Substantial Bark Use as Insulation Material

Abstract

Abstract In this study, bark-based insulation boards were made out of pine ( Pinus sylvestris ) bark. Their properties seem to be promising with regard to thermal conductivity, heat storage capacity, and mechanical characteristics. The influences of panel density, resin content, and particle size on the relevant board properties were studied, showing that it is possible to produce comparatively light (<500 kg/m 3 ) bark boards for thermal insulation. In particular, the panels' heat storage capacity is superior to commonly known insulation materials. For this reason bark-based insulation panels could probably be used efficiently for civil engineering purposes and insulation applications in general.