Contribution to the development and characterization of bio-composites based on date palm waste; Application to thermal insulation

FERHAT, Maroua (2025) Contribution to the development and characterization of bio-composites based on date palm waste; Application to thermal insulation. Doctoral thesis, Faculté des sciences et technologie.

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Abstract

This study aims to develop an innovative bio-sourced composite material, with enhanced mechanical and thermal properties, by investigating sustainable composites derived from abandoned date palm waste. A range of combinations of these materials was analyzed to evaluate their physical, mechanical, and thermal properties, emphasizing the characterization of petiole and rachis fibers, particularly to be used in sandwich structures. Comprehensive physical and thermal analyses, including density, water absorption, thermal conductivity, TGA, and DSC tests, were conducted on these fibers. Date palm rachis fibers were incorporated into an epoxy matrix as the skin layer, with fiber weight ratios (0–15 wt.%). Results indicated that rachis fibers influenced significantly water absorption, morphology, mechanical strength, and thermal behavior. XRD confirmed the amorphous nature of the composite, while SEM analysis showed increased heterogeneity with higher fiber content. The Epoxy-Rachis ER10% composite demonstrated strong thermal insulation (thermal conductivity of 0.21 W/(m·K) and thermal diffusivity of 0.17 mm²/s) and ductile fracture behavior, achieving a flexural modulus of 3.21 GPa and bending strength of 9.28 MPa. Additionally, polyvinyl acetate (PVA) reinforced date palm petiole fibers were used to form the core layer with fiber weight ratios between 15–26 wt.%. It turns out that, the Pt17% composite exhibited exceptional insulation properties (thermal conductivity of 0.11–0.12 W/(m·K) and thermal diffusivity of 0.096–0.109 mm²/s) and a low density of 0.3002 g/cm³, making it ideal choice for lightweight sandwich panel cores. Testing the Pt17% core with ER10% skins revealed substantial stiffness and strong interlayer adhesion due to the bonding method, along with excellent thermal insulation (0.2 W/m·K), highlighting date palm waste potential to create durable, thermally efficient composite materials for industrial applications

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