Characterization of Diatomite for Its use in Construction: Case Diatomite Sampled in Northern Chad

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.