Evaluation of hygrothermal performance of wood-derived biocomposite with biochar in response to climate change

• Published in: Environmental research Vol. 193; p. 110359
• Main Authors: Jeon, Jisoo, Park, Ji Hun, Yuk, Hyeonseong, Kim, Young Uk, Yun, Beom Yeol, Wi, Seunghwan, Kim, Sumin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier Inc 01.02.2021
• Subjects: Biochar; Biocomposite; Building material; Charcoal; Climate Change; Construction Materials; Wood; Building material; Climate change; Wood; Biochar; Biocomposite
• ISSN: 0013-9351; 1096-0953
• DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2020.110359

Wood is a sustainable resource and building material. It provides an excellent response to climate change and has excellent insulation performance. However, structural defects may occur due to decay from moisture, resulting in poor dimensional stability. The rich organic substances contained in wood can lead to mold when the moisture content is consistently high, adversely affecting the health of occupants. Therefore, we attempted to compensate for the disadvantages of wood in regard to water stability while maintaining the high thermal insulation performance and carbon dioxide storage capacity, using biochar from thermally decomposed spruce under oxygen limiting conditions. A wood-derived biocomposite was prepared by mixing biochar and soft wood-based chips using the hot-press method, and the thermal conductivity, specific heat, water vapor resistance factor, moisture adsorption, and moisture desorption performances were analyzed. The thermal conductivity of WB10 with 10 wt% biochar content was 0.09301 W/mK. This is a 7.98% decrease from 0.10108 W/mK, the thermal conductivity of WB0 without biochar. The water vapor resistance factor tended to increase when the biochar ratio increased. As the proportion of biochar increased, the equilibrium moisture content in high relative humidity tended to decrease, and it was found that the moisture adsorption and desorption performances were affected by the ratio of the biochar. Therefore, wood-derived biocomposites using biochar can be used in environmentally friendly materials, with improved thermal insulation performance and water stability. •Wood-derived biocomposite was prepared from woodchip and biochar using Spruce as a raw material.•Physical and chemical properties of biochar and hygrothermal performance of wood-derived biocomposite were analyzed.•Incorporation of the biochar reduced the thermal conductivity by up to 7.98% and water vapor resistance factor was increased.•Wood-derived biocomposite has high insulating capability and water content control ability than wood composite.