Thermomechanical Characterization of a Bio-Sourced Material Based on Clay and Alfa Fibers

Abstract

Bio-based materials are of great interest owing to their abundance and the immense potential they display as an ideal alternative to widely used industrial construction materials (that directly and indirectly harm the environment). In this scope, an in-depth experimental study is presented here on clay-based materials aimed to enhance their properties through the addition of other bio-based components such as fibers, in the present case alfa fiber. The thermal conductivity and mechanical properties (compressive and flexural tensile strengths) of the composite clay-alfa material are analyzed with the percentage of alfa fiber in the matrix ranging from 0% to 4%. It is concluded that a percentage of alfa fibers between 1% and 2% is the most effective to get the required optimization of thermal and mechanical behavior of this bio-based material