Gum Arabic and Raw Earth: An Innovative Alliance for Durable, High-Performance Building Blocks in the Drâa-Tafilalet Region
摘要
The construction sector is a major contributor of greenhouse gas emissions, accounting for almost 38% of the total. Hence, the present study analyzes Compressed Earth Blocks (CEBs) as more eco-friendly options to conventional materials which are high in energy usage and the likes. The selected area for this research is the Drâa-Tafilalet region located in southeastern Morocco, which is known for its arid climate and the use of earthen construction in the past. The study's objective was to elaborate on the physical, chemical, mechanical, and thermal properties of CEBs blocks with a special focus on those stabilized with gum arabic of 1–5% by mass. The mechanical performance of the blocks was evaluated based on uniaxial compression testing of cylindrical specimens while thermal conductivity was determined using the domestic high insulation method. The study discovered that 5% gum arabic content produced the ideal combination resulting in a compressive strength of 5.78 MPa, and a thermal conductivity coefficient of 0.72 to 1.05 W/(m·K). The durability test also revealed that the blocks can withstand being soaked in the water for more than five hours, which was quite a long time when compared to the unsterilized ones that had only a few minutes of resistance. This means that in using gum arabic, the performance of CEBs has been to the great extent. Thus, the researchers came to the conclusion that CEBs were potential candidates for green building materials that are not only suitable but also strong in the context of the region and the challenges posed by climate change.