Thermal performance of jute fiber reinforced gypsum composites for heat insulating applications

The development of sustainable and energy-efficient building materials is crucial to reducing environmental impact and energy consumption. In this study, jute fiber reinforced gypsum composites were fabricated with varying fiber contents (0–8 wt%) to investigate their thermal insulation performance. The jute fibers were alkali-treated to enhance fiber-matrix adhesion, and the composites were produced using a hand lay-up technique. Thermal conductivity was evaluated using Lee’s disc method, while radiant heat resistance and thermal stability were assessed through bench scale apparatus and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), respectively. Results revealed that increasing jute fiber content significantly reduced the thermal conductivity of the composites, with 8% jute fiber composite achieving a 28.78% reduction compared to pure gypsum. Radiant heat resistance improved with higher fiber loading, as evidenced by lower surface temperatures during exposure to radiant heat. Thermogravimetric analysis indicated that while the addition of jute fibers slightly reduced the overall thermal stability compared to pure gypsum, the composites maintained substantial thermal resistance up to 400 °C. These findings suggest that jute fiber reinforced gypsum composites can serve as effective, eco-friendly thermal insulation materials for building applications.