An evacuable guarded hot plate for thermal conductivity measurements between 200 and 800°C was used to investigate the heat transfer in barley straw. The different thermal transfer mechanisms (solid, gaseous conduction and infrared-radiative heat transfer), as well as coupling effects, were separated. The measured thermal conductivities (λ = 0.041 W m−1 K−1) are similar to those of conventional insulation materials such as foams, glass or mineral fibres which are widely used as building insulation materials. Straw from barley or wheat, which is a low-cost, renewable material readily available worldwide, is therefore an interesting alternative to conventional insulation materials.
Authors:
- Beck, A.
- Heinemann, U.
- Reidinger, M.
- Fricke, J.