Chapter I.

THE PROBLEM AND ITS BACKGROUND

INTRODUCTION
Have you ever seen a Thermal insulator? Sometimes you dont know that
the material that keeps your food warm in your lunch box is a thermal insulator.
As we all know, heat always moves from warmer to colder areas, it seeks a
equilibrium. Thermal insulator is a material which is used to reduce heat transfer
between objects in thermal contact or in ranges of radiate influence. Thermal
insulation provides a region of insulation in which thermal conduction is reduced
or thermal radiation is reflected rather than absorbed by the lower-temperature
body. The primary function of thermal insulation materials used in lunch boxes or
any thermal insulator is to reduce the transmission of heat by reducing the
amount of heat leak. Insulation in the walls of the container can reduce the
amount of heat that enters the container and the amount of food contents that is
needed to keep it chilled. The thermal insulator also helps reduce energy
requirements for refrigeration or heating systems.
In this study, the materials that will be used to make a thermal insulator will
be eco-friendly and cheap. These materials are as follows: Cellulose or dried
leaves, wood shaving/straw bales, bubble wrap, and polystyrene. Cellulose is
made from recycled cardboard, paper and other similar materials which makes it
an eco-friendly form of insulation. Wood shavings are from the leftover cuttings of
a wood. Wood shavings and Straw bales are used to keep the cages of the
animals (ex: horses) warm. Polystyrene is a good insulator because it has dense,
lightweight material that is a poor conductor of heat. Its a form of bulk
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insulation (like fiberglass or wool) but comes as rigid boards and loose fill instead
of mats or biscuits.
The researcher chose this study because now a days insulators are
expensive. Sometimes when we buy insulators we just use them for months. The
researcher wants to prove that we can use recycled materials to make your own
thermal insulator.

/Objectives of the study

This study focuses on the study Effectiveness of Recycled Materials as
Thermal Insulation. Specifically the Researcher seeks to attain the following
objectives:
1. To determine if the eco-friendly materials in making the Thermal
insulator is effective in preserving heat.
2. To determine if the eco-friendly materials of the project can be used to
make the thermal insulator.
3. To prove that recycled and eco-friendly materials can be used to make
your own thermal insulator.

Statement of the Problem

This study focuses on the study of the Effectiveness of Recycled Materials
as Thermal Insulation. It seeks to answer the following questions:
1. Can these eco-friendly materials used to make a thermal insulator
effective in preserving heat?
2. Can eco-friendly materials be used to make a thermal insulator?
3. Can the materials of this study be eco-friendly, cheap and easily
found?

Hypothesis
The researcher considers the following hypotheses in his study:

1. The use of the eco-friendly materials is effective as a Thermal insulator.

2. The materials to be used can be found in the community and are
affordable
3. The materials of this study are proven to be used to make a thermal
insulator.

Significance of the Study

This study is unique since it helps us learn how to reuse things that are
not naturally being used to make thermal insulators.
To the Students. For them to learn how to use recycled materials for
their projects and school activities.
To the Teachers, New experiments or information that they can share in
the class.
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To the Environmentalists. Another solution how to

recycle materials

which can help our environment.

To the Community, For us to be informed how things can be recycled
and know how to use them properly and in an eco-friendly way.

Scope and Limitation

The researcher will use the following materials for the project: Equal
amounts of insulating material (saw dust, dried leaves and polystyrene), particlecardboard or a shoebox, fifty watt bulb (incandescent bulb), one Digital
thermometer probe, one stopwatch, and a record. It is suggested that the
process will be done thrice in order to have a precise and stable results. The
researcher will only compare which eco-friendly material/s is/are can be used in
order to make one Thermal insulator by testing how hot each material can keep
the food or the material hot. And all other data will be put to the conclusion but it
will never be part of the investigation because our main focus is on the effectively
of the eco-friendly materials in producing Thermal Energy.

Chapter II. THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK

A. Review of Related Literature

A thermal insulator is something that prevents heat from moving from one
place to another. Insulation is defined as a material or combination of materials,
which retard the flow of heat. The materials can be adapted to any size, shape or
surface. A variety of finishes are used to protect the insulation from mechanical
and environmental damage, and to enhance appearance.
Mechanical thermal insulations are materials that insulate the components
of mechanical systems in commercial buildings and industrial processes.

