Effect of moisture on thermal properties of acrylic polymer modified mortar reinforced with alkali treated bamboo fibres

Abstract

In this study, bamboo fibres were used as reinforcement materials for acrylic emulsion polymer modified cement bonded concrete after treatment with 10% weight of NaoH solution at 23 °C for 24 h. Thermal conductivity, thermal resistance and thermal transmittance were studied and the effects of moisture penetration at 11% wet basis were evaluated. Moisture penetration greatly reduced the thermal strength of the concrete with the exception at 10% acrylic polymer addition and 1.5% bamboo fibre inclusion. Based on the findings it can be reported that bamboo fibres greatly improved the thermal performance of the composite building material while the inclusion of acrylic polymers also hindered to a large extent the penetration of moisture into the capillary network.