Thermal performance improvement of plant-based fabrics via pyrophyllite impregnation: an environmentally friendly approach to geocomposite insulation materials

Date

2026-05-04

Author

Aykasım, Devin
Toksoy Köksal, Fatma
Kılıç, Atilla

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Pyrophyllite is a mineral known for its chemical inertness, thermal stability and low thermalconductivity. Such properties are making it a suitable material for modern and advancedinsulation technologies. The study evaluates the potential of pyrophyllite-rich natural resources forindustrial usage in heat-resistant, eco-friendly and sustainable geocomposite insulation panelswhen combined with plant-based fabrics such as cotton, jute and linen.The samples obtained from the Pütürge district of Malatya, where the majority of pyrophyllitedeposits in Türkiye are located, were characterized mineralogically and geochemically in order toevaluate their suitability for industrial purposes and geocomposite production. Pyrophyllite-richsample powders were micronized to improve bonding between mineral particles and fabric fibers,while plant-based fabrics were mercerized with sodium hydroxide for better surface reactivity.Mercerized fabrics were impregnated with a binder solution which includes the micronizedpowder and sodium silicate and later subjected to heat treatment to provide stability.Thermogravimetric (TGA) and Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) analyses on both untreatedand impregnated fabrics revealed their mass-loss characteristics, thermal decomposition behaviorand their flame-retardant potential.The results indicate that impregnating the plant-based fabrics with pyrophyllite significantlyincreases the thermal performance. Among these fabrics, the best improvement in thermal massretention is observed in cotton, followed by jute and linen. Jute fabrics exhibit the highest degreeof thermal endurance, maintaining structural stability up to approximately 600 °C. The positivechange in heat resistance for cotton and linen is relatively weaker, but all mineral-impregnatedfabrics develop a char layer after combustion, with residual masses of 33-43% for jute, 17-20% forcotton, and 15-18% for linen. This mineral-based barrier is essential for sustainable thermalinsulation, as it reduces heat transfer and supports the long-term integrity of the resultinggeocomposites. In conclusion, the results demonstrate that pyrophyllite-impregnated plant-basedfabrics, especially jute, are highly suitable for production of environmentally friendly, sustainable,thermally resistant and flame-retardant geocomposites for insulation purposes.

URI

https://hdl.handle.net/11511/119628

Collections

Department of Geological Engineering, Conference / Seminar