Waste-based natural fiber reinforcement of adobe mixtures: Physical, mechanical, damage and durability performance assessment

Chicken feathers are a massive waste generated by the poultry industry worldwide and their disposition represents a major environmental challenge. Since chicken feathers are mostly composed of keratin, one of the most important biopolymers, their filament-matrix structure facilities the generation of chicken feather fibers (CFFs) from these waste-based chicken feathers. In this study, CFFs have been incorporated as fiber-reinforcement of adobe mixtures using dosages from 0% (unreinforced control mixture) up to 1% of fibers by weight of clayey soil. Results of a broad experimental program, including bulk density, compressive and flexural strength, concentrated restrained drying shrinkage cracking, flexural toughness, and water erosion resistance, are reported and analyzed to assess the physical/mechanical/damage/durability performance of CFF-reinforced adobe mixtures. The experimental results showed that the incorporation of CFFs has a statistically significant positive impact mainly on the damage and durability performance of adobe mixtures as CFF dosages increased, whereas physical and mechanical properties were slightly to not statistically affected. For instance, cracking density and water erosion were reduced up to 99% and 44%, respectively, and flexural toughness was increased up to 134%. Therefore, this study recommends the use of these waste-based fibers in order to enhance the physical, damage and durability performances of adobe mixtures, without affecting the mechanical performance, as well as reducing the environmental impact generated by chicken feathers towards a cleaner production. © 2020 Elsevier Ltd