Development and Performance of Coconut Fibre Gypsum Composites for Sustainable Building Materials
In 2022, the building sector accounted for 30% of global energy demand and 27% of CO<sub>2</sub> emissions, of which approximately 9% came from building material production. To mitigate this impact, it is critical to develop sustainable alternatives that reduce the environmental footprin...
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MDPI AG
2025-05-01
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| Series: | Buildings |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-5309/15/11/1899 |
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| author | María Fernanda Rodríguez-Robalino Daniel Ferrández Amparo Verdú-Vázquez Alicia Zaragoza-Benzal |
| author_facet | María Fernanda Rodríguez-Robalino Daniel Ferrández Amparo Verdú-Vázquez Alicia Zaragoza-Benzal |
| author_sort | María Fernanda Rodríguez-Robalino |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In 2022, the building sector accounted for 30% of global energy demand and 27% of CO<sub>2</sub> emissions, of which approximately 9% came from building material production. To mitigate this impact, it is critical to develop sustainable alternatives that reduce the environmental footprint of construction materials. This paper presents an original study where the effect of coconut fibre as a reinforcing material in gypsum composites is analysed. These plant-based fibres reduce the composite’s density, improve thermal behaviour, and integrate circular economy criteria in construction. In this way, a physico-mechanical characterisation of these novel gypsum-based composites is addressed, and their potential application for developing prefabricated slabs is innovatively explored. Composites were prepared with coconut fibre incorporation in volume up to 17.5%, and mechanical and thermal properties and their behaviour under water action were evaluated. The results indicate that the fibre addition reduced density by about 10.0%, improved flexural strength by 20.5% and compressive strength by 28.4%, and decreased thermal conductivity by 56.3%, which increased the energy efficiency of the building facade by 7.8%. In addition, hydrophobic properties improved, reducing capillary absorption by 15.9% and open porosity by 3.3%. These findings confirm the technical feasibility of coconut fibre-reinforced plaster for application in prefabricated wall and ceiling elements, promoting the efficient use of natural resources and driving the development of sustainable building materials. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-9d5b4352e2364d54b6762b5c6d0b9ffb |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2075-5309 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Buildings |
| spelling | doaj-art-9d5b4352e2364d54b6762b5c6d0b9ffb2025-08-20T03:46:50ZengMDPI AGBuildings2075-53092025-05-011511189910.3390/buildings15111899Development and Performance of Coconut Fibre Gypsum Composites for Sustainable Building MaterialsMaría Fernanda Rodríguez-Robalino0Daniel Ferrández1Amparo Verdú-Vázquez2Alicia Zaragoza-Benzal3Departamento de Tecnología de la Edificación, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Avda. Juan de Herrera, 6, 28040 Madrid, SpainDepartamento de Tecnología de la Edificación, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Avda. Juan de Herrera, 6, 28040 Madrid, SpainDepartamento de Tecnología de la Edificación, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Avda. Juan de Herrera, 6, 28040 Madrid, SpainDepartamento de Tecnología de la Edificación, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Avda. Juan de Herrera, 6, 28040 Madrid, SpainIn 2022, the building sector accounted for 30% of global energy demand and 27% of CO<sub>2</sub> emissions, of which approximately 9% came from building material production. To mitigate this impact, it is critical to develop sustainable alternatives that reduce the environmental footprint of construction materials. This paper presents an original study where the effect of coconut fibre as a reinforcing material in gypsum composites is analysed. These plant-based fibres reduce the composite’s density, improve thermal behaviour, and integrate circular economy criteria in construction. In this way, a physico-mechanical characterisation of these novel gypsum-based composites is addressed, and their potential application for developing prefabricated slabs is innovatively explored. Composites were prepared with coconut fibre incorporation in volume up to 17.5%, and mechanical and thermal properties and their behaviour under water action were evaluated. The results indicate that the fibre addition reduced density by about 10.0%, improved flexural strength by 20.5% and compressive strength by 28.4%, and decreased thermal conductivity by 56.3%, which increased the energy efficiency of the building facade by 7.8%. In addition, hydrophobic properties improved, reducing capillary absorption by 15.9% and open porosity by 3.3%. These findings confirm the technical feasibility of coconut fibre-reinforced plaster for application in prefabricated wall and ceiling elements, promoting the efficient use of natural resources and driving the development of sustainable building materials.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-5309/15/11/1899raw material replacementlightweight gypsum compositesfibre reinforcementcircular economy |
| spellingShingle | María Fernanda Rodríguez-Robalino Daniel Ferrández Amparo Verdú-Vázquez Alicia Zaragoza-Benzal Development and Performance of Coconut Fibre Gypsum Composites for Sustainable Building Materials Buildings raw material replacement lightweight gypsum composites fibre reinforcement circular economy |
| title | Development and Performance of Coconut Fibre Gypsum Composites for Sustainable Building Materials |
| title_full | Development and Performance of Coconut Fibre Gypsum Composites for Sustainable Building Materials |
| title_fullStr | Development and Performance of Coconut Fibre Gypsum Composites for Sustainable Building Materials |
| title_full_unstemmed | Development and Performance of Coconut Fibre Gypsum Composites for Sustainable Building Materials |
| title_short | Development and Performance of Coconut Fibre Gypsum Composites for Sustainable Building Materials |
| title_sort | development and performance of coconut fibre gypsum composites for sustainable building materials |
| topic | raw material replacement lightweight gypsum composites fibre reinforcement circular economy |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-5309/15/11/1899 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT mariafernandarodriguezrobalino developmentandperformanceofcoconutfibregypsumcompositesforsustainablebuildingmaterials AT danielferrandez developmentandperformanceofcoconutfibregypsumcompositesforsustainablebuildingmaterials AT amparoverduvazquez developmentandperformanceofcoconutfibregypsumcompositesforsustainablebuildingmaterials AT aliciazaragozabenzal developmentandperformanceofcoconutfibregypsumcompositesforsustainablebuildingmaterials |