Thermal Performance and Environmental Analysis of a Brick Based on Traditional Gypsum Plaster Reinforced with Date Palm fibres

Abstract

Timchemt is a traditional plaster that has been used for a long time and until today in the construction of the Ksar of Ouargla through their facility of obtaining and realization. In addition to that, because of the use of industrial building materials, nature is carried out by the toxic gases that are produced in factories when these materials are manufactured. So to minimize these negative effects on our planet and to encourage the use of local materials from the Saharan region, we have studied this material to improve its characteristics and to replace the others, especially because it is natural and does not harm the environment. The main objective of this paper is the improvement of the thermal properties of gypsum plaster by mixing it with date palm fibres in order to be used in wall and ceiling mortars. The thermal conductivity, thermal diffusivity, and thermal effusivity of the studied samples were measured using a steady hot plate. The obtained results show that the increase in the mass fraction of date palm fibres resulted in a significant improvement consisting of a reduction of the material's thermal properties. This reduction was up to 36% for the thermal conductivity, 13% for the thermal diffusivity, 23% for the thermal effusivity, and 16% for the volumetric thermal capacity.