THERMAL AND MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF CLAY AND DROP-OFF OF CEIBA PENTANDRA (KAPOK) PLANT WOOL MIXTURE
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Date
2020-06
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Abstract
This study is aimed at the investigation of the effects of the addition of clay to
drop-off of Ceiba pentandra (Kapok) plant wool on the thermal and mechanical
properties of the materials produced. Because of the considerable increase in the
use of insulations in many heat devices, process and systems, and dependence
on imported insulations, the need to process natural fibre insulations to form
rigid or semi-rigid material using appropriate and sustainable binding material
cannot be over emphasized. For this study, Kapok wool and clay mixture were
investigated. Five samples were prepared: Sample A was 100% Kapok wool
while samples B, C, D, and E were mixture of Kapok wool and Clay in water
with varying percentage of clay quantities (Kapok to Clay ratio; B 2:1, C 2:1.5, D
2:2.5, E 2:3.5). The samples were prepared into cylindrical shapes, compressed
and dried. The Thermal conductivity meter on Armfield Heat transfer equipment
was used to find the thermal conductivity of each sample, while the thermal
diffusivity and thermal resistivity of samples were determined using appropriate
formula. Universal Testing Machine (Model: FS 50AT) was used to determine
the stress at Yield and Young Modulus of elasticity for samples B, C, D, and E.
Results show that the density of sample increases with increase in clay content.
Thermal conductivities of the samples after the addition of clay ranges between
0.027 (W/mK) and 0.013 (W/mK). Reversed was the case for Thermal
Resistivity, the value of thermal resistivity first decreases with addition of clay
content (sample B) and then started increasing with increased clay content in the
samples, and the values range from 37.037 to 76.923mKW-1. Thermal
diffusivity of sample decreases from 1.2762 x10-3 m2
/s to 0.2810 x10-3 m2
/s
with increasing clay content. Results also show that the Stress at Yield of samples
range from 0.012 N/mm2
to 0.022 N/mm2 while the Young Modulus of
elasticity range from 0.113 N/mm2
to 0.222 N/mm2
. Kapok wool – Clay
combination of ratio 2:3.5 (Sample E) have the highest value of thermal
resistivity and lowest thermal diffusivity, though with high density, which suggests
it to be the best among samples in the study for insulation purposes. The
products are recommended for use as insulations of thermal storage for medium
temperature applications