In

buildings such as shopping centers, schools, hospitals, and hotels, mechanical

insulations are installed to improve the energy consumption of the buildings'
cooling and heating systems, domestic hot and chilled water supply, and
refrigerated systems including ducts and housings.
In order to understand how insulation works, it is important to understand
the concept of heat flow or heat transfer. In general, heat always flows from
warmer to cooler surfaces. This flow does not stop until the temperature in the
two surfaces is equal. There are 3 main ways that heat can travel: convection,
conduction, and radiation. Typically the phrase 'thermal insulator' refers to a
material that blocks conduction. Insulation reduces the transference of heat.
Conduction is what happens when something hot physically touches
something cold or the direct heat flow through solids. Heat moves from the hot
surface into the cold one, warming it up. To keep this from happening, you use a
material that heat can't move through very easily (a thermal insulator). It results
from the physical contact of one object with another. Convection is the flow of
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heat (forced and natural) within a fluid. A fluid is a substance that may be either a
gas or a liquid. Radiation is the transmission of energy through space by means
of electromagnetic waves. http://van.physics.illinois.edu/qa/listing.php?id=1791
and http://www.energymanagertraining.com/Documents/Manish-(A)-EE07.pdf

B. Synthesis
The review of the related literature of this study helped the researcher to
have formal, value-added information to have an accurate result. The information
came from different authors gave the researcher a background about the
materials he/she will be using. The information can help the researcher to make
decisions that could help here understand the concept of the study. The
information also gives other ideas how the researcher will explain the study when
the defence started.
C. Definition of Terms
Electromagnetic radiation. Energy in the form of electromagnetic waves and
also a series of electromagnetic waves
Polystyrene. Clear plastic or stiff foam, a polymer of styrene, used chiefly as an
insulator in refrigerators and air conditioners. A rigid transparent thermoplastic
that has good physical and electrical insulating properties and is used especially
in moulded products, foams, and sheet materials
Saw Dust. Tiny particles of wood that are formed from sawing or sanding wood

Thermal insulation. The process of insulating against transmission of heat,

material of relatively low heat conductivity used to shield a volume against loss or
entrance of heat by radiation, convection, or conduction
Thermal radiation. Process by which energy is emitted by a warm surface.

Chapter III. METHODOLOGY

7

A. Research Design
The study gaol was to show the efficiency of the eco-friendly
materials in producing thermal insulation. This will start with the construction of
each insulating material which will be used to determine their efficiency. Then
after using the insulating materials/medias they will be repeated 3 times to have
accuracy on the results of the study.

B. Research Locale
The materials of the study are equal amount of each insulating
material (wood shaving, dried leaves and polystyrene), particle-cardboard or a
shoebox, fifty watt light bulb (incandescent bulb) , one Digital thermometer probe,
cheese cloth, tape, scissors, one Stopwatch, one A stable room and a Record
paper
The materials of this study can be found around the community of
the researcher. Some materials are can be found at different hardware or stores.
The researcher makes sure that the materials are available and cheap to use.

C. Procedures
The two boxes were cut out of particleboard then congruent pieces
were sawed of each insulating mater. For each test, one of the insulators was
installed in one of the boxes and a fifty watt light bulb in each box. Using a digital
thermometer probe, the temperature was checked and each light bulb was
turned on together with the stopwatch. Each setup will start at 27.3 o C and

will

have 10 mins to heat up. These are applied to all setups. After the 10 mins
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allotted time to heat up the particle box with each own media, the temperature
will be checked. Each of the three materials were tested three times in this same
manner, using a second box as a control each time.

Chapter IV. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

9

A. Results
These are the results conducted by the researcher during the
experimentation and observation:
TABLE A. First Trial

STARTING TEMPERATURE

FINAL TEMPERATURE

BOX A (NO MEDIA)

27.3 o C

38. 4 O C

BOX B (SAW

27.3 o C

28.1 O C

27.3 o C

31.1 O C

27.3 o C

33.1 O C

STARTING TEMPERATURE

FINAL TEMPERATURE

DUST)
BOX C ( DRIED
LEAVES)
BOX D (CRUSHED
STYROFORM/
POLYSTYRENE)

TABLE B. Second Trial

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BOX A (NO MEDIA)

