Hygric and Thermal Properties of Bio-aggregate Based Building Materials

Abstract

This chapter gives the state of the art of previous studies on hygric and thermal properties of bio-aggregate based building materials. Firstly, hygric characteristics such as sorption isotherms, water vapor permeability and moisture diffusivity are given. The ability of bio-aggregate based building materials to moderate ambient relative humidity may be valued using moisture buffer value. Then thermal properties (thermal conductivity, thermal diffusivity conductivity and specific heat capacity) are reported. Finally, concluding remarks on hygrothermal behavior with simultaneous heat and mass transfer are provided, they underline that considering only thermal conductivity and specific heat capacity is not sufficient to evaluate the energy performance of bio-aggregate based building materials. The results found in bibliography mainly concern wood-based and hemp-based materials.