Currently at high prices on energy carriers, there is an increasing need to use energy-saving technologies and materials designed for more rational use any kind of energy.
In particular, measures for the insulation of residential and industrial buildings are one such way to reduce operational costs. In the construction market among the many thermal insulation materials begins to spread intensively such a heater as cellulose, photo 1a. In this article, we will consider what cellulose is as a heat-insulating material.
The use of cellulose (ecowool) for home insulation
Cellulose insulation ( photo 1b) consists of:
- crushed wood fibers (cellulose) gray or light gray (81%);
- flame retardants (up to 12%);
- antiseptics (up to 7%).
Cellulose as a heater is also called ecowool or in pressed form eco-plates.
Photo 1. Cellulose insulation and its composition
The treatment of cellulose with antiseptics and flame retardants prevents the processes of decay, burning and eating by insects. Substances intended for the processing of cellulose are also called impregnants. Most often it is boric acid or borax. Boric salt (sodium tetraborate) is a hygroscopic substance that can absorb moisture without reducing its thermal insulation properties.
Manufacturers claim that flame retardants and antiseptics are toxic and dangerous for fungi, rodents, bacteria, but at the same time non-toxic and harmless to human life and health. Solution boric acid even used in medicine as a disinfectant.
For the production of crushed pulp is paper raw materials or secondary raw materials (waste paper).
Properties of ecowool (crushed cellulose)
AT tab. one presented Comparative characteristics properties of ecowool and other heat-insulating materials.
Table 1
Comparison of ecowool and other thermal insulation materials
|
Specifications |
Glued basalt wool (with binder) |
Basalt wool non-glued (without binder) |
|
| Raw material | Rocks (basalt, dolomite) and phenol-containing binders | Rocks (basalt, dolomite) | Wood pulp, natural minerals |
| Thermal conductivity of the material, W/mK | 0.037 ... 0.044 (increases with moisture) | 0.038 ... 0.041 (increases slightly when moistened) | |
| Density, kg / m 3 | 35…190 | 40…130 | 42…75 |
| Density of adjunction to structures | with voids and seams | with voids and seams | clogs all voids and cracks; no seams |
| Vapor permeability, mg/m h Pa | 0,3 | 0,3 | 0,67 |
Manufacturers guarantee the frost resistance of ecowool - more than 80 years. Due to the value of pH=7.8…8.3, ecowool does not cause corrosion of metals. The average density of crushed cellulose is 30...35 kg/m 3 .
Purpose of ecowool and methods of its use (laying)
Cellulose is used for insulation photo 2:
- external and internal walls;
- interfloor floors;
- roofing;
- floor insulation along the lags.
Photo 2. Application of ecowool
Crushed cellulose is applied in two ways:
- manual installation (less economical);
- installation with a blowing machine (for example, Cellophant M95-230/4.7 kW-SE).
Cellulose can be applied wet or dry by hand or machine.
Dry manual method application: This method is used for insulating horizontal surfaces (floor, ceilings) or for insulating roof slopes with a slight slope (attic), etc. essence this method consists in the fact that first the pulp is fluffed with a drill and a whisk, and then spread evenly with a slight compaction, photo 3. Manual way inefficient, since the consumption of material in this case increases up to 50%, and the length of installation time increases by 20 times or more.
Photo 3. Dry method of applying ecowool
This application method differs high performance(3 ... 9 m 3 / hour) and the possibility of supplying material to a height of up to 25 ... 30 m. Using a high-pressure installation, cellulose is injected into any voids and cracks, photo 4, 5.
Photo 4. Installation using a blowing machine
Photo 5. Installations for blowing ecowool (cellulose)
wet way used for application on open vertical and with a large inclination of the surface, photo 4. Moistened with water or glue, cellulose has good adhesion to concrete and wooden surfaces and after drying forms a sufficiently dense heat-insulating layer. The application is also carried out with the help of an installation that supplies cellulose mixed with glue (usually PVA, 2 ... 10%) under pressure. The wet method of applying ecowool is the most effective method insulation.
Advantages and disadvantages of using cellulose for insulation of building envelopes
Cellulose Benefits:
- cellulose is an environmentally friendly material, basically all components are made from natural natural components;
- at high temperatures ah does not emit toxic gases and substances. Only at a temperature of 100 ° C and above does a slight evaporation occur, which does not harm human health;
- high thermal insulation properties(for example, a layer of cellulose with a thickness of 20 cm replaces a layer of expanded clay with a thickness of 80 ... 85 cm). Thermal properties of cellulose domestic production do not change for 25 years or more, and European and American - at least 50 years;
- Possibility to create a seamless layer insulating material, which is important, because significant heat losses occur due to joints in heaters;
- This material has high soundproof properties– a layer of ecowool 50 mm thick absorbs up to 63 dB of noise;
- non-allergenic material (does not cause allergies);
- quick installation with special installation atomizer. In 1 ... 2 days, you can insulate a house with an area of 100 m 2;
- biostable material - is not food and housing for insects and rodents;
- does not rot, and also protects wooden and metal structures from corrosion and destruction;
- optimal ratio "price-quality". The approximate cost of using a heater is 0.8 ... 0.9 $ / m 3;
- frost-resistant material;
- "breathable" material, i.e. has good vapor and air permeability;
- the ability to absorb moisture without a significant change in thermal conductivity (with moisture up to 20%). Such unique property lies in the structure of cellulose - moisture absorption occurs inside the hollow structure of the cellulose fiber and the absence of moisture and water on its surface;
- the durability of the insulation is up to 40 ... 50 years.
Disadvantages of using cellulose:
- it is desirable that specially trained people carry out work on the insulation of houses with cellulose, since the durability and efficiency of insulation depend on this;
- for the installation of insulation, it is necessary to additionally equip cavities or niches with subsequent sheathing, since the cellulose itself does not hold its shape;
- moderately combustible material (photo 6), due to the presence of flame retardants in the composition of ecowool. Flammability class - G2;
- smolders at high temperatures, so this limits its use in the area of high temperatures (not used for warming fireplaces and chimneys);
- condensate settles on the pulp, therefore, to prevent excessive moisture, it is necessary to install additional holes and air ducts for natural ventilation insulation;
- over time, during operation, the material shrinks (up to 20% by weight), so the insulation should be laid more tightly;
- to receive high efficiency from the use of insulation, you should rent or buy additional equipment for its installation.
Photo 6. Ecowool
Cellulose in the form insulation material in Ukraine it is represented by such companies: Ecowool (USA - Canada), Isofloc, Climacell, Steico (Germany), Excel, Ekofiber (Poland), Selluvilla, Isodan, Ekorema, Ecowool (Russia - Kazakhstan).
The most common is "Unizol" and "Armocel" (Ukraine, Dnepropetrovsk and Kremenchug). "Unizol" has an international certificate "Environmental friendly and safe product" and ISO 14024:1999. Ecowool is supplied in bags of 15 kg, pressed with a density of 110…120 kg/m 3 . Before use, this material should be loosened.
Approximate cost of works on applying ecowool:
- dry method - 0.5 $ / kg;
- wet method - 0.7 $ / kg.
Konev Alexander Anatolievich
If you do not have time to read our publications right now, subscribe to updates, and we will send notifications of new notes to your email
The invention relates to a foamed element with a hydrophilic agent formed from cellulose included in the foam, and the foamed element with cellulose introduced into it has the ability to reversibly absorb moisture, while the cellulose is formed by the structural type of the crystalline modification of cellulose-II, and the proportion of cellulose from the total mass of the foam is selected in the range from 0.1 wt.%, in particular 5 wt.%, and up to 10 wt.%, in particular 8.5 wt.% and the moisture content in the foam, starting from the initial moisture value corresponding to the equilibrium moisture content relative to the first external atmosphere with the first temperature and humidity conditions with a given temperature and relative humidity, increases during its use in a second, changed compared to the first, external atmosphere with second temperature and humidity conditions with a higher temperature and / or higher relative humidity compared to the first conditions, and the humidity absorbed during the use of the included into the foamed element with cellulose-II, after application in the second external atmosphere, it is again released into the first external atmosphere after a period of time in the range from 1 hour to 16 hours until the initial humidity value is again reached, corresponding to the equilibrium humidity relative to the first external atmosphere. EFFECT: foamed element with improved moisture control. 2 n. and 12 z.p. f-ly, 3 tab., 4 ill.
