Investigation of bagasse as a thermal insulator

The Sugar industry has played a significant role in producing agriculture-based revenue for the Australian economy. However, intense competition from several countries has resulted in reduced sugar profitability. The current economic condition of the Australian sugar industry may be improved by the utilisation of its by-products. One of the main by-products of raw sugar production is bagasse. Bagasse is the cellulose fibrous matter remaining after the extraction of juice from the cane stalk. The objective of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of bagasse as a thermal insulator. This is achieved by measuring the thermal conductivity of bagasse using a guarded-hot-plate apparatus, across ranges of mean fibre size and material density. An error analysis was also carried out to determine the confidence level of the experimental data obtained. Results from the investigation show that the thermal conductivity of unprocessed bagasse falls within the range of values normally associated with thermal insulation materials. Hence, with further treatment for fire retarding and density reduction, bagasse has potential as an insulation material.