Diseño de un bloque de tierra comprimida (BTC) con adición de mucílago como material de construcción sostenible

Abstract

Abstract: The modern construction industry stands at a crossroads: it must urgently reduce its environmental footprint. Conventional materials, particularly fired bricks, impose a severe toll on the ecosystem due to massive clay extraction and firing processes that require extreme temperatures. This not only implies excessive energy consumption but also triggers greenhouse gas emissions and, in regions like ours, accelerates deforestation through the use of firewood in artisanal kilns. In this scenario, the Compressed Earth Block (CEB) emerges as a viable ecological alternative. Its manufacturing process dispenses with fire, relying instead on the high-pressure compaction of soil and water. The impact is radical: while a traditional brick can emit up to 1.69 kg of CO2, a CEB generates a mere 0.05 kg, drastically reducing the carbon footprint of the construction process. Upon completing the 28-day experimental phase, the project's most relevant findings confirmed that the optimal dosage is achieved by replacing 25% of the mixing water with mucilage, complemented by 10% cement. This synergy maximizes the block's performance. In terms of compressive strength, this mixture achieved an efficiency of 5.35 MPa/kg, surpassing the 4.31 MPa/kg of the control sample. These data validate mucilage as a high performance reinforcing agent that not only provides strength but also regulates moisture absorption and stabilizes the soil microstructure, ensuring superior weather durability compared to conventional earth blocks.