Applied Chemical Engineering

Thermochemical Characterization and Process-Oriented Evaluation of Clayey Materials from M’sila (Algeria) for Sustainable Composite Engineering Applications

Deghfel Nadir

City, Environment, Hydraulics and Sustainable Development Laboratory, Sciences faculty, Mohamed Boudiaf University M’sila, 28000, Algeria

Laib Nouri

Inorganics Materials Laboratory, Sciences faculty, Mohamed Boudiaf University M’sila, 28000, Algeria

Benyahia Azzedine

City, Environment, Hydraulics and Sustainable Development Laboratory, Sciences faculty, Mohamed Boudiaf University M’sila, 28000, Algeria

Melouki Azzedine

Inorganics Materials Laboratory, Sciences faculty, Mohamed Boudiaf University M’sila, 28000, Algeria

Larkat Karima

City, Environment, Hydraulics and Sustainable Development Laboratory, Sciences faculty, Mohamed Boudiaf University M’sila, 28000, Algeria

Djehiche Mokhtar

Inorganics Materials Laboratory, Sciences faculty, Mohamed Boudiaf University M’sila, 28000, Algeria

DOI: https://doi.org/10.59429/ace.v9i2.6010

Keywords: thermochemical behavior; clay composites; thermal transformation; process engineering; natural fiber reinforcement; sustainable materials

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Abstract

The growing demand for sustainable and low-carbon construction materials has stimulated increasing interest in the valorization of natural clayey resources and plant-based reinforcements for eco-friendly composite applications. However, the thermochemical behavior, mineralogical complexity, and engineering performance of natural clayey materials from semi-arid regions remain insufficiently understood. In this study, three representative clayey materials (Red, Green, and Yellow) collected from the Soubella region (M’sila, Algeria) were investigated to evaluate their suitability for sustainable clay-based composite engineering applications.

A multi-analytical methodology combining X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray fluorescence (XRF), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermogravimetric and derivative thermogravimetric analyses (TGA/DTG), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) was employed to characterize the mineralogical composition, chemical reactivity, thermal transformations, granulometric distribution, and microstructural evolution of the investigated materials. The influence of untreated Cynodon dactylon fibre reinforcement on the physicochemical and mechanical behavior of clay-based composites was also evaluated.

Granulometric and physicochemical analyses revealed that the Red and Green clayey materials are dominated by fine clay–silt fractions, whereas the Yellow material exhibits a comparatively higher carbonate-rich sandy composition. Mineralogical characterization identified quartz- and illite-rich phases in the Red and Green materials, while the Yellow material showed a higher calcite concentration. Thermogravimetric analyses highlighted distinct thermal transformation pathways associated with dehydration, dehydroxylation, and carbonate decomposition reactions. The obtained thermal profiles confirmed the thermal stability and activation potential of the investigated materials at elevated processing temperatures. Mechanical investigations demonstrated that natural fibre incorporation significantly improved the compressive and flexural performances of the clay-based composites by enhancing matrix cohesion and fibre-matrix interfacial interactions. In particular, the Yellow clay composite reinforced with untreated Cynodon dactylon fibres exhibited a notable increase in flexural strength compared with the unreinforced systems. Overall, the results demonstrate that mineralogical composition, thermal behavior, and natural fibre reinforcement strongly influence the engineering performance of clay-based composites. The investigated materials therefore constitute promising low-carbon resources for the development of eco-friendly composite materials and sustainable construction systems adapted to semi-arid environments.

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