Effect of the unstable climate on the mechanical and thermal performances of a composite with mineral matrix and recycled cellulose fibers

摘要

A composite material with mineral matrix and cellulose fibers incorporated at various rates is subjected to aging cycles of wetting and drying which is used as an accelerated testing method to simulate external environmental conditions in which the construction with this composite material could be subjected to the drying action of wind and sun and wetting by rain or runoff from melting snow. Mechanical, physical and thermal tests were conducted on normalized simples to evaluate compressive and flexural strength and thermal conductivity of the composite and comparison was made between samples submitted to aging cycles and ones taken as references (0 cycles). The experimental results were simulated to predict each parameter studied as a function of the composition and number of cycles. Analyses of the phenomena in question show and confirm that this composite may be used in building construction as thermal insulation material.