Mechanical and thermal properties of cement mortar composites incorporating micronized miscanthus fibers
Franck Komi Gbekou, Abderrahim Boudenne, Anissa Eddhahak, Karim Benzarti
Abstract
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.