Characterization of Diatomite for Its use in Construction: Case Diatomite Sampled in Northern Chad
Abdallah DADI Mahamat1, Abakar ALI2, Jean-Michel Mechling3, André DONNOT4, Salif GAYE5

1Abdallah DADI Mahamat, Department of Energy Engineering, National Higher Institute of Sciences and Techniques of Abéché, INSTA, Chad.

2Abakar ALI, Department of Civil Engineering, National School of Public Works, ENSTP, Ndjamena, Chad.

3Jean-Michel Mechling, Department of Civil Engineering, University of Lorraine (LERMAB) Nancy, France.

4André DONNOT, Department of Civil Engineering, University of Lorraine (LERMAB) Nancy, France.

5Salif GAYE, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Iba Der Thiam University Thies, Senegal.

Manuscript received on 29 August 2023 | Revised Manuscript received on 05 September 2023 | Manuscript Accepted on 15 October 2023 | Manuscript published on 30 October 2023 | PP: 32-36 | Volume-13 Issue-1, October 2023 | Retrieval Number: 100.1/ijeat.A42931013123 | DOI: 10.35940/ijeat.A4293.1013123

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© The Authors. Blue Eyes Intelligence Engineering and Sciences Publication (BEIESP). This is an open access article under the CC-BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)

Abstract: The need for energy for the purpose of thermal comfort in buildings is constantly growing. To minimize this need, we can improve the performance of the building envelope, which is the seat of several thermal stresses, which encourages us to develop, apart from renewable or alternative energies, construction materials for buildings capable of storing energy. For this, the integration of innovative passive materials in the building envelope makes it possible to reduce energy consumption and ensure thermal comfort in countries with a very hot climate such as the desert zone of Chad. We were thus interested in the characterization of diatomite which is used to build a good majority of dwellings in the Lake Chad, Kanem and BET regions. To this end, samples of diatomite used in the construction were taken from Faya, the capital of the far north of Chad, on which we carried out mineralogical analyzes as well as thermal and mechanical characterization. Observations at the SEM, analyzes by fluorescence of rays X and Diffractograms clearly confirm pure diatomite. Furthermore, the results of the various thermo-physical and mechanical tests presented a material which has a low mechanical resistance but a good thermal resistance. Therefore, the diatomite which has been the subject of this study has no negative effect on the environment, it is an excellent thermal insulation material capable of storing thermal energy in buildings.

Keywords: Diatomite, Mineralogical Analysis, Thermal Resistance, Mechanical Resistance, Thermal Storage.
Scope of the Article: Mechanical Design