Enhancing the Thermal and Mechanical Characteristics of Clay Mortars by Incorporating Textile Waste

The use of earth bricks is a sustainable and environmentally-friendly alternative to traditional building materials. However, these bricks can be vulnerable to erosion and extreme climatic conditions, which may limit their use in arid and semi-arid regions. In this experimental study, the aim was to improve the thermal and mechanical properties of earth bricks reinforced with textile waste. The use of textile waste to stabilize mud bricks in the construction industry offers a number of environmental and technical advantages. Here are some important points to consider (waste reduction, mechanical reinforcement, improved stability, thermal and acoustic insulation, increased durability). The soil studied was first characterized by X-ray fluorescence to determine its chemical composition. For mechanical (compressive and flexural strength) and thermal tests, samples were prepared using different percentages of waste (from 0 to 5 wt. %). The results confirmed that the improvement in the mechanical properties of the bricks correlated with the increase in waste content. Thermal conductivity decreased with increasing waste content.