On the characterization of bio-composite material based on petiole date palm waste for thermal insulation applications

This study investigates the valorization of abandoned wood waste by developing an innovative bio-sourced composite material based on date palm residues. Specifically, petiole fibers (pt) were selected as reinforcement and combined with polyvinyl acetate (PVA) as a binder. Different composites were fabricated through hand paving and molding processes and systematically characterized in terms of physical, mechanical, and thermal performance. The findings reveal that petiole-based composites exhibit superior insulating behavior compared to other date palm fractions. In particular, the composite designated pt17 demonstrated remarkable properties, including low density (0.30 g/cm³), low thermal conductivity (0.11–0.12 W/m•K), and low thermal diffusivity (0.096–0.109 mm²/s), while maintaining adequate mechanical strength with a bending stress of 2.01 MPa and a flexural modulus of 429.3 MPa. Such a balance between lightweight structure, mechanical reliability, and excellent thermal insulation underscores the potential of these bio-based composites as sustainable and eco-friendly alternatives for the building sector, particularly in thermal insulation applications.