Flame resistance and heat barrier performance of sustainable plain-woven jute composite panels for thermal insulation in buildings

Global environmental awareness and stringent regulations laid the foundation for utilizing natural fibers alternative to synthetic fibers in polymeric composites due to their biodegradability and low carbon footprint. This research demonstrates the fabrication of natural jute-reinforced polypropylene biocomposite and investigates its utilization for heat insulation in buildings. Different volume fractions of cellulosic jute fiber as reinforcement were used to fabricate jute-polypropylene (jute-PP) composites, and mechanical and thermal performance was assessed by comparing them with the commercial gypsum board. The developed composites exhibited considerably higher tensile and flexural strength than the commercial specimen because of strong interfacial adhesion between jute fiber and polypropylene. Such stable bonding at the interface of reinforcement and matrix was also confirmed by the fractographic investigation. The thermal characteristics, including the low thermal conductivity and enhanced conductive and radiative heat resistance, revealed the superior thermal barrier performance of jute-PP composites compared to their commercial counterpart. The developed composites also demonstrated almost comparable flame resistance due to the presence of lignin in jute fiber. The thermogravimetric analysis revealed the inferior thermal stability of jute-PP composites at high temperatures. Besides, the low water absorption because of reduced interfacial vacuity indicated the potentiality of using jute-PP composites in the structure with durability. Hence, designing green buildings utilizing such heat-insulating engineered biocomposites is expected to alleviate the burgeoning global carbon dioxide emission associated with the energy consumption of buildings and promote the sustainable growth of this industry.