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Assessing the Mechanical, Thermal, Transport and Microstructural Properties of Foamed Concrete Reinforced with Biomass Oil Palm Trunk Fiber

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Oil palm trunk is one of the main oil palm biomass generated in palm oil plantations with limited use. This study investigates the effect of varying OPTF weight fractions (0%, 2%, 4%, 6%, and 8%) on the properties of foamed concrete (FC) with densities of 750, 1150, and 1550 kg/m3. The study quantitatively assesses the fresh-state, transport, thermal, and mechanical properties of FC, including workability, water absorption, porosity, flexural and compressive strength, ultrasonic pulse velocity (UPV), and thermal conductivity. The results show that the inclusion of 4% OPTF at 750 kg/m3 and 6% OPTF at 1150 and 1550 kg/m3 optimally enhanced the mechanical and thermal properties of FC. Specifically, the flexural strength of FC increased by up to 141% at 1550 kg/m3 with 6% OPTF, and the compressive strength improved by 79% at 1150 kg/m3. Water absorption and porosity decreased with the addition of OPTF, while workability decreased in proportion to the OPTF weight fraction. Ultrasonic pulse velocity (UPV) increased by 12.5% at 750 kg/m3 with 6% OPTF, and thermal conductivity decreased by up to 27.6% at 750 kg/m3 with 6% OPTF. These findings highlight the significant improvements in the mechanical and thermal properties of FC incorporating OPTF.

Source: Journal of Natural Fibers

DOI: 10.1080/15440478.2026.2693250