Gypsum, Geopolymers, and Starch—Alternative Binders for Bio-Based Building Materials: A Review and Life-Cycle Assessment

Girts Bumanis, Laura Vitola, Ina Pundiene, Maris Sinka and Diana Bajare
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Girts Bumanis: Institute of Materials and Structures, Faculty of Civil Engineering, Riga Technical University, 6B Kipsalas Street, LV-1048 Riga, Latvia
Laura Vitola: Institute of Materials and Structures, Faculty of Civil Engineering, Riga Technical University, 6B Kipsalas Street, LV-1048 Riga, Latvia
Ina Pundiene: Laboratory of Concrete Technologies, Institute of Building Materials, Vilnius Gediminas Technical University, Sauletekio al. 11, LT-10223 Vilnus, Lithuania
Maris Sinka: Institute of Materials and Structures, Faculty of Civil Engineering, Riga Technical University, 6B Kipsalas Street, LV-1048 Riga, Latvia
Diana Bajare: Institute of Materials and Structures, Faculty of Civil Engineering, Riga Technical University, 6B Kipsalas Street, LV-1048 Riga, Latvia

Sustainability, 2020, vol. 12, issue 14, 1-21

Abstract: To decrease the environmental impact of the construction industry, energy-efficient insulation materials with low embodied production energy are needed. Lime-hemp concrete is traditionally recognized as such a material; however, the drawbacks of this type of material are associated with low strength gain, high initial moisture content, and limited application. Therefore, this review article discusses alternatives to lime-hemp concrete that would achieve similar thermal properties with an equivalent or lower environmental impact. Binders such as gypsum, geopolymers, and starch are proposed as alternatives, due to their performance and low environmental impact, and available research is summarized and discussed in this paper. The summarized results show that low-density thermal insulation bio-composites with a density of 200–400 kg/m 3 and thermal conductivity (λ) of 0.06–0.09 W/(m × K) can be obtained with gypsum and geopolymer binders. However, by using a starch binder it is possible to produce ecological building materials with a density of approximately 100 kg/m 3 and thermal conductivity (λ) as low as 0.04 W/(m × K). In addition, a preliminary life cycle assessment was carried out to evaluate the environmental impact of reviewed bio-composites. The results indicate that such bio-composites have a low environmental impact, similar to lime-hemp concrete.

Keywords: bio-composites; hemp; lime-hemp concrete; gypsum; starch; geopolymer; life cycle assessment (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
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