The properties of cellulose insulation applied via the wet spray process

Publication date: October 2016
Source:Building and Environment, Volume 107
Author(s): Pablo Lopez Hurtado, Antoine Rouilly, Christine Raynaud, Virginie Vandenbossche
Cellulose fibre insulation is a sustainable thermal insulation material made out of recycled paper. It can be installed in open walled cavities using the wet spray method. The isotherm of loose cellulose insulation fibres was determined using dynamic vapour sorption to study their relationship with water. The types of water within the fibres, known as bound and unbound water was studied via a differential scanning calorimetry method. Wet spray cellulose samples were produced with varying water content and subjected to compression, and thermal conductivity testing. Results showed that density, modulus of elasticity, and thermal conductivity all increased with water dosage. The increase in these properties was higher when the material was sprayed with water than when it was dry compacted. These are factors which need to be considered for when applying wet-spray cellulose fibre insulation, in order to ensure the properties of the material are consistent.