Shahat M Abdelhamid, Soliman Wafaa
PV Unit, Solar and Space Research Department, National Research Institute of Astronomy and Geophysics (NRIAG), Helwan, Cairo, Egypt.
Geology Department, Faculty of Science, Sohag University, Sohag, Egypt.
Sci Rep. 2025 Jul 22;15(1):26528. doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-11790-5.
This study explores the enhancement of thermal insulation in fired clay bricks through the incorporation of chitosan (CS) as a biopolymeric dopant. A series of composite samples were prepared with CS concentrations of 0%, 2%, 4%, 6%, and 8%, and their structural, mechanical, and thermophysical qualities were comprehensively investigated. Analytical techniques including X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) were employed to assess compositional and morphological changes. The introduction of CS led to increased XRD peak intensity, indicating improved crystalline organization, while FTIR spectra revealed the presence of CS-associated functional groups. SEM micrographs confirmed the development of a more porous microstructure, and TGA data demonstrated enhanced thermal stability. The CS-modified bricks exhibited an increase in porous topography (33.2-47.9%), a reduction in bulk density (i.e., 1.84-1.29 g/cm), and improved compressive strength (from 0.768 to 1.232 MPa). It is noteworthy that the clay@CS (6%) mix encountered a low thermal diffusivity in addition to the lowest thermal conductivity value (i.e., 0.3418-0.2334 W/mk). The findings show that adding more CS to composite bricks significantly improves their thermal insulation qualities (i.e., 0.314-0.213 mm/S). These outcomes underscore the potential of CS as a sustainable additive for improving the performance of clay-based construction materials, offering promising implications for energy-efficient and environmentally conscious building applications.
本研究探讨了通过掺入壳聚糖（CS）作为生物聚合物掺杂剂来增强烧制粘土砖的隔热性能。制备了一系列CS浓度分别为0%、2%、4%、6%和8%的复合样品，并对其结构、力学和热物理性质进行了全面研究。采用X射线衍射（XRD）、傅里叶变换红外光谱（FTIR）、场发射扫描电子显微镜（FESEM）和热重分析（TGA）等分析技术来评估成分和形态变化。CS的引入导致XRD峰强度增加，表明晶体结构得到改善，而FTIR光谱显示存在与CS相关的官能团。SEM显微照片证实了更多孔微观结构的形成，TGA数据表明热稳定性增强。CS改性砖的多孔形貌增加（33.2 - 47.9%），体积密度降低（即从1.84降至1.29 g/cm），抗压强度提高（从0.768 MPa提高到1.232 MPa）。值得注意的是，粘土@CS（6%）混合物除了具有最低的热导率值（即0.3418 - 0.2334 W/mk）外，还具有较低的热扩散率。研究结果表明，向复合砖中添加更多的CS可显著提高其隔热性能（即从0.314提高到0.213 mm/S）。这些结果强调了CS作为一种可持续添加剂用于改善粘土基建筑材料性能的潜力，为节能和环保型建筑应用提供了有前景的启示。
