Application of Hemp Hurds in the Preparation of Biocomposites

Hemp is a controversial bio-product with promising performance as a sustainable building material. The fact that hemp is an organic, natural product makes it highly relevant in the present reality of global pollution and struggle for coping with planetary warming. The construction sector is among the leading industries when it comes to energy consumption, release of CO₂; it is responsible for great amounts of waste and pollution. The research and implementation of sustainable building materials is a crucial necessity in the modern times. Hemp (Cannabis sativa) is an agricultural crop that can be used as a building material in combination with conventional or alternative binders. Hemp composites have many advantages as a building material, but it is not load-bearing and must be used in combination with a loadbearing wooden frame. Despite this disadvantage, hemp composite materials offer several of appropriate properties, namely: low density, good thermal insulation, antiseptic and breathability. This paper studies the possibility of preparing the lightweight composites based on hemp hurds (treated and/or untreated) as a filler and alternative MgO-cement as a binder. Properties of hemp composites are characterized by mechanical and physical methods.