Properties of thermal insulation from durian peel fiber and natural rubber latex

Abstract

This research presented the studies on the production and properties of thermal insulation produced from durian peel fiber and natural rubber latex. The thermal insulation were made by spray the pre-treated natural rubber latex onto durian peel fiber in the fiber: binder ratios of 1:2, 1:3 and 1:4 to form squared thermal insulation with the size of 20 cm and 1.5 cm thickness. Thermal conductivity measured in accordance with American Society for Testing Materials standard was found to be 0.026 W/m K with density of 143 kg m -3 which closed to the commercial insulator. The success of this study shown that the thermal insulation made from durian peel fiber and natural rubber latex exhibited a good thermal insulation and extremely potential to instead of the synthesis fibrous insulator. © (2012) Trans Tech Publications.