Drawings to the RF patent 2435800
The invention relates to a foamed element with a hydrophilic agent included in the foam, which is formed from cellulose, and the foamed element with introduced cellulose has the ability to reversibly absorb moisture, as described in paragraphs 1-3 of the formula.
Currently, foams are used or applied in many areas Everyday life. In many of these applications, the foams come into contact with the body, most often only one or more interlayers of fabric separate them. Most of these foams consist of synthetic polymers such as polyurethane (PU), polystyrene (PS), synthetic rubber, etc., which in principle have insufficient water absorption capacity. In particular, during prolonged contact with the body or during strenuous activity, when sweat is released, unpleasant temperature and humidity conditions for the body are created due to the high amount of non-absorbable moisture. Therefore, for most applications it is required to make such foams hydrophilic.
This, again, can be achieved by different ways. One possibility is, as described, for example, in DE 19930526 A, that the foam structure of the soft polyurethane foam is already made hydrophilic. This is carried out by reacting at least one polyisocyanate with at least one compound containing at least two isocyanate-active compounds in the presence of sulfonic acids that contain one or more hydroxyl groups and/or their salts and/or can be obtained from polyalkylene glycol ethers initiated by monohydric alcohols. Such foams are used, for example, as sponges for household or for hygiene products.
A further possibility is described in DE 10116757 A1, where an open-cell hydrophilic aliphatic polymethane foam with an additional own layer of hydrogel-embedded cellulose fibers is used as a storage agent.
From European patent EP 0793681 B1 or German translation DE 69510953 T2 has become known for the production of soft foams using so-called superabsorbent polymers (SAP), which can also be called hydrogels. In this case, the SAPs used are pre-blended with the prepolymer, which makes this process very simple for the foam manufacturer. Such SAPs can be selected from those grafted with starches or cellulose using, for example, acrylonitrile, acrylic acid or acrylamide as the unsaturated monomer. Such SAPs are sold, for example, by Höchst/Cassella under the name SANWET IM7000.
WO 96/31555 A2 describes a foam with a honeycomb structure, the foam again containing superabsorbent polymers (SAP). In this case, the SAP can be formed from a synthetic polymer or also from cellulose. The foam used there is used to absorb moisture or liquids and hold them in the foam structure.
From WO 2007/135069 A1, shoe soles with water-absorbing properties have become known. However, before foaming synthetic material water-absorbing polymers are added. Such water-absorbing polymers are usually prepared by polymerization aqueous solution monomer and optionally subsequent grinding of the hydrogel. The water-absorbing polymer or the dried hydrogel formed therefrom is preferably milled and sieved after it has been obtained, whereby sieved, dried hydrogel particles with sizes preferably below 1000 µm and preferably above 10 µm are used. In addition, fillers can be added or mixed in addition to the hydrogels before foaming, and here, for example, carbon black, melamine, rosin, as well as cellulose fibers, polyamide, polyacrylonitrile, polyurethane, polyester fibers based on aromatic and / or aliphatic esters of dicarboxylic acids; and carbon fibers. In this case, to obtain a foamed element, all substances are introduced into the reaction mixture separately from each other.
Foam materials known in the prior art are designed in such a way that they retain and hold the moisture absorbed by them for a long time. As follows from WO 2007/135069 A1, the absorbed moisture, or absorbed water, again completely returns to its original state, with regard to the humidity of the surrounding atmosphere, only after 24 hours.
This rebound speed is too slow for normal use, such as mattresses, shoe soles or seats in vehicles, which are continuously used for several consecutive hours a day and therefore have significantly less than 24 hours of time to return the absorbed moisture. In this case, we can speak of the so-called equilibrium humidity, and this is the humidity value at which the foam is in equilibrium with the humidity contained in the surrounding atmosphere.
Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide a foam body which, in order to improve its moisture control with respect to the moisture release rate, contains a material which is also easy to process into foam.
This problem of the invention is solved hallmarks Clause 1 of the formula. The advantage given by the features of point 1 is that by adding cellulose to the foam structure sufficient high ability to absorb moisture or liquid, but at the same time, the absorbed moisture or liquid is released again as quickly as possible as a result of use into the surrounding atmosphere after filling is completed, so that an equilibrium humidity is again reached. Thus, due to the use of cellulose-II, materials with a fibrous structure are avoided, as a result of which the flowability is improved and the mutual engagement of the fibers is prevented. The duration of the return depends on the purpose of use or purpose of the foam element, and the equilibrium humidity after use, for example as a mattress, is reached again at the latest after 16 hours. In the case of shoe soles or insoles, this duration should be set even shorter. Therefore, a certain amount of cellulose is added as a hydrophilic agent, which is introduced or interfered directly with the formation of foam in one of the foam-forming components. Thanks to cellulose, not only sufficient storage capacity, but also the repeated rapid return of absorbed moisture to environment. Thanks to the added cellulose fraction, it is achieved that the ability to absorb and release moisture of the foam element can be easily adjusted to the most different occasions applications.
Regardless of this, the object of the invention can also be solved by the distinctive features of claim 2. The advantage given by the features of point 2 is that by adding cellulose to the foam structure a sufficiently high moisture or liquid absorption capacity is created, however, after filling, as a result of use, the absorbed moisture or liquid is released back into the surrounding atmosphere as quickly as possible, so that equilibrium is again reached. humidity. As a result of the special combination of the addition of cellulose-II and the resulting density values, a very high vapor or moisture absorption is obtained. Thanks to high value intermediate storage of moisture or water that is absorbed during use of the foam element can guarantee the user a pleasant feeling of dryness during use. Thus, thanks to this, the body does not come into direct contact with moisture.
Regardless of this, the object of the invention can also be solved by the features of claim 3. The advantage given by the features of claim 3 is that by adding cellulose to the foam structure, a sufficiently high capacity to absorb moisture or liquid is created, however, after filling, as a result of using the absorbed moisture or liquid is released back into the surrounding atmosphere as soon as possible, so that the equilibrium humidity is reached again. As a result of the special combination of the addition of cellulose-II and the resulting density values, a very high vapor or moisture absorption is obtained.
Thanks to this, it is possible, with good ease of use, to achieve a quick return of the moisture absorbed by the foam element. Thus, even after a high absorption of moisture, after a relatively short period of time, it is possible reuse, and it is possible to have an equally dry foam body again.
The following embodiment according to claim 4 is also advantageous, since, depending on the resulting foam structure of the foam, the length of the fiber can be adjusted so that optimal moisture transfer can be achieved for both rapid absorption and rapid release after use.
Further, the improvement according to claim 5 is advantageous, since in this way it is possible to achieve an even finer distribution of the cellulose particles within the foam structure and thus simply adapt the foam element to a wide variety of applications.
As a result of the improvement according to claim 6, the flowability of the particles can be improved. Due to the not completely smooth and irregular surface structure, this leads to an increased specific surface area, which contributes to the excellent adsorption properties of the cellulose particles.
According to another embodiment according to claim 7, it is also possible to use such particles in so-called carbon dioxide foaming without clogging the fine holes in the nozzle plate.
The improvement according to claim 8 is also advantageous, since a spherical shape is thus avoided and an irregular surface without fibrous fringes or fibrils is created. In this way dust formations are avoided and a favorable distribution within the foam structure is achieved.
As a result of the improvement according to claim 9, it is possible to enrich the cellulose or combine it with at least one additional additive directly during the production of cellulose, and thus only one single additive needs to be considered for introduction into the reaction component.
The improvement according to claim 10 is also advantageous, since in this way a foam element can be obtained that can be used in a wide variety of applications.
According to the improvement as described in point 11, an even better transfer of moisture to the inside of the foam element is achieved.
Further, the use of a foam element is also advantageous for a wide variety of purposes, since in this way not only the wearing comfort during use can be improved, but also the further drying cycle is carried out much faster. This is especially advantageous for a wide variety of seats, mattresses, and applications in which moisture is released from the body.
