Optimizing hygroscopic performance of innovative and sustainable gypsum biocomposites through hybrid biowaste upcycling
Résumé
Wood-based biowaste represents a plentiful biomaterial on our planet, and harnessing this industrial waste for sustainable construction products is strongly advocated due to its insulation and hygroscopic properties. The primary aim of this work is to implement innovative bio-based gypsum materials by incorporating a mixture of untreated wood and paper wastes. Furthermore, the study aims to comprehensively analyze the hygroscopic properties of these bio-based gypsum composites, comparing them to traditional gypsum boards. To better understand the hydric behavior and particularly the relationship between the porous microstructure and the different properties, several tests including porosity, capillary absorption, sorption isotherm, water vapor permeability, and moisture buffer value (MBV) were performed for various formulations. Moreover, it shows that the biobased composite exhibits a remarkable moisture absorption capacity, nearly 15 times higher than that of the reference sample, and displays a high-water vapor permeability, owing to a significant enlargement in critical pore size. Likewise, all gypsum formulations display MBV values exceeding 2.00 g/(m2.% RH) indicating an excellent ability for moisture regulation. Finally, the findings highlight the potential to create innovative gypsum material, using recycled cellulose waste to provide natural ventilation and moisture regulation through a circular economy approach.