Internal Lining Board Using Crop Byproducts for Moisture and Thermal Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional internal lining products, such as plasterboard, face issues with poor moisture management, thermal insulation, and environmental impact due to increased air tightness and thermal resistivity, leading to mold growth and health concerns, while being made from finite resources with high embodied energy and non-compostable materials.

Innovation Solution

A building product comprising a mixture of food crop byproducts, a binder, water reducing agents, and cellulose between two sheets of lining paper, with specific proportions and processing methods to create a lightweight, thermally insulative, and compostable internal lining board.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of energy

If air tightness and thermal resistivity of buildings are increased to improve energy efficiency, then energy loss is reduced, but moisture management deteriorates leading to condensation and mold growth

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenergy lossVSAvoidmoisture management
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The internal lining board utilizes a porous structure with controlled voids and channels that allow moisture vapor to diffuse through the material. This porous architecture enables the board to manage interstitial moisture effectively while maintaining thermal resistance, resolving the contradiction between energy efficiency and moisture management in high-performance building envelopes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #31Porous materials

Solution Approach 2:

The invention employs a composite material system combining organic fibers (cellulose, wood fibers), inorganic binders (gypsum, lime), and hydrophilic additives. This composite structure integrates multiple functions: thermal insulation from the fibrous matrix, moisture regulation through hydrophilic components, and structural integrity from the binder system, simultaneously addressing energy efficiency and moisture management requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Ease of manufacture

If conventional plasterboard is used as internal lining, then manufacturing simplicity is maintained, but hygroscopic ability and thermal insulation are poor

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing simplicityVSAvoidhygroscopic ability and thermal insulation
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention modifies the material parameters of conventional plasterboard by incorporating organic fiber additives (cellulose, wood fibers) in specific proportions (10-50% by weight). This parameter change transforms the material properties, enhancing hygroscopic capacity and thermal insulation while maintaining the board's structural characteristics and manufacturability through existing production lines.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The invention introduces hydrophilic additives and binders (such as lime, gypsum, and cellulose derivatives) as intermediary substances that facilitate moisture absorption and thermal regulation. These intermediary materials bridge the gap between the inorganic plaster matrix and moisture vapor, enabling effective hygroscopic behavior while preserving the simplicity of conventional manufacturing processes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Adaptability or versatility

If plasterboard is used as internal lining, then current industry standards are met, but environmental impact increases due to finite resources and non-compostable materials

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecompliance with industry standardsVSAvoidenvironmental impact
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention designs the internal lining board with compostable and recyclable materials that can be discarded at the end of the building's lifecycle without environmental harm. The organic fibers, gypsum, and lime components are naturally biodegradable or recyclable, enabling the product to be recovered and returned to the environment, eliminating the persistent waste problem associated with conventional plasterboard.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #34Discarding and recovering

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the material composition parameters from petroleum-based and finite resources to renewable, bio-based materials (cellulose, wood fibers, plant-based binders). This parameter change maintains compliance with building standards while fundamentally improving environmental sustainability by enabling compostability and reducing reliance on depleting resources.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

4Object-generated harmful factors

If food crop byproducts are incorporated into the board mixture to improve sustainability, then environmental impact is reduced, but manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenvironmental impactVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-generated harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention uses food crop byproducts (such as wheat straw, rice husk, corn stover) that serve multiple functions simultaneously: providing structural reinforcement, enhancing thermal insulation, improving hygroscopic capacity, and ensuring compostability. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate additives and simplifies the manufacturing process despite the use of diverse natural materials.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention processes food crop byproducts through standardized preprocessing steps (size reduction, drying, screening) to achieve uniform particle size and moisture content. This homogenization of natural materials ensures consistent mixing and bonding behavior, reducing manufacturing complexity and enabling the use of variable agricultural feedstocks without compromising production efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #33Homogeneity

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The solution provides improved moisture management, thermal insulation, and reduced environmental impact, with increased strength and reduced embodied energy, while being compostable and lighter than conventional products, addressing health and safety concerns during installation and transportation.

Implementation Method 1

a binder

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAdhesion: Adhesive

Implementation Method 2

cellulose

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAbsorption: Absorption (physical)

Implementation Method 3

The material should be porous and allow water vapour diffusion

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDiffusion: Diffusion

Implementation Method 4

The binder may include a cementitious product which may be a natural cement

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHydration: Mineral Hydration

Data Source

PatentUS20240336529A1Building product
Publication Date: 2024.10.10 ADAPTAVATE LTD

AI summary

A building product in the form of an internal lining board. The board is made up of a mixture of a food crop byproduct, a binder, a water reducing agent, cellulose, and water. The mixture is provided between two sheets of lining paper.