For a better understanding of the invention, it will be explained in more detail in the following drawings.
Shown, each time in a simplified form:
1 is a first graph showing moisture absorption between two given temperature and humidity conditions for different samples at different sampling sites;
Fig. 2 is a second graph which shows the different moisture absorption of conventional foam and foam with incorporated cellulose particles;
Fig. 3 is a third graph which shows the difference in moisture return between conventional foam and cellulose-incorporated foam;
figure 4 is a bar graph that shows the absorption of water vapor regular foam and, in comparison, foam with introduced cellulose particles.
To begin with, it should be noted that in the various embodiments described, the same parts are provided with the same reference numerals or the same designations. structural elements, moreover, the disclosures contained in the entire description can be transferred in meaning to the same parts with the same positions or the same designations of structural elements. Likewise, indications of the place chosen in the description, such as above, below, on the side, etc., refer to the figure directly described, as well as to the figure shown, and should be transferred in meaning to a new place when the place changes. In addition, individual features or combinations of features shown and described different examples implementation may be independent inventive solutions or solutions according to the invention.
All indications of a range of values in the present description should be understood to cover all sub-ranges without exception, for example, if "from 1 to 10" is indicated, it should be understood that all sub-ranges are covered, based on the lower limit of 1 and the upper limit of 10, i .e. all subregions starting with a lower limit of 1 or more and ending with an upper limit of 10 or less, such as 1 to 1.7, or 3.2 to 8.1, or 5.5 to 10.
First, let us dwell in more detail on the hydrophilic agent introduced into the foam, in particular into the foam element formed from it, which is formed, for example, from cellulose. The foam element is thus formed from the foam as well as from the hydrophilic agent incorporated therein. The foam, for its part, can be formed from a suitable mixture of components capable of foaming with each other, which are preferably in liquid form, as is already sufficiently known.
As already mentioned in the introduction, in WO 2007/135069 A1, in addition to water-absorbing polymers, cellulose fibers are added as an additional filler. They should, in certain cases, improve the mechanical properties of the foam. However, here it has been found that the addition of fibrous additives makes it difficult to process the foamable initial mixture, since its fluidity changes. For example, fibrous cellulosic particles, which are mixed in, in particular, with the polyol component before foaming, would make it more viscous, making it difficult or even impossible to mix with other components, namely isocyanate, in the dosing head of the foam plant. Likewise, it may also become more difficult for the reaction mass to spread as a result of spreading along the conveyor belt of the foam plant. In addition, fibrous cellulose particles can also be strongly retained as deposits in the pipelines for supplying the reaction mixture.
Therefore, the addition of fiber additives is only possible within certain limits. The lower the proportion of fiber additives, in particular short lengths of cellulosic fibers, the lower also the water absorption capacity when they are added to the foam. Thus, even with the addition of a small amount of powder from cellulose fibers, an increase in viscosity, in particular, of the polyol component, is to be expected. True, such mixtures are in principle processed, but during processing, the changed viscosity should be taken into account.
As is known, cellulose or filaments, fibers or powders produced from it are mostly obtained by processing and grinding lignin or also wood and/or annual plants.
Depending on the production costs, powders of various qualities (purity, size, etc.) are obtained. What all these powders have in common is that they have a fibrous structure, since natural cellulose of any order of magnitude has a strong tendency to form such fibrous structures. Also, MCC (microcrystalline cellulose), which is described as spherical, nevertheless consists of fragments of crystalline fibers.
Depending on the microstructure, different structural types of cellulose are distinguished, in particular cellulose-I and cellulose-II. The difference between these two structural types is described in detail in the specialized literature and, in addition, can be established radiographically.
The predominant part of the cellulose powder consists of cellulose-I. Preparation and use of cellulose-I powders protected a large number legal norms. They also protect, for example, many technical details of grinding. Cellulose-I powders are fibrous in nature, which is not very favorable for some applications or even interferes with them. Thus, fibrous powders often lead to fiber cohesion. Associated with this is also limited flowability.
Cellulose powders based on cellulose-II are currently practically absent on the market. Such cellulosic powders with a similar structure can be obtained either from a solution (mainly viscose) or by grinding products from cellulose-II. Such a product would be, for example, cellophane. In addition, such fine powders with a grain size of 10 μm and below are also only available in very small quantities.
The preparation of spherical, non-fibrillar cellulose particles with a size in the range from 1 µm to 400 µm can be carried out, for example, from a solution of non-derivatized cellulose in a mixture organic matter and water. In this case, the free-flowing solution is cooled to its solidification temperature and then the solidified cellulose solution is crushed. After that, the solvent is washed out and the crushed washed particles are dried. Further grinding is carried out most often with a mill.
It is particularly advantageous if at least some of the additives referred to below are already introduced into the prepared cellulose solution before cooling and subsequent solidification. This additive may be selected from the group consisting of pigments, inorganic substances such as titanium oxides, in particular non-stoichiometric titanium dioxide, barium sulfate, ion exchanger, polyethylene, polypropylene, polyester, carbon black, zeolites, Activated carbon, polymer superabsorber or flame retardant. In this case, they are present in the cellulose particles obtained later. In this case, the addition can be carried out at any time during the preparation of the solution, but in any case before solidification. It is possible to enter from 1 wt.% to 200 wt.% additives, based on the amount of cellulose. It turned out that these additives are not removed during washing out, but remain in the cellulose particles, and also essentially retain their function. For example, when activated carbon is mixed in, it can be established that its active surface, which can be measured, for example, by the BET method, is also completely preserved in the finished particles. In addition, as a result of this, not only additives located on the surface of the cellulose particles, but also those inside the particles are fully accessible. This should be considered particularly cost-effective, since only a small amount of additives needs to be added to the prepared cellulose solution.
This has the advantage that only cellulosic particles with functional additives already present are added to the foam reaction mixture. With the hitherto known separate addition of all additives individually to the reaction mixture, here only the type of additive has to be taken into account for calculating the foaming parameters. This avoids uncontrolled fluctuations in the properties of many of these different additives.
So, by this process, it is possible to obtain a cellulose powder, which is composed of particles having the structure of cellulose-II. Cellulose powder has a particle size in the range of 1 µm lower limit and 400 μm upper limit, with an average particle size of ×50 with a lower limit of 4 μm and an upper limit of 250 μm, with a unimodal particle size distribution. Further, the cellulose powder or particles have an approximately spherical shape with a discrete surface, the degree of crystallinity, determined according to the Raman method, lies in the range with a lower limit of 15% and with an upper limit of 45%. In addition, the particles have a specific surface (N 2 adsorption, BET) with a lower limit of 0.2 m 2 /g and an upper limit of 8 m 2 /g at a bulk density with a lower limit of 250 g/l and an upper limit of 750 g/l .
The structure of cellulose-II is achieved by dissolving and reprecipitating cellulose, and the present particles differ in particular from those obtained from cellulose without a dissolution step.
The particle size in the range described above (lower limit 1 μm and upper limit 400 μm, particle distribution, which is characterized by the value of ×50 with a lower limit of 4 μm, in particular 50 μm, and with an upper limit of 250 μm, in particular 100 μm) is affected by , naturally, the mode of the grinding process by grinding. However, as a result of the special method of obtaining a free-flowing cellulose solution by solidification, and due to the resulting mechanical properties of the hardened cellulose mass, this distribution of particles can be achieved particularly easily. A cellulose solution solidifying under the action of shear loads would, under equal grinding conditions, have other, but, in particular, fibrillar characteristics.
The shape of the particles used is approximately spherical. These particles have an axis ratio (1:d) from 1 to 2.5. They have an irregular surface, but no fibrous fringes or fibrils are visible under the microscope. Thus, we are in no way talking about spheres with a smooth surface. However, such a form would not be particularly favorable for the applications under consideration.
Also, the bulk density of the cellulose powders described here, which lies between the lower limit of 250 g/l and the upper limit of 750 g/l, is markedly higher than the density of comparable prior art fibrillar particles. Such a bulk density has significant technological advantages, since it also expresses the compactness of the cellulosic powders described here and thus, among other things, better flowability, miscibility in various media and unproblematic storage suitability.
