Thermal Conductivity of an Insulation Produced from Pandanus Leaf Fiber and Natural Rubber Latex

Abstract

The objective of this research was to study the production processes and properties of thermal insulation produced from Pandanus leaf fibers using natural rubber latex as a binder. The fibers were mechanically and chemically extracted from pandanus leaves. Thermal insulation boards were made by spraying the pretreated natural rubber latex onto Pandanus leaf fibers to form a squared thermal insulation with the size of 20 × 20 cm2 and 1.5 cm thickness. Thermal conductivity value was measured in accordance with the American Society for Testing and Materials standard (ASTM C 177-97). The results showed that the mechanically extracted fiber was more appropriate for forming the thermal insulation boards than the chemically extracted fiber. The mechanical extraction was a properly process to save energy, ensure in safety producing and preserve environment. Thermal conductivity of the thermal insulation produced from a mechanically extracted pandanus leaf fiber with natural rubber latex was 0.041 W/m.K with a density of 143 kg/m3 and a chemically extracted fiber was 0.059 W/m.K with a density of 218 kg/m3, which was closed to cellular glass insulator. The results showed that a pandanus leaf fiber has potential to be used as the
synthesis fibrous insulator.