Experimental study of a new ecological building material for a thermal insulation based on waste paper and lime.

• The waste paper is transformed into Aggregates of Waste Paper (AWP). • New biocomposite based on the Aggregates of Waste Paper and Lime (AWPL) is formulated and characterized. • The microstructure of the new composite AWPL is characterized by high open porosity. • The thermal conductivity of the material AWPL are ranging between 0.097 and 0.012 W/mK. • The compressive strength of the material AWPL is ranging between 4.2 and 10.95 MPa. • The new material AWPL can be used as structural material and thermal insulation. In the aim of the valorisation of waste paper, an experimental study of a new biocomposite (AWPL) dedicated to building based on Aggregates of Waste Paper and Lime is performed. The waste paper used in this work is transformed to Aggregates of Waste Paper (AWP), the physical, thermal and morphological properties were carried out. Five combinations of (AWP – Lime) have been prepared and the weight ratios of lime used are 20, 30, 40, 50, and 60 wt% correspond. Experimental investigations of physical, mechanical, thermal and morphological characterizations of AWPL were carried out in order to determine: the apparent density, the open porosity, the water absorption, the ultrasound pulse velocity, the flexural and compressive strengths and the thermal conductivity. Furthermore, a characterization by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) was realized to observe the AWP/lime bond. The results of characterization of AWPL show good mechanical properties as flexural and as compressive, these results are confirmed by the analysis SEM, that shown good adhesion of the AWP/Lime interface. The thermal characterization tests of AWPL have shown an important thermal insulation capacity linked to the low values of the thermal conductivity, these low values can be explained by the high porosity of AWPL. As a result, the AWPL could be classified as a structural and thermal insulation material for buildings according to the RILEM classification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]