In summary, we emphasize once again that particles obtained from cellulose powder, due to their spherical structure, have improved flowability and almost do not exhibit structural-viscous behavior. Particle characterization by means of particle sizers widely used in the industry is also easier and more meaningful due to the spherical shape. The not quite smooth and irregular surface structure leads to an increased specific surface, which contributes to even better adsorption properties of the powder.
Regardless of this, it would also be possible to mix pure cellulose powder or particles formed from it with other cellulose particles, which would additionally contain added additives in an amount with a lower limit of 1 wt.% and with an upper limit of 200 wt.%, based on the amount of cellulose . Individual of these additives can again be selected from the group consisting of pigments, inorganic substances such as titanium oxides, in particular substoichiometric titanium dioxide, barium sulfate, ion exchanger, polyethylene, polypropylene, polyester, activated carbon, polymeric superabsorber and flame retardant.
Depending on the foaming process used, spherical cellulosic particles have shown themselves to be particularly advantageous in the production of foams, in particular in carbon dioxide foaming, compared to known fibrous cellulosic particles. In this case, carbon dioxide foaming can be carried out, for example, according to the Novaflex-Cardio method or a similar method, and here, in particular, small holes in the nozzle plates are used. Large and fibrous particles could immediately clog nozzle holes and create other problems. Therefore, it is precisely with this foaming method that a high degree of fineness of the spherical cellulose particles is particularly advantageous.
Now the foam element according to the invention, respectively, the method for producing the foam element will be explained in more detail with several examples. These are to be considered as possible embodiments of the invention, and the invention is in no way limited by the scope of these examples.
Moisture data in wt.% refers to the mass or weight of the entire foam element (foam, cellulose particles and water or moisture).
Example 1
The resulting foam element can be formed from a foam, such as soft polyurethane foam, where again a wide variety of production possibilities and methods can be used. Such foams most often have an open cell foam structure. This can be done, for example, in a "QFM" foam plant from Hennecke, whereby the foam is produced by a dosing method at high pressure in a continuous process. All necessary components are precisely dosed by means of a controlled pump using a computer and mixed according to the stirrer principle. One of these components in the present case is a polyol that has been diluted with the previously described cellulose particles. Due to the addition of cellulosic particles to the polyol reaction component, further various formulation adjustments, e.g., water, catalysts, stabilizers, and TDI, are necessary to substantially neutralize the effect of the added cellulosic powder on the preparation and subsequent achievable physical quantities.
One foam possible according to the invention was obtained with 7.5% by weight of spherical cellulose particles. To do this, a spherical cellulose powder was first obtained, which was later added to one of the reaction components to obtain a foam. In this case, the quantitative proportion of cellulose based on the total weight of the foam, in particular the foam, can lie in the range with a lower limit of 0.1 wt.%, in particular 5 wt.%, and an upper limit of 10 wt.%, in particular 8.5 the weight.%.
Example 2 (comparative example)
For comparison with example 1, this time, a foam element was obtained from the foam, which was obtained without adding cellulose powder or cellulose particles. Moreover, it can be a standard foam, HR foam or viscose foam, each of which was obtained according to a known recipe and foamed.
First, an attempt was made to ascertain whether the added cellulose particles were evenly distributed along the height in all layers of the resulting foam. This was carried out in such a way that, by means of the water absorption of the foam under normal conditions (20°C and 55% r.h.) as well as under other standardized temperature and humidity conditions (23°C and 93% r.h.), the so-called equilibrium humidity is measured. . For this, from three different heights foam block obtained in example 1, as well as in example 2, samples were taken the same size and each measured water absorption in both previously described standardized temperature and humidity conditions. In this case, 1.0 m means upper layer foam block, 0.5 m - middle layer and 0.0 m - bottom layer of foam for sampling from foam with added cellulose particles. Full height the block was about 1 m. The cellulose-free foam from example 2 served as a comparison.
As can be seen from the given numerical values, foam combined with cellulose particles, both under normal conditions and in other standardized temperature and humidity conditions with equilibrium body moisture, absorbs significantly more moisture compared to foam materials that do not contain cellulose. different place sampling (top, middle, bottom) also shows a relatively good agreement between the measurement results, from which it can be concluded that the distribution of cellulose particles in the resulting foam element is uniform.
The following table 2 shows the mechanical properties of both foams according to example 1 and example 2. It is easy to see that the type of foam with included cellulose particles has comparable mechanical properties to foam without the addition of cellulose particles. This speaks of the unproblematic technological properties of the reaction components, in particular, when spherical cellulose particles are added to them.
| table 2 | ||||
| foam type | ||||
| A | A | B | B | |
| Powder share(cellulose particles) | 0% | 10% | 0% | 7,50% |
| Volume weight | 33.0 kg / m 3 | 33.3 kg / m 3 | 38.5 kg / m 3 | 43.8 kg / m 3 |
| Compressive stress 40% | 3.5 kPa | 2.3 kPa | 2.7 kPa | 3.0 kPa |
| Elasticity | 48% | 36% | 55% | 50% |
| Tensile strength | 140 kPa | 100 kPa | 115 kPa | 106 kPa |
| Elongation | 190% | 160% | 220% | 190% |
| 6% | 50% | 6% | 9% |
A foam element without added cellulose particles shall, for both of the specified types of foam, have the following ratings:
| foam type | ||||
| A | B | |||
| Volume weight | 33.0 kg / m 3 | 38.5 kg / m 3 | ||
| Compressive stress 40% | 3.4 kPa | 2.7 kPa | ||
| Elasticity | >44% | >45% | ||
| Tensile strength | >100 kPa | >100 kPa | ||
| Elongation | >150% | >150% | ||
| Wet Compressive Set (22h/70% pressure/50°C/95% r.h.) | <15% | <15% |
The average volumetric weight or density of the entire foamed element is in this case in the range with a lower limit of 30 kg/m³ and with an upper limit of 45 kg/m³.
Figure 1 shows the moisture content of the foam (in percent) for samples of the same type, but taken from different places of sampling from the whole foam element, as already described earlier. In this case, the moisture content of the foam in [%] is plotted along the ordinate. The proportion of added cellulose powder or cellulose particles is in this example 10% by weight, and the cellulose particles are again the spherical cellulose particles described above. These separate different samplings with and without addition are plotted on the abscissa.
The circled foam moisture measurement points of the individual samples represent the initial values, while the squared measurement points are the same samples, but one day after moisture absorption. The lower initial values are determined under the reference conditions described above, and the other applied values are the moisture absorption of the same samples after 24 hours under different standardized temperature and humidity conditions (23°C and 93% RH). Abbreviation rel. ow. means the relative humidity of the air, which is indicated in%.
Figure 2 shows the change in moisture absorption for 48 hours, and the time (t) is plotted on the abscissa in [h]. In this case, the initial state of the samples again corresponds to the above-defined normal conditions with 20°C and 55% rel. ow. Other standardized temperature and humidity conditions with 23°C and 93% r.h. ow. must indicate the conditions of use, or the climate of the body, so that a period of time can be set for increasing the moisture content of the foam in wt%. Foam moisture values are plotted along the ordinate in [%].
Thus, the first line 1 in the graph with circled measurement points shows a foam element with a given sample size according to example 2 without the addition of cellulose particles or cellulose powder.
The second line 2 in the graph with the measurement points depicted in squares shows the moisture content of the foam of the cell to which 7.5% by weight of cellulose particles or cellulose powder has been added. Cellulosic particles again refer to the above-described spherical cellulose particles.
The course of moisture absorption within 48 hours shows that the equilibrium moisture content of the body at the "foam" in the conditions of the "body climate" is reached after a short time. So, from this it can be understood that the foam material with the introduced cellulose particles within 3 hours can absorb twice as much moisture as the foam according to example 2 without the addition of cellulose particles.
The measured moisture absorption values were obtained by exposing approximately 10 cm³ of foam samples to a controlled humidity desiccator (supersaturated solution of KNO 3 and 93% RH) after the samples were dried. At certain intervals, individual samples were removed from the desiccator and the increase in weight (=water absorption) was measured. Fluctuations in moisture absorption are explained by the manipulation of the samples, as well as a slight inhomogeneity of the samples.
