Investigation of Usability of Boron Doped Sheep Wool as Insulation Material and Comparison With Existing Insulation Materials

Abstract

The limited energy resources in the world require maximum attention in energy saving and energy use. It has always been important to conserve energy by making thermal insulation in buildings which are one of the places where energy is used the most, and subsequently reducing environmental pollution as a result. The importance of existing thermal insulation materials in maintaining heat is already known. However, the damage they cause to the environment in their production is great, therefore insomuch that the manufacture and use of some insulation materials are prohibited. As a result, it is known that studies have been carried out to produce alternative thermal insulation materials. In this study, as a thermal insulation material, the usability of sheep wool which is an environmentally friendly, economical, and natural fiber, has been researched. A new insulation board was produced by adding boron to sheep wool, and this new insulation board was compared with rock wool and expanded polystyrene (EPS), which are widely used today. To carry out the experimental studies, an experiment building with full size and 3 rooms had been built. First, the building was completely covered with rock wool and the effect of the facades on the temperature and moisture in the environment was observed. Afterwards, as one room was covered with EPS and the other room was covered by the boron doped sheep wool insulation material, the insulation materials were compared wtih one another. In the experimental studies that was carried out, while rock wool gave the best results in ambient and surface temperature tests, EPS provided the best insulation in the moisture test. In the sound test, while rock wool and EPS absorbed the sound at very close decibel levels, the boron-doped sheep wool insulation material provided a higher level of sound insulation. In the experimental studies that was carried out, it has been determined that the boron-doped sheep wool insulation material has serious competition with both rock wool and EPS even with the first production of 10 mm.