Study of thermal and mechanical properties of typha leaf - clay panels

Abstract

This study contributes to the valorization of typha as local materials of building for thermal insulation. We will examine the influence of the binder content and granulometry on the mechanical and thermal properties of typha - clay panels. The plant of typha is used in different granulometries such as powdered typha and defibrated typha. The results showed that compressive strength, thermal conductivity and effusivity depend on the particle size of the typha and also the binder. The panels of defibrated typha have a better thermal insulation performance (0.085 W.m-1.K-1 for 66.66 %), which is comparable with many of natural insulating materials. The panels also have low thermal effusivities which show that they have low thermal inertia.

Keywords

• clay
• mechanical strength
• thermal conductivity
• thermal effusivity
• typha