Evaluating the Influence of Alfa Fiber Morphology on the Thermo-Mechanical Performance of Plaster-Based Composites and Exploring the Cost–Environmental Effects of Fiber Content
The construction industry’s escalating energy demands and greenhouse gas emissions underscore the need for sustainable, high-performance building materials. This study investigates the incorporation of locally sourced alfa fibers (AFs) into plaster-based composites to enhance thermal insulation, red...
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MDPI AG
2025-04-01
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-5309/15/7/1187 |
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| author | Othmane Horma Mohammed Drissi Boutahar Laaouar Sara El Hassani Aboubakr El Hammouti Ahmed Mezrhab |
| author_facet | Othmane Horma Mohammed Drissi Boutahar Laaouar Sara El Hassani Aboubakr El Hammouti Ahmed Mezrhab |
| author_sort | Othmane Horma |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The construction industry’s escalating energy demands and greenhouse gas emissions underscore the need for sustainable, high-performance building materials. This study investigates the incorporation of locally sourced alfa fibers (AFs) into plaster-based composites to enhance thermal insulation, reduce environmental impact, and lower production costs. Three distinct AF morphologies—small (<5 mm), medium (10 ± 5 mm), and large (20 ± 5 mm)—were incorporated at fixed mass ratios, and their effects on key material properties were systematically evaluated. The results indicate that integrating AFs into plaster reduces composite density by up to 16.5%, improves thermal characteristics—lowering thermal conductivity and diffusivity by up to 52%—and diminishes both CO<sub>2</sub> emissions and production costs. The addition of fibers also enhances flexural strength (up to 40%) through a fiber bridging mechanism that mitigates crack propagation, although a general decline in compressive strength was observed. Notably, composites containing medium and large fibers achieved significantly lower densities (~1050 kg/m<sup>3</sup>) and superior thermal insulation (~0.25 W/mK) compared with those with small fibers, with the largest fibers delivering the greatest thermal performance at the expense of compressive strength. Overall, these findings highlight the potential of AF–plaster composites as environmentally responsible, high-performance building materials, while emphasizing the need to carefully balance mechanical trade-offs for structural applications. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-e5ab141df1324aebbee0f264c19bc11a |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2075-5309 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Buildings |
| spelling | doaj-art-e5ab141df1324aebbee0f264c19bc11a2025-08-20T02:09:13ZengMDPI AGBuildings2075-53092025-04-01157118710.3390/buildings15071187Evaluating the Influence of Alfa Fiber Morphology on the Thermo-Mechanical Performance of Plaster-Based Composites and Exploring the Cost–Environmental Effects of Fiber ContentOthmane Horma0Mohammed Drissi1Boutahar Laaouar2Sara El Hassani3Aboubakr El Hammouti4Ahmed Mezrhab5Mechanics and Energy Laboratory, Mohammed First University, Oujda 60000, MoroccoMechanics and Energy Laboratory, Mohammed First University, Oujda 60000, MoroccoMechanics and Energy Laboratory, Mohammed First University, Oujda 60000, MoroccoLaboratory of Energetics, Abdelmalek Essaâdi University, Tetouan 93002, MoroccoInstitut de Recherche de la Construction, ESTP, 28 Avenue du Président Wilson, F-94230 Cachan, FranceMechanics and Energy Laboratory, Mohammed First University, Oujda 60000, MoroccoThe construction industry’s escalating energy demands and greenhouse gas emissions underscore the need for sustainable, high-performance building materials. This study investigates the incorporation of locally sourced alfa fibers (AFs) into plaster-based composites to enhance thermal insulation, reduce environmental impact, and lower production costs. Three distinct AF morphologies—small (<5 mm), medium (10 ± 5 mm), and large (20 ± 5 mm)—were incorporated at fixed mass ratios, and their effects on key material properties were systematically evaluated. The results indicate that integrating AFs into plaster reduces composite density by up to 16.5%, improves thermal characteristics—lowering thermal conductivity and diffusivity by up to 52%—and diminishes both CO<sub>2</sub> emissions and production costs. The addition of fibers also enhances flexural strength (up to 40%) through a fiber bridging mechanism that mitigates crack propagation, although a general decline in compressive strength was observed. Notably, composites containing medium and large fibers achieved significantly lower densities (~1050 kg/m<sup>3</sup>) and superior thermal insulation (~0.25 W/mK) compared with those with small fibers, with the largest fibers delivering the greatest thermal performance at the expense of compressive strength. Overall, these findings highlight the potential of AF–plaster composites as environmentally responsible, high-performance building materials, while emphasizing the need to carefully balance mechanical trade-offs for structural applications.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-5309/15/7/1187alfa fibersplaster-based compositesfiber morphologythermal insulationflexural strengthsustainability |
| spellingShingle | Othmane Horma Mohammed Drissi Boutahar Laaouar Sara El Hassani Aboubakr El Hammouti Ahmed Mezrhab Evaluating the Influence of Alfa Fiber Morphology on the Thermo-Mechanical Performance of Plaster-Based Composites and Exploring the Cost–Environmental Effects of Fiber Content Buildings alfa fibers plaster-based composites fiber morphology thermal insulation flexural strength sustainability |
| title | Evaluating the Influence of Alfa Fiber Morphology on the Thermo-Mechanical Performance of Plaster-Based Composites and Exploring the Cost–Environmental Effects of Fiber Content |
| title_full | Evaluating the Influence of Alfa Fiber Morphology on the Thermo-Mechanical Performance of Plaster-Based Composites and Exploring the Cost–Environmental Effects of Fiber Content |
| title_fullStr | Evaluating the Influence of Alfa Fiber Morphology on the Thermo-Mechanical Performance of Plaster-Based Composites and Exploring the Cost–Environmental Effects of Fiber Content |
| title_full_unstemmed | Evaluating the Influence of Alfa Fiber Morphology on the Thermo-Mechanical Performance of Plaster-Based Composites and Exploring the Cost–Environmental Effects of Fiber Content |
| title_short | Evaluating the Influence of Alfa Fiber Morphology on the Thermo-Mechanical Performance of Plaster-Based Composites and Exploring the Cost–Environmental Effects of Fiber Content |
| title_sort | evaluating the influence of alfa fiber morphology on the thermo mechanical performance of plaster based composites and exploring the cost environmental effects of fiber content |
| topic | alfa fibers plaster-based composites fiber morphology thermal insulation flexural strength sustainability |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-5309/15/7/1187 |
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