Linseed Oil and Xanthan Gum: Promising Stabilisers for Earthen Building Materials

Abstract:

In the current context, the development of new bio-based and local building materials is becoming mandatory. Among them, earthen materials have a strong potential to be used as sustainable structural materials but their variability and their water sensitivity impact their mechanical properties that are difficult to guaranty. Recent developments have emphasised the ability of some bio-based additions to help to ensure these properties: linseed oil and xanthan gum are part of them. In this paper three different Breton earths, representative of a certain local variability, are studied. The impact of the selected bio-based additions on earths’ rheological behaviour is followed in order to adapt it to different forming processes. Then, the mechanical properties of different earth-addition combinations at the dry state, exposed to hygric variations and immersion are investigated for different forming processes. The findings highlight the fact that xanthan gum and linseed oil have a relevant ability to stabilise earthen blocks, that can be processed using different promising forming methods.

• Periodical: Construction Technologies and Architecture (Volume 1)
• Pages: 245-254
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/CTA.1.245
• Online since: January 2022
• Authors: Simon Guihéneuf*, Arnaud Perrot, Damien Rangeard
• Keywords: Bio-Based Stabilisation, Compressive Strength, Earthen Construction, Process Methods, Water Resistance

References

[1] Achenza, M., Fenu, L., 2007. On Earth Stabilization with Natural Polymers for Earth Masonry Construction. Mater Struct 39, 21–27. https://doi.org/10.1617/s11527-005-9000-0.

DOI: 10.1617/s11527-005-9000-0

[2] Anger, R., Fontaine, L., Vissac, A., Couvreur, L., Moevus, M., Bourgès, A., Gandreau, D., Joffroy, T., 2013. PaTerre+: Interactions argiles/biopolymères , Patrimoine Architectural en terre et stabilisants naturels d'origine animale et végétale. CRAterre ENSAG.

[3] Bruno, A.W., Gallipoli, D., Perlot, C., Mendes, J., 2017. Mechanical behaviour of hypercompacted earth for building construction. Mater Struct 50, 160. https://doi.org/10.1617/s11527-017-1027-5.

DOI: 10.1617/s11527-017-1027-5

[4] Bui, Q.-B., Morel, J.-C., Hans, S., Walker, P., 2014. Effect of moisture content on the mechanical characteristics of rammed earth. Construction and Building Materials 54, 163–169. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2013.12.067.

DOI: 10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2013.12.067

[5] Champiré, F., Fabbri, A., Morel, J.-C., Wong, H., McGregor, F., 2016. Impact of relative humidity on the mechanical behavior of compacted earth as a building material. Construction and Building Materials 110, 70–78. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2016.01.027.

DOI: 10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2016.01.027

[6] Chang, I., Jeon, M., Cho, G.-C., 2015. Application of Microbial Biopolymers as an Alternative Construction Binder for Earth Buildings in Underdeveloped Countries. International Journal of Polymer Science 2015, 1–9. https://doi.org/10.1155/2015/326745.

DOI: 10.1155/2015/326745

[7] Dove, C.A., Bradley, F.F., Patwardhan, S.V., 2016. Seaweed biopolymers as additives for unfired clay bricks. Mater Struct 49, 4463–4482. https://doi.org/10.1617/s11527-016-0801-0.

DOI: 10.1617/s11527-016-0801-0

[8] Guihéneuf, S., Rangeard, D., Perrot, A., 2020a. Processing methods for optimising the mechanical strength of raw earth-based materials. Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers - Construction Materials. https://doi.org/10.1680/jcoma.19.00115.

DOI: 10.1680/jcoma.19.00115

[9] Guihéneuf, S., Rangeard, D., Perrot, A., 2019. Addition of bio based reinforcement to improve workability, mechanical properties and water resistance of earth-based materials, in: Academic Journal of Civil Engineering - Vol 37 No 2 (2019): Special Issue - ICBBM 2019. Presented at the ICBBM2019 International Conference on Bio-Based Building Materials, Belfast, p.184–192. https://doi.org/10.26168/icbbm2019.26.

DOI: 10.4028/www.scientific.net/cta.1.234

[10] Guihéneuf, S., Rangeard, D., Perrot, A., Cusin, T., Collet, F., Prétot, S., 2020b. Effect of bio-stabilizers on capillary absorption and water vapour transfer into raw earth. Mater Struct 53, 138. https://doi.org/10.1617/s11527-020-01571-z.

DOI: 10.1617/s11527-020-01571-z

[11] Ioannidou, D., Meylan, G., Sonnemann, G., Habert, G., 2017. Is gravel becoming scarce? Evaluating the local criticality of construction aggregates. Resources, Conservation and Recycling 126, 25–33. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resconrec.2017.07.016.

DOI: 10.1016/j.resconrec.2017.07.016

[12] Khelifi, H., Lecompte, T., Perrot, A., Ausias, G., 2015. Mechanical enhancement of cement-stabilized soil by flax fibre reinforcement and extrusion processing. Mater Struct 49, 1143–1156. https://doi.org/10.1617/s11527-015-0564-z.

DOI: 10.1617/s11527-015-0564-z

[13] Krausmann, F., Gingrich, S., Eisenmenger, N., Erb, K.-H., Haberl, H., Fischer-Kowalski, M., 2009. Growth in global materials use, GDP and population during the 20th century. Ecological Economics 68, 2696–2705. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolecon.2009.05.007.

DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolecon.2009.05.007

[14] Landrou, G., 2018. Developement of Self-Compacting Clay Concrete. ETH Zurich, Zurich.

[15] Landrou, G., Brumaud, C., Plötze, M.L., Winnefeld, F., Habert, G., 2018. A fresh look at dense clay paste: Deflocculation and thixotropy mechanisms. Colloids and Surfaces A: Physicochemical and Engineering Aspects 539, 252–260. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.colsurfa.2017.12.029.

DOI: 10.1016/j.colsurfa.2017.12.029

[16] Masson-Delmotte, V., Zhai, P., Pörtner, H.O., Roberts, D., Skea, J., Shukla, P.R., Pirani, A., Moufouma-Okia, W., Péan, C., Pidcock, R., Connors, S., Matthews, J.B.R., Chen, Y., Zhou, X., Gomis, M.I., Lonnoy, E., Maycock, T., Tignor, M., Waterfield, T., 2018. GIEC, 2018 : Résumé à l'intention des décideurs, Réchauffement planétaire de 1,5 °C. Organisation météorologique mondiale, Genève, Suisse.

[17] Moevus, M., Jorand, Y., Olagnon, C., Maximilien, S., Anger, R., Fontaine, L., Arnaud, L., 2016. Earthen construction: an increase of the mechanical strength by optimizing the dispersion of the binder phase. Mater Struct 49, 1555–1568. https://doi.org/10.1617/s11527-015-0595-5.

DOI: 10.1617/s11527-015-0595-5

[18] Morel, J.C., Mesbah, A., Oggero, M., Walker, P., 2001. Building houses with local materials: means to drastically reduce the environmental impact of construction. Building and Environment 36, 1119–1126. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0360-1323(00)00054-8.

DOI: 10.1016/s0360-1323(00)00054-8

[19] Muguda, S., Lucas, G., Hughes, P.N., Augarde, C.E., Perlot, C., Bruno, A.W., Gallipoli, D., 2020. Durability and hygroscopic behaviour of biopolymer stabilised earthen construction materials. Construction and Building Materials 259, 119725. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2020.119725.

DOI: 10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2020.119725

[20] Ouedraogo, K.A.J., 2019. Stabilisation de matériaux de construction durables et écologiques à base de terre crue par des liants organiques et/ou minéraux à faibles impacts environnementaux. Université Toulouse 3 - Paul Sabatier, Toulouse.

DOI: 10.35562/balisages.979

[21] Ouedraogo, K.A.J., Aubert, J.-E., Tribout, C., Escadeillas, G., 2020. Is stabilization of earth bricks using low cement or lime contents relevant? Construction and Building Materials 236, 117578. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2019.117578.

DOI: 10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2019.117578

[22] Perrot, A., Rangeard, D., Courteille, E., 2018a. 3D printing of earth-based materials: Processing aspects. Construction and Building Materials 172, 670–676. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2018.04.017.

DOI: 10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2018.04.017

[23] Perrot, A., Rangeard, D., Levigneur, A., 2016. Linking rheological and geotechnical properties of kaolinite materials for earthen construction. Mater Struct 49, 4647–4655. https://doi.org/10.1617/s11527-016-0813-9.

DOI: 10.1617/s11527-016-0813-9

[24] Perrot, A., Rangeard, D., Menasria, F., Guihéneuf, S., 2018b. Strategies for optimizing the mechanical strengths of raw earth-based mortars. Construction and Building Materials 167, 496–504. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2018.02.055.

DOI: 10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2018.02.055

[25] Schaich, K.M., 2020. Lipid Oxidation: New Perspectives on an Old Reaction, in: Bailey's Industrial Oil and Fat Products. American Cancer Society, p.1–72. https://doi.org/10.1002/047167849X.bio067.pub2.

DOI: 10.1002/047167849x.bio067.pub2

[26] Scrivener, K.L., John, V.M., Gartner, E.M., 2018. Eco-efficient cements: Potential economically viable solutions for a low-CO2 cement-based materials industry. Cement and Concrete Research 114, 2–26. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cemconres.2018.03.015.

DOI: 10.1016/j.cemconres.2018.03.015

[27] Van Damme, H., Houben, H., 2018. Earth concrete. Stabilization revisited. Cement and Concrete Research 114, 90–102. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cemconres.2017.02.035.

DOI: 10.1016/j.cemconres.2017.02.035

[28] Venkatarama Reddy, B.V., Prasanna Kumar, P., 2011a. Cement stabilised rammed earth. Part A: compaction characteristics and physical properties of compacted cement stabilised soils. Mater Struct 44, 681–693. https://doi.org/10.1617/s11527-010-9658-9.

DOI: 10.1617/s11527-010-9658-9

[29] Venkatarama Reddy, B.V., Prasanna Kumar, P., 2011b. Cement stabilised rammed earth. Part B: compressive strength and stress–strain characteristics. Mater Struct 44, 695–707. https://doi.org/10.1617/s11527-010-9659-8.

DOI: 10.1617/s11527-010-9659-8

[30] Vinceslas, T., 2019. Caractérisation d'éco-matériaux Terre-Chanvre en prenant en compte la variabilité des ressources disponibles localement. Université Bretagne Sud Lorient, Lorient.

[31] Yi, S.-T., Yang, E.-I., Choi, J.-C., 2006. Effect of specimen sizes, specimen shapes, and placement directions on compressive strength of concrete. Nuclear Engineering and Design 236, 115–127. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nucengdes.2005.08.004.

DOI: 10.1016/j.nucengdes.2005.08.004