Comparison Between Physical and Thermal Properties of Raw and Treated Posidonia Oceania Leaves

The use of insulation materials made from biomass waste is becoming increasingly popular, and the specific fiber morphology of Posidonia Oceanica leaves (POL) makes them a promising candidate for producing eco-friendly composite insulation materials based on a mortar matrix. This study investigates the effects of chemical and boiling treatments on the physical and thermal properties of the composite material, and compares the quality and performance of fiber-reinforced cement mortar matrix structures with non-reinforced ones that lack fiber addition. The results show that POL requires appropriate treatment, with the alkali treatment being the most effective option. Boiling treatment has a negative effect on POL fibers. Measurements demonstrate that cement mortar reinforced with POL fibers is a highly resistant material, especially when treated with alkali. When the alkali treatment is applied to POL, the resulting thermal conductivity, thermal diffusivity, heat capacity, and thermal effusivity values are 0.15 Wm−1K−1, 2.13 × 10–7 m2s−1, 457.23 JKg−1K−1, and 325 Jm−2K−1s−0.5, respectively.