Figure 3 shows the drying characteristics of the foamed element with added cellulose particles according to example 1 in comparison with the foam from example 2 without such cellulose particles. For comparison, both samples were first kept for 24 hours in "body climate". This again means 23°C and 93% relative humidity. Foam moisture values are again plotted on the ordinate in [%] and time (t) in [min] plotted on the abscissa. Foam moisture percentages given are weight percent based on the weight or weight of the entire foam element (foam, cellulose particles and water or moisture).
The measurement points shown in circles again refer to the foam element according to example 2 without the addition of cellulose particles, with the corresponding line 3 showing the return of moisture being plotted on the graph. The measurement points, which are shown as squares, were obtained on a foam element with injected cellulose particles. The corresponding next line 4 on the graph also shows the rapid release of moisture. The proportion of cellulose particles was again 7.5 wt%.
Here it is clear that the equilibrium moisture content of 2% is reached again after about 10 minutes. This is significantly faster than the foam of the prior art, which takes several hours to release a comparable amount of water.
If now the foam element with incorporated cellulose particles from the crystalline modification of cellulose-II is kept for 24 hours in "body climate" conditions and then brought to "normal conditions", then in "body climate" conditions it first absorbs more than 5 wt.% moisture, and within a period of 2 minutes after bringing to "normal conditions" moisture content is reduced by at least two (2) wt.%.
Figure 4 shows a histogram of water vapor absorption "Fi" according to Hohenstein, expressed in [g/m 2 ], with these values plotted along the ordinate.
The time taken for water vapor to be absorbed when going from the above-defined normal conditions (20°C and 55% RH) to the standardized temperature and humidity conditions also described above (23°C and 93% RH) (conditions application or body climate) for both defined measured values was 3 (three) hours. The test specimens always refer to the type "B" foam already described. Thus, the first column 5 in the histogram shows the type of foam "B" without the addition of cellulose or cellulose particles. The measured value here is approximately 4.8 g/m 2 . The cellulose-incorporated foam sample, on the other hand, has a higher value of about 10.4 g/m 2 , which is represented in the histogram by a different bar 6. This different value is thus higher than the Hohenstein value of 5 g/m 2 .
The foam element is formed from foam, with polyurethane foam being used as the preferred foam. As explained above in the separate graphs, to determine the moisture absorption, one starts from the so-called equilibrium humidity, which indicates "normal conditions" and has a relative humidity of 55% at 20°C. To simulate use, other standardized temperature and humidity conditions have been defined which have a relative humidity of 93% at 23°C. These other standardized temperature and humidity conditions should, for example, illustrate the introduction of moisture during use due to the perspiration of the body of a living organism, in particular a human. To do this, the cellulose included in the foam element must, after use, again give up the moisture absorbed during use, for a time in the range of a lower limit of 1 hour and an upper limit of 16 hours, and thus the entire foam element must assume an equilibrium humidity relative to the surroundings. atmosphere. This means that at the end of use, the cellulose very quickly releases the moisture stored in it into the surrounding atmosphere and thereby causes the foam element to dry out.
As already mentioned in the introduction, equilibrium moisture is said to be when the foam element is exposed to the above-described external atmospheric conditions for so long as the moisture content of the element (foam moisture) comes into equilibrium with the humidity contained in the external atmosphere. After reaching the equilibrium humidity, there is no more mutual exchange of moisture between the foamed element and the external atmosphere surrounding the element.
Thus, the above test method can be carried out, for example, so that the foamed element is kept in the first external atmosphere with the first temperature and humidity conditions with a given temperature and relative humidity, for example 20°C and 55% RH. h., until the equilibrium humidity with this external atmosphere is reached, and then the same foam element is introduced into the second, changed in comparison with the first, or into another external atmosphere. This second outer atmosphere has second temperature-humidity conditions with a higher temperature and/or higher relative air humidity than the first conditions, such as 23° C. and 93% r.h. ow. In this case, the moisture content of the foam increases, and the moisture is absorbed by the cellulose in the foam. Then the same foamed element is again brought into the first external atmosphere, and then after a predetermined period of time, from 1 hour to 16 hours, the initial value of the foam moisture content corresponding to the equilibrium humidity relative to the first external atmosphere is again reached. Thus, during this period of time, the moisture previously absorbed in the second external atmosphere is again given off by the cellulose to the external atmosphere, and thus the humidity is reduced.
The lower value of 1 hour given here depends on the amount of absorbed liquid or moisture and can also be significantly lower and also be only a few minutes.
Regardless of the spherical cellulose particles described above, it is also possible for the cellulose to be formed in the form of fiber lengths having a lower limit of 0.1 mm and an upper limit of 5 mm. Likewise, it would also be possible for the cellulose to be formed as ground fibers with a particle size of 50 µm lower and 0.5 mm upper.
The resulting foam, depending on the application, has different characteristics of the foam, which differ in a wide variety of physical properties.
The stress at 40% compression may have a lower limit of 1.0 kPa and an upper limit of 10.0 kPa. The drop ball elasticity can have a value with a lower limit of 5% and with an upper limit of 70%. This test method is carried out according to EN ISO 8307 and in doing so establishes the return height and associated rebound resilience.
If the resulting foam element is a polyurethane foam, in particular a soft foam, it can be obtained both on the basis of TDI and on the basis of MDI. But other foam materials can also be used, such as polyethylene foam, polystyrene foam, polycarbonate foam, PVC foam, polyimide foam, silicone foam, PMMA (polymethyl methacrylate) foam, foam rubber, which form a foam skeleton, into which cellulose can be introduced. In this case, depending on the selected foam material, one can speak of foam or foam rubber, such as latex foam rubber. In this case, high moisture absorption is obtained regardless of the original system, as well as on how the foam was obtained, since the ability to reversibly absorb moisture is achieved by the introduction or inclusion of cellulose. Preferably, open-cell types of foam are used which allow unobstructed air exchange with the outside atmosphere. Likewise, a substantially uniform distribution of the cellulose added to the foam structure, as already described in previous experiments. If no open-celled foam structure is possible, then it can be created by a well-known targeted post-processing.
If a polyol is used as a starting material as one of the reaction components, then cellulose can be added to it before foaming. This addition may be carried out by mixing or dispersing the cellulose by methods known in the art. The polyols are alcohols, which are required for the respective type of foam and which are added to the formulation in the required amount. However, when formulating, the moisture content of the cellulose particles should also be taken into account.
The foam element can be used to form individual synthetic articles, the synthetic articles being selected from the group consisting of mattresses, upholstery and pillows.
The exemplary embodiments show possible embodiments of a foam element with a hydrophilic agent incorporated in the foam, which is formed from cellulose, at this point it should be noted that the invention is not limited to these particular embodiments shown, but, on the contrary, various combinations of individual embodiments with each other are also possible. on the other hand, and these possibilities of change on the basis of indications of technological actions by means of the present invention lie within the knowledge of those skilled in the art. Thus, all conceivable implementations that are possible as a result of the combination of individual details of the illustrated and described embodiments fall within the scope of protection.
The problem underlying independent inventive solutions can be taken from the description.
List of positions for links
CLAIM
1. A foamed element with a hydrophilic agent formed from cellulose included in the foam, and the foamed element with cellulose introduced into it has the ability to reversibly absorb moisture, characterized in that the cellulose is formed by the structural type of the crystalline modification of cellulose-II, and the proportion of cellulose from the total mass of the foam is selected in the range from 0.1 wt.%, in particular 5 wt.%, and up to 10 wt.%, in particular 8.5 wt.%, and the moisture content in the foam element, starting from the initial moisture value corresponding to the equilibrium moisture relative to the first external atmosphere with the first temperature and humidity conditions with a given temperature and relative humidity, increases during its use in the second, changed compared to the first, external atmosphere with the second temperature and humidity conditions with a higher temperature than the first conditions and/or higher relative humidity, and the humidity absorbed during approx. cellulose-II included in the foamed element, after application in the second external atmosphere, is again released into the first external atmosphere after a period of time in the range from 1 hour to 16 hours until the initial humidity value is again reached, corresponding to the equilibrium humidity relative to the first external atmosphere.
