Utilization of Sheep Wool as a Building Material
TL;DR: In this article, the authors evaluated the properties of sheep wool used as a thermal insulation material, reinforcement, and carbon fiber precursor in the concrete domain, and found that the performance of wool fibres as reinforcement in concrete is inferior to that of polypropylene.
About: This article is published in Procedia Manufacturing.The article was published on 2019-01-01 and is currently open access. It has received 30 citations till now. The article focuses on the topics: Wool & Thermal insulation.
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TL;DR: In this paper, the possibility of using sheep wool fibers in the production of fiber-reinforced concrete was investigated by assessing the mechanical and micro-structural properties, which revealed that the addition of sheep wool fiber reinforced concrete is viable both technically and environmentally.
Abstract: Proficient and proper management of different types of waste materials is one of the major concerns to ensure a clean environment. The utilization of wastes in the production of concrete has attracted much attention in recent years because of the low-cost of waste materials along with saving a significant place for landfill purposes and also enhance the performance of concrete. In this study, the possibility of sheep wool fibers (SWF) and modified sheep wool fibers (MSWF) in the production of fiber-reinforced concrete was investigated by assessing the mechanical and microstructural properties. Eight concrete mixes containing 0–6% normal wool sheep fibers with a length of 70 mm were made. Further, four concrete mixes with the modified wool sheep fibers of 0–1.5% with the same length were made. The addition of both SWF and MSWF reduced the slump values of fresh concrete. The inclusion of sheep wool fibers to concrete mixes decreased the compressive strength. However, the addition of sheep wool fibers subsequently improved the tensile and flexural strength values of concrete, thereby improving the concrete ductility with higher energy absorption capacity. The microstructural characteristics of sheep wool fiber reinforced concrete were conformed to have good bonding and low voids. The findings of the study revealed that the addition of sheep wool fibers in the production of concrete is viable both technically and environmentally.
47 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors provide an organized framework of possible applications of sheep wool fibers in building components, highlighting in detail aspects that have not yet been investigated enough to detect new potential uses of sheep yarn fibers in rural buildings and the reuse of traditional ones.
Abstract: Greasy sheep wool is currently considered a special waste for its high bacterial load, with expensive disposal costs for sheep breeders. For this reason, wool is often burned or buried, with serious consequences for the environment. On the other hand, sheep wool is well regarded as one of the most performative insulating natural fibers due to its thermo-hygrometric and acoustic properties. In the building sector, sheep wool meets the requirements of green building components because it is an eco-friendly material, there is a surplus of it, it is annually renewable, and totally recyclable. If used instead of common insulation materials (e.g., fiberglass, rock wool, polyurethane foam, polystyrene), sheep wool offers significant benefits for sustainability such as a reduction in the production costs for new insulating materials and in environmental pollution. Mechanical and physical properties of sheep wool investigated in previous studies were assessed and discussed with the aim of providing an organized framework of possible applications of wool fibers in building components. This paper highlights in detail aspects that have not yet been investigated enough to detect new potential uses of sheep wool fibers in rural buildings and the reuse of traditional ones.
33 citations
TL;DR: An overview of the latest research activities in the field of cement-based composites incorporating sheep wool reinforcement is presented, and the characteristics of this type of natural fibre are described.
Abstract: In this paper, an overview of the latest research activities in the field of cement-based composites incorporating sheep wool reinforcement is presented. First, the characteristics of this type of natural fibre are described. Then, the current use of sheep wool fibres in cement-based composites is discussed. The research problems regarding the properties of cement matrix composites reinforced with sheep wool are divided into four groups: thermal and acoustic properties, mechanical behavior, durability issues, and microstructure aspects. The latter two groups are analysed separately, because both durability and microstructure are of particular importance for future applications of wool reinforcement. Finally, the main directions of future researches are presented.
19 citations
Cites background from "Utilization of Sheep Wool as a Buil..."
...063 W/mK in the case of wool [21,23,43], it can be considered as a good insulation material....
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...Regarding the pe formance of wool fibres as concrete reinforcement, they are comparable or slightly inferio to p lypropylene fibres [43]....
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...This phenomenon is associated with its high content of nitrogen, which does not support combustion, [43]....
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...Sheep wool is regarded as one of the most performative insulating natural materials due to its thermo-hygrometric and acoustic properties [22,30,43,47,48]....
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...This phenomenon is associated with its high content of nitrogen, which does not support combustion [43]....
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TL;DR: In order to reach carbon neutrality, GHG emissions from all sectors of society need to be strongly reduced as discussed by the authors, and this especially applies to the construction sector, especially for those emissions that remain hard to reduce.
Abstract: In order to reach carbon neutrality, GHG emissions from all sectors of society need to be strongly reduced. This especially applies to the construction sector. For those emissions that remain hard ...
17 citations
01 Feb 2020
TL;DR: In this article, the effects of ceramics and mineral admixtures on thermal conductivity and fire resistance of foamed concrete were investigated, and the workability of fresh-foamed concrete mixture was determined.
