cycle. One of the most efficient ways to reduce their consumption is to use thermal insulation materials; however, these generally have negative effects on the environment and human health. Bio-insulations are presented as a good alternative solution to this problem, thus motivating the study of the properties of natural or recycled materials that could reduce energy consumption in buildings. Fique is a very important crop in Colombia. In order to contribute to our knowledge of the properties of its fibers as a thermal insulator, the measurement of its thermal conductivity is reported herein, employing equipment designed according to the ASTM C 177 standard and a kinetic study of its thermal decomposition from thermogravimetric data through the Coats–Redfern model-fitting method.

2021

Fique, Sustainable materials, Thermal Conductivity, Thermogravimetry, green architecture, thermal insulation

10.3390/su13137484

Sustainability

MDPI AG

Environmental sciences, Environmental effects of industries and plants, Renewable energy sources