2. Foamed element according to claim 1, characterized in that the foamed element has a density from 30 kg/m 3 to 45 kg/m 3 and water vapor absorption - Fi index according to Hohenstein - more than 5 g/m 2 .
3. The foam element according to claim 1, characterized in that the foam element has a bulk density of 30 kg/m 3 to 45 kg/m 3 , and a moisture content in the foam element that is greater than 5%, based on a second external atmosphere with the second temperature-climatic conditions, after exposure to the first external atmosphere with the first temperature-climatic conditions (20°C and relative humidity 55%) within 2 min is reduced by at least 2%.
4. A foam element according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cellulose-II is in the form of fiber segments with a fiber length between 0.1 mm and 5 mm.
5. Foam element according to one of claims 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that cellulose-II is in the form of crushed fibers with a particle size of 50 µm to 0.5 mm.
6. The foam element according to claim 1, characterized in that the cellulose-II is formed by approximately spherical cellulose particles with a discrete surface.
7. The foam element according to claim 2, characterized in that the cellulose-II is formed by approximately spherical cellulose particles with a discrete surface.
8. The foam element according to claim 3, characterized in that the cellulose-II is formed by approximately spherical cellulose particles with a discrete surface.
9. A foam element according to one of claims 6, 7 or 8, characterized in that the approximately spherical cellulose particles have a size between 1 µm and 400 µm.
10. A foam element according to one of claims 6, 7 or 8, characterized in that the approximately spherical cellulose particles have an axis ratio (1:d) from 1 to 2.5.
11. A foam element according to one of claims 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that the cellulose additionally contains at least one of the additives from the group containing pigments, inorganic substances such as titanium oxide, non-stoichiometric titanium oxide, barium sulfate, ion exchanger, polyethylene, polypropylene, polyester, carbon black, zeolites, activated carbon, polymer superabsorber or flame retardant.
12. A foam element according to one of claims 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that the foam material is selected from the group of polyurethane foam (PU foam), polyethylene foam, polystyrene foam, polycarbonate foam, PVC foam, polyimide foam, silicone foam, PMMA foam (polymethyl methacrylate), foam rubber.
13. Foam element according to one of claims 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that the foam has an open-cell foam structure.
14. The use of a foam element according to one of claims 1 to 13 for the formation of synthetic products, the synthetic products being selected from the group consisting of mattresses, furniture upholstery, pillows.
What is ecowool? This is the collective name for heat-insulating materials that are made using a special technology, often from recycled raw materials. The material cannot be called new: it has been used since about the middle of the last century and competes with modern types of thermal insulation.
Manufacturers position ecowool as an environmentally friendly material with high performance, which is in the affordable segment of the construction market. How relevant these statements are, we will understand together.
The composition and properties of the insulation
In the manufacture of ecowool, the following components are usually used:
This composition is due to the low price of thermal insulation and its environmental safety. In fact, there is no toxic component here, however, relatively good technical characteristics remain.
Now let's talk about properties. The operational characteristics of ecowool look like this:
Flammability class - G2. Under the influence of high temperatures, a crystallized liquid is released from the fibers of the material; accordingly, the insulation ignites poorly and does not support combustion processes.
Biostability - high. The composition contains boric acid and borax, which neutralize almost any external factors and aggressive environment, make the material unsuitable for consumption by rodents and other pests.
Thermal conductivity values: 0.032–0.041. The material reliably protects the interior from drafts and cold winds, reduces heat loss, and helps to save on heating in the winter season.
Density - up to 75 kg / m3. This provides reliable sound insulation of the building, forms a reliable moisture insulating layer.
In addition, ecowool is not produced in sheets or rolls, therefore, during installation, a monolithic thermal insulation is formed, which completely excludes cold bridges, seams and joints.
Advantages and disadvantages of insulating material
Despite the assurances of manufacturers that ecowool is the standard among thermal insulation materials, these statements should not be fully trusted. This is a common marketing ploy designed to increase sales.
The material has a lot of undeniable advantages, but, like analogues, it is not without serious drawbacks. Let's start with the merits.
The advantages of ecowool are the following characteristics:
Low moisture permeability. The capillary structure of the material allows you to absorb water without losing useful qualities. For example, if a mineral insulation is moistened in total by 1%, heat loss will increase by almost 10 times. If ecowool is moistened by 25%, decrease in thermal conductivity will not exceed 5%. This is a very good indicator.
Seamless isolation. The loose mass of the filler fills all the voids, completely excluding cold bridges. To achieve a similar result with roll or sheet insulation, the material must be laid in 2-3 layers which increases the overall cost of the work.
High level of sound absorption. Ecowool is a great way to insulate buildings that are located on busy streets, near federal highways, railway lines and airports.
In addition, an undeniable advantage is the affordable price, which elevates ecowool to the rank of the most popular insulation for private construction.
Let's move on to problems. Serious disadvantages of thermal insulation include the following points:
Gradual decrease in thermal insulation properties, increased heat loss. This is due to the fact that the material is reduced in volume or supersaturated with moisture. You can avoid problems by laying insulation with a margin in 20-30% from the calculated volume and making the layer ventilated so that moisture can evaporate into the atmosphere.
Difficulties in installation. In order for the insulation to fully meet the technical specifications, special installation equipment will be required. This means that you will have to hire a team of professionals, and these are additional costs.
Loss of time. Ecowool can be laid in two ways: dry and wet installation. The first option creates a lot of dust during the work and does not guarantee high-quality compaction. The second - creates a high-quality layer of thermal insulation, but the material will dry about 3 days, which is not always possible with the pace of modern construction.
Relatively low stiffness. If we compare ecowool with other types of insulation, for example, foam boards, its rigidity will be noticeably lower, which makes it impossible to use the material for frameless insulation.
Material shrinkage. Occurs with vertical insulation already in the second year. This problem cannot be avoided.
Burning speed up to 30 seconds. This means that the material does not burn, but slowly smolders. As a result, there is a risk of ignition of adjacent materials and high smoke.
As you can see, ecowool is not a perfect thermal insulation. This is a rather specific material with a limited scope and a peculiar installation technology. In addition, assurances of environmental safety also raise doubts: boric acid and borax can hardly be called fillers that are safe for humans.
Comparison table
| Processed natural materials | ||||||
| Artificial insulation containing adhesives | ||||||
| Synthetic polymers | ||||||
What is the difference between ecowool and basalt insulation
To answer this question, a little clarification is required. In the production of basalt insulation, the following components are used:
Considering that the main component is basalt, it is customary to unite the entire heater of the stone-basalt group under the term "basalt wool".
In fact, basalt insulation is insulation that is completely made from this rock. Such material is not used in residential construction. Its intended use: insulation of equipment and pipelines.
If we compare ecowool and heaters of the stone-basalt group, we can see a lot in common. In particular, both materials have similar thermal insulation performance. However, basalt wool has a higher density, which requires a reliable frame.
Ecowool has a light structure, so it does not increase the load on the supporting structures. In addition, basalt insulation is produced in the form of plates, which leads to the formation of voids at the joints.
Service life of basalt wool does not exceed 40 years- the material is gradually destroyed under the influence of pathogenic microflora. Ecowool serves up to 70 years without losing the original properties.
Real consumer reviews that we found on the Internet
To better understand the feasibility of ecowool insulation, you can refer to the reviews of people who have already used this material in construction.
Sergey. forumhouse.ru
I bought ecowool for warming a country house. The workers who were involved in the construction advised this particular material. For insulation, additional layers of vapor and waterproofing are not needed, which was the decisive argument. The house stands 3 years already, I have no complaints about the insulation, only positive emotions.
Kirill. vk.com
I do not recommend ecowool. 5 years lived in a house insulated with this insulation and was constantly treated for allergies. When I changed my place of residence, the problems disappeared. The doctor said that the body's reaction was provoked by cellulose (an allergy to paper and library dust).
