Automatic Processing of Natural Fibres for Industrial Manufacturing of Fibre Reinforced Earth Plasters

A European research activity under title Innovative production of high quality indoor earth plaster by adding natural fibre is realizing new industrial processes for manufacturing traditional building materials. Earth plaster reinforced by natural fibres is a healthy alternative to the use of cement, lime or gypsum based plasters still producing almost the same treatment and strength properties. In comparison to the common earth plasters additives like straw, hemp or lax, natural fibre binds the mineral components symmetrically in all directions producing an isotropic strength property. The problem is now how to automate the fibre treatment process softly enough to keep fibre structure undamaged during different process phases. Industrial process consists of unit processes for receiving of raw material, separation of fibres, and separation of seeds and bones, volumetric weighing of fibre and finally packing of the fibres in bags, whose size is compatible with the batch size in the plaster production plant. The development process of the fibre handling line has been realized in two steps. The first one includes a set of small-scale laboratory tests of the unit processes as separated and the second one the design and build-up of a pilot plant in a scale, which represents a full production line capable of small production of fibres for earth plasters to be used in limited number of demonstration houses. The experiences of these developments will be utilized later in the design and delivery of a full-scale mass production plant for the fast growing European plaster markets.