Static modeling of thermal properties and influence of soda hydroxide treatment on biomaterial behavior

In this work, a mathematical analysis carried out by an advanced statistical approach using the JMP software was adopted to deal with a complex problem involving several parameters. This method was applied to optimize the thermal insulation characteristics of a biocomposite. Following a precisely designed experimental program, the study focuses on analyzing the impact of different concentrations of treated date palm fibers (DPFT) on the thermophysical and mechanical properties of composite materials. The samples were prepared with different weight percentages of date palm fibers (0% to 20%), treated with NaOH and having a fiber length of 7 cm. Water absorption, density, flexural and compressive strength, thermal conductivity and diffusivity were taken into account. The results indicate that the incorporation of treated fibers has a beneficial effect on the thermal, mechanical and physical properties of the composite compared to the use of raw fibers. Additionally, higher proportions of DPF result in decreased thermal conductivity, diffusivity, and flexural and compressive strength, highlighting the positive impact of DPFT on the thermophysical and mechanical attributes of the composite.