Abstract: The effects of ceramics and mineral admixtures on thermal conductivity and fire resistance of foamed concrete were investigated in this study. The materials used for the study include: ordinary Portland cement, crushed ceramics, aluminum powder as foaming agent, river sand, plasticizer, and potable water. Ceramics were utilized as a particle replacement of river sand, while other materials were kept constant. In addition to physical property tests, the oxide composition and morphology of raw materials were studied using a Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) with Energy-Dispersive X-Ray Analysis (EDX). The workability of fresh-foamed concrete mixture was determined. Concrete specimens of 50 mm diameter × 150 mm height and 150 mm cubes were produced based on standard mix design, and they were used for the evaluation of thermal conductivity and fire resistance properties, respectively. Concrete specimens were cured by immersion in water for 28 days at a room temperature of 20 ± 1 °C. The concrete cubes were subjected to varying laboratory simulated temperature of 400, 500, and 600 °C, and both physical assessment and compressive strength of the cubes were subsequently assessed. SEM morphology and X-Ray Diffraction (mineralogy) of cured concrete were also obtained. Significant distress was noticed on concrete surface at 500–600 °C, evident by visible cracks development. A steady drop in compressive strength occurred as the furnace temperature rose from 400 to 600 °C. As compared to normal concrete, this study concludes that foamed concrete incorporating ceramics and mineral admixtures has a higher fire resistance.
15 citations
References
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TL;DR: In this paper, the authors provide a review of the main commercialized insulation materials (conventional, alternative and advanced) for the building sector through a holistic and multidisciplinary approach, considering thermal properties, acoustic properties, reaction to fire and water vapor resistance; environmental issues were also taken into account by means of Life Cycle Assessment approach.
Abstract: The energy consumption of a building is strongly dependent on the characteristics of its envelope. The thermal performance of external walls represents a key factor to increase the energy efficiency of the construction sector and to reduce greenhouse gases emissions. Thermal insulation is undoubtedly one of the best ways to reduce the energy consumption due to both winter heating and summer cooling. Insulation materials play an important role in this scenario since the selection of the correct material, its thickness and its position, allow to obtain good indoor thermal comfort conditions and adequate energy savings. Thermal properties are extremely important, but they are not the only ones to be considered when designing a building envelope: sound insulation, resistance to fire, water vapor permeability and impact on the environment and on human health need to be carefully assessed too. The purpose of the paper is to provide a review of the main commercialized insulation materials (conventional, alternative and advanced) for the building sector through a holistic and multidisciplinary approach, considering thermal properties, acoustic properties, reaction to fire and water vapor resistance; environmental issues were also taken into account by means of Life Cycle Assessment approach. A comparative analysis was performed, considering also unconventional insulation materials that are not yet present in the market. Finally a case study was conducted evaluating both thermal transmittance and dynamic thermal properties of one lightweight and three heavyweight walls, with different types of insulating materials and ways of installation (external, internal or cavity insulation).
565 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the effectiveness of fibrillated polypropylene and high-modulus polyethylene fibers, both used at relatively low volume fractions, in enhancing the mechanical properties of concrete materials was compared.
Abstract: An experimental study was conducted to compare the effectiveness of fibrillated polypropylene and high-modulus polyethylene fibers, both used at relatively low volume fractions, in enhancing the mechanical properties of concrete materials. Replicated flexure, impact, and compression tests were conducted, and the results were analyzed statistically. It was concluded that lower volume fractions of high-modulus polyethylene fibers can produce flexural and impact strengths comparable with those obtained at 0.1% volume fraction of fibrillated polypropylene fibers.
92 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the use of wool as fiber-reinforcement is investigated for the first time in the construction industry, and three point bending tests have been performed on small beams made, respectively, with plain mortar, and mortar reinforced with 1% in volume of wool.
59 citations
TL;DR: In this article, various cross-linking pathways are explored as a means of altering the yield and tensile properties of carbon fiber derived from the carbonization of cross-linked wool fiber at 800 °C under nitrogen.
Abstract: Currently, most of the carbon fibers are made from unsustainable fossil fuel-based precursors including high purity polyacrylonitrile (PAN) and pitch. High purity PAN is not only more expensive than wool fiber but also a limited quantity is produced because of global shortage of its monomer. In this work, various cross-linking pathways are explored as a means of altering the yield and tensile properties of carbon fiber derived from the carbonization of cross-linked wool fiber at 800 °C under nitrogen. A range of ionic and covalent-bond-forming cross-linking agents including bifunctional carboxylic acids (succinic acid and sebacic acid), a disulfonic acid (naphthalene disulfonic acid), a dialdehyde (glyoxal), and dianhydrides (succinic anhydride and itaconic anhydride) was investigated. The resulting carbon fibers were characterized in terms of chemical composition, carbon yield, surface topology, crystal structure, hydrophilicity, and tensile properties. It was found that the carbon yield can be increased...
21 citations