Conception and mechanical characterization of an insulation bio-based materials

Home comfort contributes to improving the living environment and several approaches to materials are implemented to improve thermal comfort in homes. This study focuses on the development and mechanical characterization of an insulating material based on Parkiabiglobosa (Néré) and cow dung. Beforehand, a chemical analysis on the tannin content of five concentrations ofNéré’s pod was carried out for three different time’s maceration. In view of the results, the concentrations 120 g/l and 180 g/l after 24 h of maceration were retained to make the different insulant specimens. For each of the two concentrations, two different types of mixtures were used: one from a macerate obtained by filtering the solution and the other with a macerate containing the broken pod debris (unfiltered).A reference mixture produced with cow dung and water is also used for comparison. The mechanical strengths that have been obtained are between 0.54 and 0.67 MPa for compression and between 1.1 and 1.4 MPa for bending. The mechanical characteristics of the specimens containing decoctions from Néré's pod are higher than those of the test pieces of the reference mixture. The values of the compressive and flexion strengths of the specimens made with the filtered extract are slightly higher than those of the specimens made with the unfiltered extract (containing the pod debris).