Description and purpose
The STAR project develops a multidisciplinary approach for characterising sustainable insulating panels made from natural fibres (kenaf/hemp) and recycled textiles. The analysis integrates thermal properties (λ = 0.035–0.049 W/mK), acoustic performance assessed through Kundt’s tube and Sonocat probe (α > 0.9, TL = 25–35 dB), and fire response using TPO for ignition temperatures and evolved gases, comparing the results with those of commercial reference materials.
Purpose
The STAR project promotes sustainable and cost-effective building retrofit solutions that utilise recycled and natural materials. The research examines sound absorption and transmission through advanced techniques (two-microphone method and microphone array), evaluates the spatial uniformity of these properties, and suggests do-it-yourself methods for enhancing thermo-acoustic performance in environments within disadvantaged contexts.
Expected results
The STAR project is expected to achieve several outcomes: an absorption coefficient α > 0.6 in the 500–4000 Hz range for textile panels, a transmission loss TL > 25 dB, and a thermal conductivity λ < 0.05 W/mK. It also plans to develop prototypes of removable and fixed window panels, with façade insulation improvements of at least 3 dB, verified through Ramsete simulations and in-situ measurements.
Achieved results
The project has achieved excellent acoustic performance with the textile panel M45 (α > 0.9 above 1000 Hz, comparable to Basotect). Ramsete simulations for the ANFUS conference hall confirmed optimal parameters (T30 = 0.48 s, STI > 0.90, C50 > 7 dB). Do-it-yourself layered panels (Isolmix + MDF) have been designed, with a theoretical improvement of 3 dB, based on an in-situ pre-intervention measurement of D2m,nT,w = 28 dB. The next phase involves experimental validation after installation.
