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The aim of this study was to determine the acoustic and thermal properties of particleboards made from mulberry wood pruning waste using urea formaldehyde resin (UF) as a binder. The investigation focused on the evaluation of the thermal conductivity and the acoustic absorption of the boards and the assessment of their feasibility for use in the construction sector. The mean thermal conductivity values of the particleboards (0.065–0.068 W/mK) were lower than those obtained in wood and similar to those in cork panels. The samples were tested with frequencies from 50 to 6300 Hz. In all cases, the results allowed us to conclude that they were better sound absorbers than commercial wood and plywood panels of the same average density for low frequencies, and with similar values for medium and high frequencies. The mechanical results reached the minimum requirement to be considered as boards for general use and, specifically with particles from 0.25 to 1.00 mm, for furniture according to European standards. The particle size of the particleboards was the variable that influenced all the acoustic properties, but did not affect the thermal conductivity. The experimental results indicated that the thermal and acoustic properties of these particleboards were promising for their application in commercial uses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of bio-based building materials is a sustainable opportunity to reduce the environmental footprint associated with the construction sector. The achievement of this objective is primely achieved through the valorisation of vegetable waste, resulting in a reduction in the use of primary source material and waste generation. Within the scope of this study, the focus is directed towards research concerning the thermal, acoustic, and fire behaviour properties of bio-based building materials. This study conducts a comprehensive bibliometric analysis encompassing all documents meeting these criteria within the Scopus database, spanning two decades, from 2003 to 2023. The comprehensive analysis covered a total of 1081 documents, which were analysed. This analysis furnishes insight into various facets, including the temporal evolution of publications, journals boasting the highest publication counts and impact, influential research areas, countries with substantial contributions and their collaborative patterns, noteworthy affiliations, prolific authors, and seminal documents, alongside recurrent keywords. The objective of this comprehensive study is to provide a detailed analysis of the documents published up to the present day, in order to identify research gaps and potential opportunities in this field, to assist new researchers interested in the subject. The analysis reveals that bio-based building materials have gained substantial attention over the past decade. With each passing year, the published documents have increased their impact and become more specific, underscoring the growing importance of this subject. This evolution has also fostered a broader network of researchers engaged in this field. However, it is noteworthy that the characterization of these materials focuses predominantly on their thermal properties, while research avenues related to acoustic and fire properties remain less explored and present opportunities for future investigation. • This study contributes to identify research gaps and potential opportunities in the field of bio-based building materials. • Studies in bio-based building materials have shown an annual growth of the 25% since 2014, being a topic on the rise. • France and China are the countries with the highest scientific publication on bio-based building materials. • Keywords play a crucial role in making visible the research within bio-based building materials. • "Thermal Conductivity" and "Thermal insulation" are the most repeated keywords in this field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Eco-friendly functional alkali-activated lightweight composites are developed. • Effect of eco-silica source on alkali activation and carbon footprints is assessed. • Effect of alkali activator on acoustical property is studied. • Relationship between thermal conductivity and density is derived. • Effect of alkali content on compressive strength is evaluated. In this paper, alkali activated slag-fly ash lightweight composites with moderate densities between around 1200 and 1500 kg/m3 are prepared and characterized. An eco-olivine nano-silica is applied to prepare sustainable silicate based activators to replace commercial sodium silicates. Na 2 O contents of 2.0, 3.5 and 5.0 wt% are investigated in order to reach a suitable balance between performance, costs and application. The results show the positive effect of density and Na 2 O content on strength, while strength increment between Na 2 O dosage of 3.5% and 5.0% is limited. The reduction of Na 2 O content shows a dramatic delay of the reaction process up to around 3 d, but shows negligible effect on the typical Si-O bonds. An increased Na 2 O content benefits the formation of reaction products, including the contents of hydrotalcite and carbonates. Besides, the thermal conductivity and acoustical absorption properties of the lightweight products are characterized; the phase transition zones between lightweight aggregate and binder matrix are evaluated by SEM. The calculation on the carbon footprint shows an evident advantage of using alkali activated materials to replace Portland cement, also the utilization of olivine nano-silica further reduces the carbon emission of the activator by around 25%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Every year, huge quantities of date palm fibers (DPF) are produced and wasted all over the world. Using this natural fiber as raw material would contribute to the valorization of natural sustainable resources. This paper presents an experimental investigation of a new eco-material based on date palm fiber and lime. The experiments on the elaborated material investigate some mechanical, thermal, acoustic properties and moisture buffering capacity. The influence of the fiber/lime ratio on the behavior of the lightweight aggregate was studied systematically. The results of compressive strength testing indicated that PDF incorporation led to a reduction in resistance limit, however, the recorded average values are still acceptable. Also, it was observed that the thermal conductivity is sensitive to the variation of the fiber/lime composition ratio. The measured thermal conductivity reached a minimum of 0.091 W/m.K for samples of 50% fiber, which indicates that it can be used as a good thermal insulator. With regard to the sound absorption, the new material reveals good absorption capacity based on the measured sound absorption coefficient which is for 50% of fiber: for medium and high frequencies 0.65 and 0.55 respectively. Due to its porous morphology, the proposed material has the ability to absorb water vapor in a high relative humidity environment and to restore it in a dry one. Hence, it could therefore act as a hygric regulator. Measurements of moisture buffer value revealed that the material is classified as good or excellent depending on the percentage of fiber. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bio-based construction elements and materials are undergoing a wide diffusion due to the growing attention for limiting the environmental impact of the construction sector nowadays. Following this trend towards increased sustainability in buildings and their components, here a novel bio-based linoleum, colored by means of bio-based pigments is investigated. The linoleum design and development are presented, and the different samples are characterized with respect to optics, thermal and acoustic properties. Moreover, a life cycle assessment (LCA) is carried out to assess the impact of the material on environment and human health. Possible applications are then discussed. Findings demonstrate that the natural pigments are able to effectively color the linoleum. Solar reflectance of the samples falls between 28.8% and 42.7%, while thermal conductivity varies between 0.28 and 0.37 W/mK and acoustic absorption coefficient is around 0.5 and varies the peak frequencies with respect to the thickness of the air layer behind the sample. Finally, the investigated sample of natural pigment reduces the impact categories on the environment by up to 94.1% through its life cycle, with respect to same-color synthetic pigments. Image 1 • A bio-based linoleum is designed with bio-based pigments extracted from plants. • Linoleum prototypes were developed in the lab and characterized. • Pigments significantly color the linoleum and modify optic characteristics. • The thermal conductivity and absorption coefficient of the linoleum are measured. • Natural pigment significantly lower the life cycle impact of the linoleum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]