Physical and mechanical properties of Fique: Thermal conductivity and breaking strain

Due to the current search for new sustainable urban habitats based on new ecological materials, research work and applications related to plant dry matter – lignocellulosic fibres – obtained from wild and cultivated plants have taken on great relevance, with a growing number of publications related to this subject being found in recent years. In this study, the mechanical and thermal properties of Fique are analysed as a possible use in the secondary sector; a natural fibre native to the arid regions of America that was born as a by-product of the production of numerous products such as Tequila and whose production increases in response to growing consumer demand. Thermal conductivity was measured at steady state, using the hot plate protector method (ASTM C177), and in transient state, using the thermal needle method (ASTM D334); To this end, three levels of bulk density of the non-woven material (50, 65 and 80 kg/m3) were analysed as one of the manufacturing parameters to be prioritized. It is concluded that the fibre’s own pores are a parameter to consider, since the results suggest that the higher the density, the greater the resistance of the fibre to heat flow. On the other hand, the mechanical properties obtained in this article focus on the breaking strain; these results may open the door to new research into the use of fique in industrial processes, either to obtain semi-rigid or flexible elements or for use in natural composites.