TY  - JOUR
AU  - Azzouzi, Amine
AU  - Et-Tanteny, Rachid
AU  - Manssouri, Imad
AU  - Bouayad, Aboubakr
AU  - Manssouri, Tajeddine
AU  - Limami, Houssame
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/10/22
TI  - Mechanical and Thermophysical Performance of Unfired Clay Bricks Incorporating Recycled Esparto Grass Residues
JO  - Advances in Environmental and Engineering Research
SP  - 034
VL  - 07
IS  - 04
AB  - This article investigates the effects of incorporating recycled plant fibers into raw clay bricks to evaluate the resulting changes in their mechanical and thermophysical properties. The clay used, an illite type (confirmed by its potassium oxide (K2O) content), originates from the Ifrane region of Morocco and has a high silica (SiO2) content, making it a suitable building material. Different levels of recycled plant fiber incorporation, from 0% to 20% (0%, 1%, 3%, 7%, 15%, and 20% by weight), were studied. The addition of significant amounts of recycled plant fibers resulted in bricks that were more porous, lighter, and exhibited higher water absorption. A decrease in the compressive strength of the samples was observed, from 12.38 MPa for the reference samples to 3.58 MPa for the incorporation of 20% recycled plant fibers. Furthermore, the addition of a fiber-based additive improved the thermal performance of the raw clay bricks: a reduction in thermal conductivity of approximately 43% was observed compared to the reference samples, resulting in better insulating properties. The 29% increase in the specific heat capacity of the bricks indicates a greater capacity to store and release thermal energy. Beyond these thermophysical gains, the valorization of an abundant stream of plant fiber waste into a functional, raw building material reduces the extraction of raw clay, avoids the energy consumption and CO2 emissions associated with firing, and decreases the energy demand of buildings through improved insulation, thus contributing to the objectives of a circular economy and sustainable development in the construction sector.
SN  - 2766-6190
UR  - https://doi.org/10.21926/aeer.2604034
DO  - 10.21926/aeer.2604034
ID  - Azzouzi2026
ER  -