Rice Husk-Based Insulators: Manufacturing Process and Thermal Potential Assessment

Area of Science:

• Building Science
• Materials Science
• Sustainable Energy

Background:

• Building energy efficiency is crucial, especially in tropical, hot-humid climates.
• Effective insulation is key for comfortable indoor environments and energy savings.
• Bio-insulation materials are gaining traction as sustainable alternatives.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate rice husk-based bio-insulation panels.
• To assess the thermal performance of these panels in experimental enclosures.
• To determine the viability of rice husk as a local resource for building insulation.

Main Methods:

• Rice husk was used to create insulation panels meeting ASTM C-177 dimensions.
• Thermal conductivity coefficient was measured.
• Two experimental chambers were built: one insulated with rice husk panels, one without.
• Temperature and heat flux were monitored using an ARDUINO-based electronic module with DS18B20 sensors and Peltier plates.

Main Results:

• The rice husk panels achieved a thermal conductivity coefficient of 0.073 W/(m·K), comparable to conventional insulators.
• The uninsulated chamber experienced significant heat flow (up to 28.18 W/m²).
• The chamber with rice husk insulation rarely showed inward heat flow, indicating effective thermal resistance.

Conclusions:

• Rice husk-based insulation panels are a viable, sustainable building material.
• They offer comparable thermal performance to conventional insulators.
• Utilizing local rice husk improves thermal comfort and reduces environmental impact in buildings.