• Home
  • Energy
  • Sustainability
  • Climate Change
    • Eco Editorial
  • Environment
    • Environmental Issues
      • Environmental Pollution
      • Global Warming
      • Population Explosion
      • Renewable Energy
      • Species Extinction
      • Sustainable Management of Resources
    • Animals
    • Pollution
    • Environmental Policy
  • Green Technology
    • Green Tips
  • Contact Us
  • Home
  • Energy
  • Sustainability
  • Climate Change
    • Eco Editorial
  • Environment
    • Environmental Issues
      • Environmental Pollution
      • Global Warming
      • Population Explosion
      • Renewable Energy
      • Species Extinction
      • Sustainable Management of Resources
    • Animals
    • Pollution
    • Environmental Policy
  • Green Technology
    • Green Tips
  • Contact Us
Research Suggest Cattail as Insulating Material
July 18, 2013

CattailThe cattail, or the Typha, is a plant that is has been long known to human civilization for thousands of years. The plant has served several uses throughout the ages, though it is prevalently known today as a food source, a medicinal plant, and as raw fiber material for textiles. But new research suggests a new use is possible for this plant: as building insulation.

Scientists at the Fraunhofer Institute for Building Physics IBP in Valley, with the cooperation of their developing partner typha technik Naturbaustoffe, have just developed a new material completely made out of cattail that can be used for building insulation. The development of the material was part of the 1.5-year long research that was made to prove its outstanding qualities, in a traditional half-timbered testbed home in Nuremberg.

The process for making the raw cattail material for the panel is described as relatively simple. First, the cattail leaves are horizontally detached, and then cut and shortened to about 7 cm. Then they are placed in a drum, to be sprayed with “environmentally-sound” mineral adhesives. Finally, the raw material for the magnesite-bound cattail panel becomes completed after it is brought into a heated press.

Did you know, muskrats will line their dens with cattail fluff to provide insulation. http://t.co/AKu6TDUd

— Aldo Leopold NC (@AldoLeopoldNC) January 14, 2013

According to research tests, they have demonstrated that the cattail panels have a low heat conductivity (0.052 watts per meter Kelvin), consequently also making it quite fireproof. In addition, it also has good soundproofing qualities, as well as being both permeable and tight (for vapor and humidity control) at the same time. Because of its low weight and relative flexural rigidity, the cattail material can even be used to replace timber beams, as a “light sandwich element for flooring and intermediate ceilings”. The research also claims that one could even build a house that is largely composed of their cattail insulation material.

As explained by the source report, cattail is a natural swamp plant, and thus is very resistant to all kinds of plant diseases and can cope very well with moisture. In addition, its leaves have a sturdy combination of fiber-reinforced and soft sponge tissues, supporting most of the properties that was exhibited by the panel material that the researchers have developed.

In addition for its natural protective properties, cattail is also very easy to produce technically, as it grows quite fast. The only problem though is that cattails are not really grown as a crop plant. There are no available land areas for its cultivation, and it still has to be imported from certain countries like Romania and Hungary. Still, the fact that it can easily be produced and processed opens a huge possibility for the eventual adoption and mass production of their cattail insulation panels.

green energy
Share

Green Technology

John Tarantino
My name is John Tarantino … and no, I am not related to Quinton Tarantino the movie director. I love writing about the environment, traveling, and capturing the world with my Lens as an amateur photographer.

You might also like

The Inconvenient Truth about Wood Heat – Why it Must be Done Responsibly
July 1, 2017
World’s Largest Solar Thermal Plant Nearing Completion in the Mojave Desert
August 15, 2013
Brazilian Research to Develop Cheap Pesticide Biosensors
July 29, 2013

Leave a reply


Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

  • Recent Posts

    • The Environmental Impact Of Biomedical Waste And How To Reduce It
    • What Are the Most Eco-Friendly Types of Water Filters?
    • The Top 7 Eco-Friendly Kitchen Cabinet Picks For 2023
    • How To Sustain A Carbon-Neutral Lifestyle
    • Sustainable Fishing Methods to Fish More Responsibly
  • Categories

    • Animals
    • Climate Change
    • Eco Editorial
    • Energy
    • Environment
    • Environmental Policy
    • Green Food
    • Green Technology
    • Green Tips
    • Green Travel
    • Infographics
    • Other Stories
    • Pollution
    • Recycle
    • Sustainability
    • Toxics
    • Uncategorized
  • Archives

    • March 2023
    • February 2023
    • January 2023
    • December 2022
    • November 2022
    • October 2022
    • September 2022
    • August 2022
    • July 2022
    • June 2022
    • May 2022
    • April 2022
    • March 2022
    • February 2022
    • January 2022
    • December 2021
    • November 2021
    • October 2021
    • September 2021
    • August 2021
    • July 2021
    • June 2021
    • May 2021
    • April 2021
    • March 2021
    • February 2021
    • January 2021
    • December 2020
    • November 2020
    • October 2020
    • September 2020
    • August 2020
    • July 2020
    • June 2020
    • May 2020
    • April 2020
    • March 2020
    • February 2020
    • January 2020
    • December 2019
    • November 2019
    • October 2019
    • September 2019
    • August 2019
    • July 2019
    • June 2019
    • May 2019
    • April 2019
    • March 2019
    • February 2019
    • January 2019
    • December 2018
    • November 2018
    • October 2018
    • September 2018
    • August 2018
    • July 2018
    • June 2018
    • May 2018
    • April 2018
    • March 2018
    • February 2018
    • January 2018
    • December 2017
    • November 2017
    • October 2017
    • September 2017
    • August 2017
    • July 2017
    • June 2017
    • May 2017
    • April 2017
    • March 2017
    • February 2017
    • January 2017
    • December 2016
    • November 2016
    • October 2016
    • September 2016
    • August 2016
    • July 2016
    • June 2016
    • May 2014
    • March 2014
    • February 2014
    • January 2014
    • December 2013
    • November 2013
    • October 2013
    • September 2013
    • August 2013
    • July 2013
    • June 2013
    • May 2011



Home | About | Advertise With Us | Bike The Netherlands | Current Environmental Issues | Eco Editorial | Contact