Chapters authored
Recycling of Tropical Natural Fibers in Building Materials
This chapter deals with the reuse and recycling of tropical natural fibers and their potential valorization in construction materials in a context of circular economy and sustainable development. These fibers constitute large volumes of fibrous waste resulting from various agro-food industries worldwide. Depending on their intrinsic qualities and properties (physical and mechanical), they can be reused as reinforcing material in cementitious mixes (hardened mixes) or mixes with soils (raw mixes) and molded into a prismatic brick-like shape. These bricks constitute construction materials that have mechanical and other characteristics. A whole methodology specific to the development of such materials and their optimization is presented. It includes the preparation, characterization, cutting of the fibers to the desired length and the making of the mixtures. This is followed by optimization (fibers distribution), control and quality of the fiber-reinforced material. Two examples illustrate the application of this methodology: a reinforced mortar based on coconut fibers (hardened cementitious mix) and a green brick based on sediment and oil palm fibers.
Part of the book: Natural Fiber