Note that there may be a case of individual intolerance to the components, therefore, before choosing thermal insulation, it makes sense to consult a doctor in order to avoid unpleasant consequences.
Yuri. otzovik.com
Very happy with ecowool. The material fully complies with the declared characteristics, provides reliable insulation, is easy to use and attracts attention at an affordable price. Found only one drawback: compliance with storage conditions. When exposed to a humid environment, the material becomes covered with a hard crust, which complicates further use.
Also, many users express concern about the content of borax and boric acid in the composition of the insulation. In addition, the use of special equipment causes dissatisfaction, but this is a prerequisite for high-quality installation, which cannot be excluded.
TOP-3 verified manufacturers
ISOFLOC. A German brand offering quality ecowool for multi-purpose use. Insulation has earned positive reviews from professional builders around the world.
TERMEX. Finnish company supplying insulation materials to the Russian market since 1988. The manufacturer carefully controls the quality of products, adheres to a reasonable pricing policy.
"Equator". Russian company engaged in the production of insulation since 2007. The production line is fully automated, high-tech equipment is used. At present, it is one of the largest domestic producers of ecowool.
In addition, the company's insulation is trusted by consumers. "Nanovata" and EKOVILLA.
Ecowool Ecowool, Isofloc,Isofiber, Steico and so on. competes with domestically produced products - Unizol and Ecowool.
About what this material is, what are its characteristics, pros and cons, will be discussed in today's article.
What is this material?
Ecowool is a friable thermal insulation material that has a gray color and is made on the basis of cellulose. The composition of the material includes:
- waste paper (about 81 percent);
- fire inhibitors (about 7 percent), which form the effect of self-extinguishing and increase the fire resistance of ecowool to 232 degrees;
- fungicides and antiseptics (about 12 percent) that protect the material from the effects of fungi, mold, mice, etc.
It is also worth noting that the procedure for manufacturing this insulating material takes only five minutes. First, waste paper is delivered to the place of production. It is poured onto a special conveyor, through which the paper enters the so-called primary mixer. There, the material is divided, cleaned of metal elements (such as paper clips) using a built-in magnet. Further, the raw material is crushed by means of the same mixer into small shreds (width - about 50 millimeters), flame retardants and antiseptics are added.
Then the raw material is fed into another device - a fiber manufacturer, which grinds it into thinner pieces (dimensions - about 0.4 centimeters). At the end, a small amount of borax is added. Everything, cellulose insulation material is ready to use!
The main features of ecowool
The first ecowool in Russia was made about eight years ago. In those days, loose insulation with low weight (it consisted of 4/5 recycled waste paper and 1/5 additives) became a real sensation.
Note! This thermal insulator is so warm and light due to its special cellulose structure. It perfectly retains warm air, does not rot, does not become moldy. In addition, it is resistant to rodents and insects.
Table number 1. The main characteristics of cellulose insulation
Now let's talk about the properties of ecowool. The material has some key advantages that distinguish it from similar heat insulators and are the main reasons that many consumers make a choice in its favor. Let's take a look at these benefits.
It is also worth noting that ecowool is able to protect the room not only from low, but also from high temperatures, which is achieved due to the natural structure of cellulose fibers. Ecowool “breathes”, that is, it is vapor-permeable, but at the same time, it does not retain moisture inside. There are other equally important advantages - for example, the fact that the material is quite easy to apply, and after application there are no seams left.
Yes, it is really easy to apply it: as practice has shown, two workers can glue from 70 to 80 square meters of surface in 24 hours.
Note! The pH level in ecowool does not exceed 8.3, therefore, it does not provoke the rusting process when in contact with iron elements.
It is also worth noting another very interesting point: ecowool has the best soundproofing parameters among all heaters. If we talk about durability, then the operational life of cellulose insulation in the Russian climate is about 70 years.
Technical and operational characteristics
So, it only remains for us to briefly talk about the operational parameters, because of which, in fact, many prefer this material. We should start with primitive mathematics: for example, we use a plate or roll-type heat insulator, after installation of which there are inter-seam gaps of 4 percent.
And this, obviously, is no longer effective work, since the thermal conductivity is reduced by at least half. But if you look from the other side, then ecowool fills the voids under the finishing material as evenly as possible, and all joints and voids are closed at the same time.
The application technology in most cases involves spraying, which is shown in the image. But, in principle, you can simply stack.
It is also necessary to take into account the noise insulation parameters, which are enhanced due to the penetration of thin cellulose fibers into almost all cracks. For example, if you install a heater 5 centimeters thick to 12.5 mm drywall, then the noise level will drop to at least 63 decibels. If you increase the thickness further, then with each centimeter, the sound insulation will increase by another 4 decibels.
Now let's get acquainted with other technical parameters that cellulose insulation has.
The density index of ecowool is on average 30-65 kilograms per cubic meter, although more accurate figures depend on the specific manufacturer and the scope of the insulation.
Due to its frost resistance class, the material can last up to 80 years.
We talked about thermal conductivity, it is quite high. However, it may vary in one direction or another depending on the application technology used.
As for vapor permeability, it is 0.3 mg / (m * h * Pa) for ecowool.
Finally, the flammability class of most heaters is B1 (hard-to-ignite material) or G2 (that is, moderately combustible). Sometimes D2 is also found, which, according to GOST, means materials that are characterized by low smoke-generating ability.
GOST 30244-94
Video - Checking cellulose insulation
Material disadvantages
Yes, ecowool has disadvantages and you should definitely familiarize yourself with them.
- First of all, if spraying is carried out in a wet way, then all iron structural elements must be protected with a special paint or varnish, otherwise they will begin to rust. The fact is that such a heater completely dries out only after two months.
- Price. For example, walls need a density of at least 60 kilograms per cubic meter. A cubic meter of ecowool consists of four packages of 15 kilograms each. It turns out that the cost of insulation starts from 1,600 rubles. If we compare it with mineral wool (it costs from 1,300 rubles), then this is really quite expensive. For manual installation on flat surfaces, the cost is slightly lower - about 900 rubles. per cubic meter, provided that the density of the material will be 35 kilograms per cubic meter.
- There are no specific requirements for cellulose insulation in either GOST or SNiP, so the quality of the material depends only on the honesty of the manufacturer. And numerous reviews of dissatisfied customers are a vivid confirmation of this.
- Ecowool is not used for cement screed. This material is soft, therefore, it needs free space.
- Finally, the last minus is a significant shrinkage. Some time after installation, it weathers through cracks and gaps, so careful sealing of all defects in the finished coating is a prerequisite.
As you can see, all the shortcomings are very important, but their number and presence, in principle, depends on which particular company was engaged in production. In some, instead of boric acid, ammonium sulfates are used, due to which the biological stability is markedly reduced. Before buying material, be sure to ask the seller for all the necessary certificates. In addition, check how much the package weighs, compare the resulting weight with the weight of other similar products.
Note! If there are no certificates and labels on the packaging, and also if the insulation is sold at too low a price, then it's time to be wary: maybe, under the guise of ecowool, they are trying to “suck in” ordinary shredded cellulose, in which there are no useful additives.
In a word, it is better to overpay a little, but to get a really high-quality cellulose insulation that can last you for decades.
Price
Now let's briefly talk about the cost on the example of specific brands. So, a 15-kilogram bag of Ecowool Extra insulation costs 510 rubles. The cost of Belgorod "Ecowool" is at least 33.5 rubles per kilogram. Further - in the same spirit, the price varies between 25 and 40 rubles. Foreign insulation is, of course, somewhat more expensive.
Video - The whole truth about ecowool
How to apply cellulose insulation with your own hands
So, we found out that according to numerous parameters, the insulation described in the article is the best option for performing thermal insulation. And if you know how to correctly determine the material consumption and calculate the area of the treated surface (with some margin), then the only thing left to do is to choose a specific application technology. There are two options.
- Spraying.
- Laying.
Note! The main advantage of spraying is that there are no seams left after installation work, and the insulation layer is uniform and even. Moreover, the work is easy to handle on your own. Ecowool clings to the surface quickly and reliably, it hides (like a cocoon) all communications and electrical wiring.
