Desarrollo de aislantes térmicos sostenibles a partir de arcillas locales para la construcción ecológica

Abstract

Abstract:The objective of this research was to develop a sustainable thermal insulator from local clays from the city of Loja, calcined rice husks (RHA), and lime, taking advantage of regional resources and agro-industrial waste to obtain a material with potential applications in construction. A quantitative approach was applied using an experimental mixture design, with 15 test tubes prepared with different proportions of the components. The performance of each formulation was evaluated through tests of compressive strength, thermal behavior, acoustic attenuation, and erosion, carried out under controlled laboratory conditions. The results showed that the mixture with a dosage of 60% clay, 10% lime, and 30% RHA, corresponding to group AAM (Amable María), presented the best overall performance. This formulation recorded a thermal difference of approximately 9.5 °C, a compressive strength of 0.63 g, an acoustic reduction of close to 13 dB, and a mass loss due to erosion of 6 g. Overall, the results support its viability as a sustainable thermal insulator for non-structural uses in the local context of Loja, Ecuador.