Hygrothermal and Mechanical Behaviors of Fiber Mortar: Comparative Study between Palm and Hemp Fibers
This paper presents an experimental investigation of the hygrothermal and mechanical properties of innovative mortar mixtures reinforced with natural fibers. Fibers extracted from palm stems (PS) and hemp (HF) were evaluated at different percentages. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) observations s...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-11-01
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| Series: | Energies |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/14/21/7110 |
| _version_ | 1827678159680569344 |
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| author | Younes Zouaoui Ferhat Benmahiddine Ammar Yahia Rafik Belarbi |
| author_facet | Younes Zouaoui Ferhat Benmahiddine Ammar Yahia Rafik Belarbi |
| author_sort | Younes Zouaoui |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This paper presents an experimental investigation of the hygrothermal and mechanical properties of innovative mortar mixtures reinforced with natural fibers. Fibers extracted from palm stems (PS) and hemp (HF) were evaluated at different percentages. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) observations showed that the PS fibers have rough surfaces and very complex microstructures. Prior to their incorporation into the mortar, the fibers were subjected to different treatments to reduce their hydrophilic character. The employed treatments showed good efficiency in reducing the water absorption of both PS and HF fiber types. Furthermore, the mortar mixtures incorporating these fibers exhibited low thermal conductivity and excellent moisture buffering capacity. Indeed, the moisture buffer value (MBV) of the investigated mixtures ranged between 2.7 [g/(%HR·m<sup>2</sup>)] and 3.1 [g/(%HR·m<sup>2</sup>)], hence providing them excellent moisture regulator character. As expected, the fiber mortar mixtures showed very high porosity and low compressive strength ranging between 0.6 and 0.9 MPa after 28 days of age. The low-environmental footprint materials developed in this study are intended for thermal insulation and building filling. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T06:03:30Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-475c77a04dc94bc5988cf82cfcaa8e98 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1996-1073 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T06:03:30Z |
| publishDate | 2021-11-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Energies |
| spelling | doaj.art-475c77a04dc94bc5988cf82cfcaa8e982023-11-22T20:43:44ZengMDPI AGEnergies1996-10732021-11-011421711010.3390/en14217110Hygrothermal and Mechanical Behaviors of Fiber Mortar: Comparative Study between Palm and Hemp FibersYounes Zouaoui0Ferhat Benmahiddine1Ammar Yahia2Rafik Belarbi3Department of Civil Engineering, Université de Sherbrooke, 2500 Bd de l’ Université, Sherbrooke, QC J1K 2R1, CanadaLaboratory of Engineering Sciences for the Environment (LaSIE), UMR CNRS 7356, La Rochelle University, Avenue Michel Crépeau, CEDEX 1, 17042 La Rochelle, FranceDepartment of Civil Engineering, Université de Sherbrooke, 2500 Bd de l’ Université, Sherbrooke, QC J1K 2R1, CanadaDepartment of Civil Engineering, Université de Sherbrooke, 2500 Bd de l’ Université, Sherbrooke, QC J1K 2R1, CanadaThis paper presents an experimental investigation of the hygrothermal and mechanical properties of innovative mortar mixtures reinforced with natural fibers. Fibers extracted from palm stems (PS) and hemp (HF) were evaluated at different percentages. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) observations showed that the PS fibers have rough surfaces and very complex microstructures. Prior to their incorporation into the mortar, the fibers were subjected to different treatments to reduce their hydrophilic character. The employed treatments showed good efficiency in reducing the water absorption of both PS and HF fiber types. Furthermore, the mortar mixtures incorporating these fibers exhibited low thermal conductivity and excellent moisture buffering capacity. Indeed, the moisture buffer value (MBV) of the investigated mixtures ranged between 2.7 [g/(%HR·m<sup>2</sup>)] and 3.1 [g/(%HR·m<sup>2</sup>)], hence providing them excellent moisture regulator character. As expected, the fiber mortar mixtures showed very high porosity and low compressive strength ranging between 0.6 and 0.9 MPa after 28 days of age. The low-environmental footprint materials developed in this study are intended for thermal insulation and building filling.https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/14/21/7110natural fibersmorphologychemical treatmentsfiber mortarmoisture buffer valuehygrothermal properties |
| spellingShingle | Younes Zouaoui Ferhat Benmahiddine Ammar Yahia Rafik Belarbi Hygrothermal and Mechanical Behaviors of Fiber Mortar: Comparative Study between Palm and Hemp Fibers Energies natural fibers morphology chemical treatments fiber mortar moisture buffer value hygrothermal properties |
| title | Hygrothermal and Mechanical Behaviors of Fiber Mortar: Comparative Study between Palm and Hemp Fibers |
| title_full | Hygrothermal and Mechanical Behaviors of Fiber Mortar: Comparative Study between Palm and Hemp Fibers |
| title_fullStr | Hygrothermal and Mechanical Behaviors of Fiber Mortar: Comparative Study between Palm and Hemp Fibers |
| title_full_unstemmed | Hygrothermal and Mechanical Behaviors of Fiber Mortar: Comparative Study between Palm and Hemp Fibers |
| title_short | Hygrothermal and Mechanical Behaviors of Fiber Mortar: Comparative Study between Palm and Hemp Fibers |
| title_sort | hygrothermal and mechanical behaviors of fiber mortar comparative study between palm and hemp fibers |
| topic | natural fibers morphology chemical treatments fiber mortar moisture buffer value hygrothermal properties |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/14/21/7110 |
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