If we consider dry laying, then it is recommended to use it when insulating horizontal surfaces. The advantage in this case will be the absence of waste and the fact that the adhesion of the heat insulator will be universal for all types of surfaces - for wood, metal, cement, stone, brick or even glass.
Let's get acquainted with each of the technologies in more detail.
Option number 1. Dry laying ecowool
This technique is a fairly simple process for which you do not need to rent expensive blowing equipment. Moreover, for work in this case, only one or two people are required.
First, a special container is prepared. Ecowool is placed in it, which is then fluffed up using an electric drill or a mounting mixer. The working surface is cleaned and properly prepared, after which the finished fluff composition is poured onto it. As noted above, this technology is ideal for thermal insulation of the floor.
If we talk about walls, then they will require the construction of a special frame (or, alternatively, you can purchase a ready-made factory frame structure), where the cellulose insulation will be laid and carefully compacted in layers (layer thickness should be 50 centimeters).
Option number 2. Dry laying with special equipment
Blowing machines (in most cases the so-called blowing gun is used) are used in professional construction work with cellulose insulation. It is worth knowing that this technique is not only associated with additional costs. The fact is that it fully pays for itself when it comes to large objects or surfaces of a large area.
This is especially true in the construction of residential multi-storey buildings, when it is necessary to fill the ceiling in the basement or between floors, in the roof of an inclined type or in wall cavities.
During direct installation, ecowool is injected into the equipment used, after which it is sprayed under high pressure over the area to be treated. In the future, the fibers, due to their physical characteristics, expand, get into all the cavities and cracks, and even into those places that could not be reached if the laying was carried out manually.
Option number 3. Wet styling
This technology is appropriate for the thermal insulation of vertical surfaces, where, as you know, it is already impossible to do without an adhesive composition. For such purposes, ecowool is used in the form of rolls or slabs and can be laid not only in two or three layers, but also with an overlap in order to exclude the formation of seams that allow cold air to pass through.
Lignin, which is released when the cellulose fibers are moistened, already has high adhesion in itself, so the insulation adheres reliably to the work surface. As a result, the insulation keeps well and forms a dense protective layer. As a rule, the manufacturer's instructions tell you which of the installation options is better to choose for certain application conditions.
The subtleties of warming
Consider the main nuances in the thermal insulation of a particular part of the building.
When insulating load-bearing structures, ecowool can be applied not only outside, but also inside the house. Be that as it may, first the profiles are fixed for further installation of the panels, then - according to the previously chosen method - an insulating material is applied. By the way, when using the dry application technique, it is quite possible to apply ecowool with already installed finishing panels, using previously left holes for this.
In the course of work, do not forget about the thermal insulation properties of the material from which the walls are made. Thus, the cost of construction work can be reduced by about 30 percent.
Heated attics and attics are perfectly insulated with cellulose insulation. Indeed, this material is environmentally friendly, and it eliminates heat loss almost completely. The thickness of the insulation layer in this case should be 75-100 millimeters.
Ecowool is a great option for interfloor floors. It not only insulates, but also increases the sound insulation of each of the rooms. If it is planned to equip a “warm floor”, then the cellulose should be laid on top of a rough screed laid on a crushed stone “pillow”.
Video - Ecowool "Unizol"
As a result, we note that cellulose insulation is an ideal option for residential buildings. Its advantages are obvious, and a few disadvantages are insignificant or easily eliminated. That's all, good luck and warm winters to you!
The only option for the optimal choice of any building material is to determine the existing shortcomings. The advantages have always been and remain with each material, but the disadvantages are always different, moreover, they vary depending on the characteristics of the product.
There has already been a lot of talk about the advantages of ecowool, but for a long time they turned a blind eye to the shortcomings. Given that there are no ideal materials in the world, ecowool has a number of significant drawbacks.
Ecowool, the disadvantages of which are described below, is the most modern and suitable option for thermal insulation of premises, so all the disadvantages listed below can be easily leveled by the competent use of this material.
Lack of uniform GOST requirements for products
Very often, ecowool is evaluated not by its potential, but by the manufacturer that produces it. It is unscrupulous manufacturers that spoil the image of this material.
The lack of uniform norms and legal requirements for release creates many loopholes that are used to release material that does not meet the stated characteristics. A negative impact on the fire-prevention, insulating, antibacterial and structural properties of ecowool is exerted by saving on the most important constituent components of raw materials - borates.
Until ecowool is subjected to uniform standardization, consumers are left to either purchase goods at random, or follow these recommendations when buying cellulose insulation:
- Collect as much information as possible about the company that produces ecowool. Such information can be easily found on construction forums - many participants devote more than one topic to this, praising some and leaving negative reviews for others. You can draw your own conclusions based on the experience of other buyers.
- It is important to visually study the material before buying. The appearance of ecowool should resemble fluff, there should be no large impurities and fractions, there should not be a feeling that you are taking cut paper or dust
- Ecowool should have good fire-fighting characteristics. When exposed to open fire, cotton wool should slowly smolder and immediately die out in the absence of contact with fire.
- The structural integrity of the packaging should not be compromised, the ecowool should not feel wet to the touch.
- For high-quality ecowool, a grayish tint is inherent, deviations towards light or yellow color are unacceptable - there is a high probability that low-quality raw materials were used in the manufacture
- When shaking ecowool, fine fractions in the form of sand should not appear. The presence of such means that a significant part of the boron components was incorrectly introduced into the structure of the material.
Ecowool is good. But you should not stop only on it, there are other types of heaters.
Ecowool can also become a heater for a frame house. Which type is up to you to choose. If you need a frame house for permanent residence, it will help you in construction.
Slight rigidity and low strength
The low compressive strength of ecowool is one of its significant disadvantages. However, it is worth remembering that this parameter appears only when there is no flooring and there is dry backfilling of the floors. In order for this drawback not to manifest itself, it is necessary to form small areas before the warming process.
Low rigidity does not allow the use of ecowool as an independent heat-insulating material for floor screed. The only solution to this problem is to pre-set cells of small size.
The need for drying
Another conditional disadvantage of ecowool can be called a small presence of moisture in the insulation during its application to the surface by the adhesive method. Perhaps the negative impact of moisture on the surface to be insulated, therefore, before finishing work, it is necessary to allow some time for the layer to dry.
- The waiting period for complete drying must be coordinated in time with other construction works.
- It is desirable to carry out work in the warm season
- It is important to choose the surface on which the ecowool will lie. It is not recommended to use lining or other materials that are poorly permeable to moisture as a base.
Shrinkage during installation
One of the often mentioned disadvantages of ecowool is shrinkage.
It should be taken into account the fact that shrinkage is formed only with improper installation - professionals always take into account this feature of ecowool and evenly distribute the load.
In order to avoid shrinkage, you need to remember two important points:
firstly, hollow ceilings need to be filled with a margin, while cotton wool should be slightly compacted;
secondly, with an open backfill method, it is desirable to form a layer 10% thicker than the width that was originally planned.
The high cost of ecowool
For many buyers, a significant drawback is the high cost of products.
Since without special skills and tools it is impossible to lay with the wet-glue method, it is often necessary to order related services from specialists. In this case, the price rises several times.
Of course, this drawback is conditional - with experience (or at least minimal theoretical knowledge), you can independently carry out the ideal styling.
Flammability class
Cellulose insulation does not have ideal fire performance. And this is quite natural, since it is a product of woody origin. However, ecowool only smolders when exposed to high temperatures, preventing the spread of fire.
These are all the disadvantages that cellulose insulation has. The reader may notice for himself that most of them are nominal. With the right choice, you can choose products of such quality that will meet all the declared properties. And with minimal experience with this material, installation of ecowool is very easy.
It should be noted that ecowool is more suitable for warming wooden houses. If you are building a house from a foam block, we recommend using foam. It won't be difficult if you follow the instructions.
If, nevertheless, you have already decided to build a wooden house, then we suggest considering such material as sawdust as a heater. But, of course, it cannot be compared with ecowool.
And if you are just thinking about building a wooden house, but do not know which one to choose, it will help you decide which one is better to build - a frame or a timber house.
Informative video about the production of ecowool in America
