Wenhe Bi¹, Yang Yang¹, Jiamin Wu¹, Jianji Chu², Jun Zhang¹, Guanben Du¹, Hisham Essawy³, Bertrand Charrier⁴, Antonio Pizzi⁵, Xinyi Chen^1,*, Mingzhi Zhu^6,*, Xiaojian Zhou^1,*

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.14, No.6, 2026, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2026.02026-0062 - 29 June 2026

Abstract It is p-toluenesulfonic acid (p-TSA) that is commonly used as a catalyst in conventional tannin-furanic foams. However, it does not participate in the crosslinking network and tends to leach out from the foam during use, resulting in a strongly acidic material that may corrode contacting substrates and accelerate material aging. To address this issue, herein, tannin and furfuryl alcohol were used as raw materials, and bio-derived phytic acid (PA) was employed to completely replace p-TSA for the preparation of tannin-furanic foams. The multi-phosphate groups of PA form a stable crosslinked network with tannin, thereby anchoring the catalyst… More > Graphic Abstract

Marina Astanina, Igor Miroshnichenko^*, Gennadii Shashkin, Mikhail Sheremet

Frontiers in Heat and Mass Transfer, Vol.24, No.2, 2026, DOI:10.32604/fhmt.2026.077952 - 30 April 2026

Abstract This paper explores the thermal behavior of a composite building element consisting of two air cavities inside a porous layer under isothermal heating of the side walls. The system presents a model of a thermal protection element or building envelope where heat transfer occurs through combined conduction in the porous medium and natural convection in the air gaps. The mathematical formulation is based on the Navier-Stokes equations and the Darcy-Brinkman formulation for the porous structure. The natural convection problem has been solved using the ψ–ω–θ formulation in dimensionless form (ψ—stream function, ω—vorticity, θ—temperature). The main… More >

Raviduth Ramful^*

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.14, No.1, 2026, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2025.02025-0116 - 23 January 2026

Abstract Typically used thermal insulation materials such as foam insulation and fibreglass may pose notable health risks and environmental impacts thereby resulting in respiratory irritation and waste disposal issues, respectively. While these materials are affordable and display good thermal insulation, their unsustainable traits pertaining to an intensive manufacturing process and poor disposability are major concerns. Alternative insulation materials with enhanced sustainable characteristics are therefore being explored, and one type of material which has gained notable attention owing to its low carbon footprint and low thermal conductivity is natural fibre. Among the few review studies conducted on… More > Graphic Abstract

Andris Berzins^1,2, Ramunas Tupciauskas^1,*, Gunars Pavlovics¹, Martins Andzs¹

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.13, No.6, pp. 1189-1207, 2025, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2025.02024-0067 - 23 June 2025

Abstract This study examines the development of loose-fill thermal insulation materials derived from annual plant residues, such as wheat straw, water reeds, and corn stalks, processed using the chemimechanical pulping (CMP) technique. The chopped plants were soda-cooked for 30 min, varying NaOH concentration (2%–8% on a dry basis of biomass), and mechanically refined using different disc types. The CMP process enhances the homogeneity and stability of defibrated material, yielding improved insulation properties compared to untreated chopped raw materials. Chemical analysis revealed that CMP increases cellulose content and reduces lignin levels, enhancing water retention and vapor diffusion… More > Graphic Abstract

Jinxing Li¹, Mustafa Zor², Xiaojian Zhou³, Guanben Du³, Denis Rodrigue⁴, Xiaodong (Alice) Wang^1,*

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.13, No.2, pp. 329-347, 2025, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2024.056795 - 20 February 2025

Abstract In this study, two series of foams based on tannic acid (TA), furfuryl alcohol (FA), soybean protein isolate (SPI), and casein (CA), namely TA–FA–SPI (TS series) and TA–FA–CA (TC series) were developed, and their properties were enhanced by adding poplar fibers (WF). From the samples produced, a complete set of characterization was performed including possible crosslinking reactions, morphology, mechanical properties, flame retardancy, thermal insulation and thermal stability. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) revealed possible covalent crosslinking among the components and hydrogen bonding between WF and the matrix. Viscosity results indicated that lower prepolymer viscosity led to… More >

