| Summary: | This study examines the impact of incorporating micronized miscanthus fibers into a cement mortar, focusing on the mechanical and thermal effects. Initially, an experimental procedure was devised to create mortar mixtures with varying amounts of miscanthus fibers, with a maximum dosage of 7 wt%. This involved saturating the fibers with water beforehand to maintain the workability of the fresh mixes. The resulting hardened bio-based mortars were then evaluated after 28 days in terms of their microstructure, mechanical strength (assessed through flexural and compression tests), and thermophysical properties (measured using the Hot-Disk technique to determine thermal conductivity/diffusivity and volumetric heat capacity). The experimental findings revealed significant enhancements (up to 87%) in the thermal resistance of the mortars due to the addition of fibers. However, this improvement was accompanied by a considerable reduction in mechanical strength. As a result, while these bio-based mortars are unsuitable for structural applications, they still possess adequate mechanical properties for handling and are appropriate for insulation purposes in construction.
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