Effect of juncus effusus fibers on the thermophysical and mechanical properties of plaster-based composites

The development of sustainable building materials from renewable resources has attracted growing attention as an alternative to conventional fossil-based materials. The currant study investigates the effect of alkali-treated Juncus effusus fibers on the thermophysical and mechanical properties of plaster composites. Fibers were treated with a 3% NaOH solution for 4 h at ambient temperature before being incorporated into the plaster matrix at different mass fractions. The resulting composites were characterized in terms of density, thermal conductivity, sound propagation velocity, flexural strength, and compressive strength. Compared to conventional plaster, the optimized composite exhibited a 29% increase in flexural strength and a 25% increase in compressive strength, while its density decreased by 21%. In addition, thermal conductivity and sound propagation velocity were reduced by 45% and 40%, respectively, indicating an improved thermal and acoustic insulation. These improvements are attributed to the reinforcing effect of the treated Juncus effusus fibers within the plaster matrix. The results demonstrated that Juncus effusus-reinforced plaster is a lightweight material with improved mechanical properties and high thermal efficiency, making it a promising candidate for sustainable building applications, particularly for thermal insulation.