1 Optimizing performance of insulation materials based on wheat straw, lime 1 and gypsum plaster composites using natural additives 2 3 Brahim ISMAIL 1 , Naima BELAYACHI 1 , Dashnor HOXHA 1 4 5 1 Université d’Orléans, INSA Centre Val de Loire, Université de Tours, Laboratoire de 6 Mécanique Gabriel Lamé Polytech Orléans, 8 rue Léonard de Vinci, 45072 Orléans, France 7 8 Corresponding author : 9 10 Naima Belayachi 11 Tel : 330238492502 12 Fax : 330238417063 13 E-mail address : [email protected] 14 Postal address : Laboratoire LaMé, Polytech’Orléans 15 8 Rue Léonard De Vinci 16 45072, Orléans cedex 2, France 17 18 Highlights 19 • The thermal conductivity of bio-composites is optimized using natural additives. 20 • The mechanical strength is sufficient to support the self-weight of bio-composites. 21 • Effect of additives on microstructural changes and carbonation-hydration mechanisms 22 • Changes in morphology of the binder’s microstructure influence mechanical behaviour 23 Abstract 24 The aim of this study was to optimize the thermal performances of a bio-composite based on 25 cereal straw and mineral binders. The purpose is to reduce its thermal conductivity by 26 © 2020 published by Elsevier. This manuscript is made available under the CC BY NC user license https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ Version of Record: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0950061820309648 Manuscript_c893c317c8b929c1bf9b821e2bd5c174