Enhancing the thermo-physical and mechanical properties of fired earth bricks with date palm wood powder

This study investigates the effects of incorporating date palm wood powder (DPWP) on the thermal, physical, and mechanical properties of lightweight fired earth bricks made from clay and dune sand. DPWP was added in varying proportions (0%, 5%, 8%, 10%, 12%, and 15% by weight of the soil matrix) to evaluate its influence on brick performance, particularly in terms of thermal insulation. Experimental results revealed that adding DPWP significantly reduced the thermal conductivity of the bricks, achieving a maximum reduction of 56.41%. However, the inclusion of DPWP negatively impacted the physical and mechanical properties of the samples. Among the tested bricks, those with 8% and 10% DPWP achieved a desirable balance, maintaining satisfactory mechanical strength within acceptable standards while achieving thermal conductivity values of 0.333 and 0.279 W/m·K, representing reductions of 37.29 % and 47.46 %, respectively. To further validate these findings, prototypes of the DPWP-enhanced fired bricks and commercial bricks were constructed and tested under real environmental conditions during both summer and winter seasons, over a continuous 12-hour daily period. The DPWP-enhanced prototypes demonstrated superior thermal performance, with temperature differences reaching up to 3°C compared to the commercial bricks. These findings highlight the potential of DPWP as a sustainable additive for improving the thermal insulation properties of fired earth bricks, thereby promoting eco-friendly and energy-efficient building materials for sustainable construction practices. • Innovative use of raw materials and waste in sustainable brick manufacturing. • Development of heat-insulating bricks using novel production methods. • Comprehensive analysis of factors affecting brick properties and compliance with international standards.