진학프로석·박사 채용 접수 플랫폼

Europe, buildings account for 40% of total energy consumption, with over half of residential energy use going toward heating and cooling. Insulation plays a key role in reducing this consumption while ensuring thermal comfort by limiting heat loss.
Common thermal insulation materials are highly porous and contain open or closed pores filled with gas.
In 2021, only 10% of insulation materials were derived from renewable resources.

Plant-based fiber panels are generally produced using a dry process and require the addition of heat- fusible synthetic polymer fibers to ensure mechanical strength during handling and dimensional stability in humid environments. Furthermore, these bio-based insulation materials are a significant
advancement in thermal insulation design due to their ability to regulate heat and moisture transfer. This is thanks to the hygroscopic nature of plant-based cellulose components, which absorb and release moisture. This improves thermal comfort and moisture management in buildings.
The paper industry recycles approximately five million metric tons of paper and cardboard each year. During recycling, the fibers lose some of their properties, such as a 20% reduction in mechanical strength, and become more difficult to suspend in a slurry. They can hardly be used beyond seven cycles.
Consequently, 7% of the fibers are discarded at the end of the process. This represents a supply of 350,000 metric tons of cellulosic raw materials that can be used in other sectors.
A liquid-phase foaming process can be used to form fibrous panels that are both porous and cohesive. This simple process involves incorporating air into a fibrous suspension by mixing the suspension with a surfactant. The foam is drained to remove unbound water, then dried without contact to obtain an ultra-porous fibrous structure with porosity greater than 96%.
The WP3 Defi 2R project aimsat valorizing these cellulose- fiber rejects by converting them so as to eliminate the need for100% bio-based insulating panels for the construction sectors.

The postdoctoral researcher will study the feasibility of producing porous foams from fibrous waste and evaluate their performance.
Based on model formulations developed from commercially available recycled fibres, they will identify the optimal foaming process parameters and study the effects of additives such as starch, silica and calcium carbonate on thermal, mechanical and water-related properties. They will also be responsible for maintaining a relationship with one of the partner laboratories, the Civil and Mechanical Engineering Laboratory in Rennes (LGCGM).