Salma Kouzzi^1,*, Mouniba Redah¹, Souad Morsli², Mohammed El Ganaoui³, Mohammed Lhassane Lahlaouti¹

FDMP-Fluid Dynamics & Materials Processing, Vol.20, No.12, pp. 2741-2755, 2024, DOI:10.32604/fdmp.2024.055890 - 23 December 2024

Abstract This study investigates the potential for enhancing the thermal performance of external walls insulation in warmer climates through the combination of phase change materials (PCMs) and bio-based materials, specifically hemp wool and wood wool. Experimental tests using the heat flow method (HFM), and numerical simulations with ANSYS Fluent software were conducted to assess the dynamic thermal distribution and fluid-mechanical aspects of phase change materials (PCMs) within composite walls. The results demonstrate a notable reduction in peak indoor temperatures, achieving a 58% reduction with hemp wool with a close 40% reduction with wood wool when combined More >

Yeye Liu¹, Leilei Zhang^1,*, Ruonan Zhang¹, Siqi Shao¹, Lina Sun¹, Xinyi Wan¹, Tiantian Wang¹

The International Conference on Computational & Experimental Engineering and Sciences, Vol.30, No.2, pp. 1-1, 2024, DOI:10.32604/icces.2024.012576

Abstract Superior thermal insulating and fire-retardant ceramic membranes are urgently demanded in the aerospace, construction and chemical engineering industries. However, the generic characteristics of ceramic membranes, such as brittleness, structural collapse and crystallization-induced pulverization behavior, present a great plague to their practical applications. Herein, we report a highly flexible, mechanically stable, fire retardant and high-temperature-resistant ceramic membrane based on the interlocked Si₃N₄ nanowires formed by the precursor pyrolysis method. The Si₃N₄ nanowires membrane (SNM) has excellent high temperature resistance under alcohol lamp and butane spray lance. The thermal insulation with a thermal conductivity as low as 0.056… More >

Ahmed Mustaffa Saleem, Abdullah A. Badr, Bahjat Hassan Alyas, Omar Rafae Alomar^*

Frontiers in Heat and Mass Transfer, Vol.22, No.4, pp. 1231-1244, 2024, DOI:10.32604/fhmt.2024.053770 - 30 August 2024

Abstract This study numerically involves the performance of thermal insulation of different types of composite walls and roofs to demonstrate the best model that can be used for energy-efficient building construction in Iraq. The mathematical model is solved by building its code using the Transmission Matrix Method in MATLAB software. The weather data of 21st July 2022 in Baghdad City/Iraq is selected as a test day. The wall types are selected: the first type consists of cement mortar, brick, and gypsum, the second type consists of cement mortar, brick, gypsum, and plaster and the third type… More >

Hao Bai¹, Beiyuan Liu^2,*, Hongwen Liu³, Jupeng Zeng², Jian Ouyang⁴, Yipeng Liu¹

Energy Engineering, Vol.121, No.8, pp. 2191-2211, 2024, DOI:10.32604/ee.2024.049848 - 19 July 2024

Abstract Most ground faults in distribution network are caused by insulation deterioration of power equipment. It is difficult to find the insulation deterioration of the distribution network in time, and the development trend of the initial insulation fault is unknown, which brings difficulties to the distribution inspection. In order to solve the above problems, a situational awareness method of the initial insulation fault of the distribution network based on a multi-feature index comprehensive evaluation is proposed. Firstly, the insulation situation evaluation index is selected by analyzing the insulation fault mechanism of the distribution network, and the… More >

Yosr Laatiri, Habib Sammouda, Fadhel Aloulou^*

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.12, No.4, pp. 771-798, 2024, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2024.047022 - 12 June 2024

Abstract This article aims to present the feasibility of storing thermal energy in buildings for solar water heating while maintaining the comfort environment for residential buildings. Our contribution is the creation of insulating composite panels made of bio-based phase change materials (bio-PCM is all from coconut oil), cement and renewable materials (treated wood fiber and organic clay). The inclusion of wood fibers improved the thermal properties; a simple 2% increase of wood fiber decreased the heat conductivity by approximately 23.42%. The issues of bio-PCM leakage in the cement mortar and a roughly 56.5% reduction in thermal… More > Graphic Abstract