27.3 o C

38. 4 O C

BOX B (SAW

27.3 o C

28.4 O C

27.3 o C

31.3 O C

27.3 o C

33.4 O C

STARTING TEMPERATURE

FINAL TEMPERATURE

BOX A (NO MEDIA)

27.3 o C

38. 4 O C

BOX B (SAW

27.3 o C

28.4 O C

27.3 o C

31.5 O C

27.3 o C

33.6 O C

DUST)
BOX C ( DRIED
LEAVES)
BOX D (CRUSHED
STYROFORM/
POLYSTYRENE)
TABLE C. Third Trial

DUST)
BOX C ( DRIED
LEAVES)
BOX D (CRUSHED
STYROFORM/

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POLYSTYRENE)

In Table A. the first trial was done. But before the results was recorded, the
researcher bought the particle box and cut a hole on the base part of the box
where the source of heat is placed. Using the cover of the particle box, the
Cheese cloth was pasted within one inch above the surface of the particle box
which will be the new base where the media will be put. In the middle of the
cheese cloth, the digital thermometer was attached to it right under the source of
heat. Then before starting the researcher made sure that the particle boxs
temperature is at 27.3O C before starting the experiment. Then the researcher
made sure that she will put one inch of each media for each setup and timing
each setup by 10 mins. Doing first the BOX A (no media) setup which will be the
basis of temperature. Then following the steps for the BOX A (no media) Setup
for BOX B (saw dust), BOX C (dried leaves) and BOX D (crushed Styrofoam/
polystyrene) was done.
In Table 2. Repeating what the researcher did for the first Trial, we can
compare the temperature. For the Saw Dust, it increased to 28.4
Dried Leaves it also increased to 31.3

C while for the

C and for the last media, the crushed

Styrofoam/ Polystyrene, it also increased to 33.4

C.

In Table C. Trial 3 was done. Showing that the Box B (Saw Dust)
maintained its temperature which is in 28.4
increased to 31.5

C and for the Box C (dried leaves)

C and as well for the Box D (crushed leaves) which also

increased to 33.6 C.

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Chapter V. SUMMARY, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

A. Summary
During the three trials for the experiment, results and observations were
recorded. Doing the project was difficult but tolerable because you need to be
patient to get the correct temperatures for each media to have an accurate result.
For every media, 10 minutes were allotted to heat up the box and test the ability
to insulate the place by the media. Two problems were experienced. First was

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the thermometer, the first thermometer I used cannot measure the temperature
but the researcher used another one which worked and measured the
temperature accurately. Second is that the researcher needed to grate the
Styrofoam in order to be fair with the other medias which was the saw dust and
crushed dried leaves which are not compact. But even if the researcher
experienced these problems, she managed to do it with the resources and time
she had.

B. Conclusions
Based on the study, the following conclusions were drawn:
1. It is effective to use eco-friendly materials as thermal insulators. Thus,
hypothesis 1 is accepted.
2. The materials to be used can be found in the community and are
affordable. Thus, hypothesis 2 is accepted.
3. The materials of this study can be used to make thermal insulators.
Thus, hypothesis 3 is accepted.

C. Recommendations
Based on the study done. The following recommendations were made:
1. The

researcher

recommends

using

papers/newspaper or candy wrappers.

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other

media

like

old

2. The researcher recommends using other base instead of a particle

box.
3. The researcher recommends adding more media and comparing them
to determine which one is the best insulator.
4. The researcher recommends to use other source of heat.

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Methodology: September 2013
http://www.usc.edu/CSSF/History/2004/Projects/J1526.pdf
Review of Related Literature: September 2013
http://van.physics.illinois.edu/qa/listing.php?id=1791
http://www.energymanagertraining.com/Documents/Manish-(A)-EE07.pdf
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http://www.thermaxxjackets.com/5-most-common-thermal-insulation-materials/
Definition of Terms: July 2013
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/electromagnetic%20radiation
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/polystyrene
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/incandescent
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sawdust
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/thermal%20radiation

APPENDIX
Appendix 1. Bulb and sacket

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Appendix2. Particle Box

Appendix 3. Thermometer

Appendix 4. Tape

17

Appendix 5. Cheese Cloth

Appendix6. Saw dust

Appendix 7. Dried Leaves

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Appendix 8. Crushed Styrofoam

Appendix 9. Experiment

19