Development and Performance Evaluation of Mineral-Based Thermal Insulation Plaster for Building Envelopes
Improving the thermal performance of building envelopes is a fundamental strategy for reducing energy consumption and enhancing sustainability in the built environment. Conventional insulation materials such as polymer-based boards and mineral panels often experience performance losses due to fire risk, moisture exposure, or long-term durability issues. This study introduces a newly developed Thermal Insulation Plaster (TIP) designed for application on both interior and exterior building façades. The proposed material aims to provide a lightweight, mineral-based insulation solution with improved thermal performance, mechanical strength, and fire resistance.
Material Composition and Development of Thermal Insulation Plaster
The proposed TIP material was produced by combining coated perlite with Portland cement, anhydrite, and several functional additives. This composition was selected to enhance thermal insulation properties while maintaining adequate structural integrity. The mineral-based formulation also ensures improved resistance to fire and moisture compared to conventional insulation materials. The lightweight structure achieved through the incorporation of coated perlite significantly contributes to the reduction of material density and improves its suitability for façade applications.
Physical and Mechanical Properties of the Developed Material
Experimental testing revealed that the developed TIP exhibits favorable physical and mechanical characteristics. The material demonstrated a thermal conductivity of 0.054 W·m⁻¹·K⁻¹ and a density lower than 400 kg·m⁻³, indicating strong insulation capability combined with lightweight properties. In addition, the compressive strength exceeded 400 kPa, confirming that the plaster maintains sufficient structural stability for façade applications. The material also achieved A1-class fire resistance, highlighting its suitability for safe use in building envelopes where fire protection is a critical requirement.
Numerical Evaluation of Thermal Insulation Performance
To evaluate the thermal insulation effectiveness of TIP, a numerical simulation approach was employed using finite element analysis. The simulations were conducted using COMSOL Multiphysics software to assess the heat transfer performance of the plaster within building wall assemblies. The analysis was carried out under the requirement that the wall thermal transmittance value should remain below 0.35 W·m⁻²·K⁻¹, which represents a typical energy efficiency benchmark for building envelopes. The results demonstrated that the proposed plaster meets the required thermal performance conditions.
Comparative Analysis with Conventional Insulation Materials
The thermal performance of TIP was compared with several widely used insulation materials, including perlite panels, mineral-based boards, lightweight magnesium oxide cement panels, expanded polystyrene (EPS), extruded polystyrene (XPS), and stone wool. Although polymer-based materials such as EPS and XPS exhibit lower thermal conductivity values, the developed plaster performed significantly better than conventional perlite plasters and several mineral-based alternatives. These findings highlight the potential of TIP as a practical mineral-based insulation solution for façade applications.
Cost Effectiveness and Practical Implications for Building Applications
Economic evaluation revealed that the effective unit cost of TIP is approximately 4.9 $·m⁻², making it a cost-efficient alternative compared with several existing insulation materials. In comparison, mineral-based boards and waste glass panels have higher costs, while even polymer-based materials such as XPS show slightly higher unit prices. The combination of competitive cost, strong fire resistance, lightweight structure, and reliable thermal performance indicates that the developed TIP can serve as a promising alternative insulation material for building envelope applications.
Comments
Post a Comment