Spanish scientists create new insulation, backing H2020 aims

Researchers have used fibres from orange tree pruning to create an acoustic insulator, contributing to the goals of Horizon 2020.

The scientists from the Spain’s Polytechnic University of Valencia and the University of Girona have developed boards that, compared with the conventional gypsum boards, provide a 150% improvement in the acoustic insulation.

The raw material used to create the new insulating board comes from the classic orange tree pruning, which later undergoes a defibration process. Together with the orange tree fibres, the insulator incorporates polypropylene, a very common plastic found in toys or automobile parts, among other products.

Speaking about the research, Dr Jesús Alba and Dr Romina del Rey of the Valencian university said: “The boards that we have obtained provide an acoustic insulation potential of about 29 dBA and the conventional laminated gypsum boards are usually at 27 dBA. That difference of 2 dBA is important because it is a 50% improvement in the acoustic efficiency of the boards, in comparison with gypsum boards.

“If we use a double solution material, that is, a material that incorporates two boards and an absorbent wool in between, like a sandwich, the improvement is about 5 or 6 dBA, which means it will insulate more than double the conventional system.”

Alba says that this breakthrough helps meet objectives outlined in Horizon 2020, “which focuses on the use of new materials with a natural or recycled raw material. They will replace materials used currently that are more aggressive with the environment”, he comments.

The scientists believe that one of the advantages of this new material is that it will enable an agricultural sub-product such as the waste from orange tree pruning to be used, with the resulting economic benefits for the industry.

Full details of the development was published in the Journal of Construction and Building Materials.