Characterization and Thermal Evaluation of a Novel Bio-Based Natural Insulation Material from Posidonia oceanica Waste: A Sustainable Solution for Building Insulation in Algeria

Abstract

Natural bio-based insulation materials have been the most interesting products for good performance and low carbon emissions, becoming widely recognized for their sustainability in the context of climate change and the environmental impact of the building industry. The main objective of this study is to characterize a new bio-sourced insulation material composed of fibers and an adhesive based on cornstarch. This innovative material is developed from waste of the marine plant called Posidonia oceanica (PO), abundantly found along the Algerian coastline. The research aims to valorize this PO waste by using it as raw material to create this novel material. Four samples with different volumetric adhesive fractions (15%, 20%, 25%, and 30%) were prepared and tested. The collected fractions underwent a series of characterizations to evaluate their properties. The key characteristics studied include density, thermal conductivity, and specific heat. The results obtained for the thermal conductivity of the different composites range between 0.052 and 0.067 W.m−1.K−1. In addition, the findings for thermal diffusivity and specific heat are similar to those reported in the scientific literature. However, the capillary absorption of the material is slightly lower, which indicates that the developed bio-sourced material exhibits interesting thermal performance, justifying its suitability for use in building insulation in Algeria.