Multiproperty characterization of cleaner and energy-efficient vegetal concrete based on one-part geopolymer binder

The growing concerns of increase in carbon emission have obliged engineers and scientists to avert global warming and catastrophic changes in climate, which has brought up the necessity of utilizing waste materials from different industries and producing vegetal concrete using biomass. In this research, a new type of energy-efficient and sustainable concrete based on industrial waste materials and vegetal aggregate was produced for the hygrothermal and low load-bearing application. The performance of vegetal concrete was evaluated by studying the mechanical, microstructural, thermal, heat loss and hygroscopic properties. Compressive and flexural strength for all vegetal concrete mixtures varied from 1.13 to 5.72 MPa and 1.65–3.27 MPa respectively. Results of mechanical properties were in consistence with the microstructure analysis of vegetal concretes. Coefficients of thermal conductivity, volumetric specific heat capacity, and thermal diffusivity were in the range of 0.114–0.192 Wm⁻¹K⁻¹, 0.81–1.321 MJm⁻³K^−1, and 0.109–0.145 mm² s^-1 respectively. Coefficients of thermal properties of vegetal concrete increased with the rise of the temperature from 20°C to 50°C. Heat loss analysis showed that use of vegetal concrete as an insulation material can reduce the energy losses through the wall by 46–58% as compared to reference wall. Vegetal concrete mixtures containing red mud exhibited higher capillary and water absorption as compared to other mixtures. Moreover, all concrete mixtures were classified as good to excellent moisture buffer materials. Finally, vegetal concrete mixtures were classified into class-II and class-III according to functional classification of lightweight concrete.