Cintura, EleonoraFaria, PaulinaMolari, LuisaBarbaresi, LucaD'Orazio, DarioNunes, Lina2024-02-022024-02-022024-020926-6690PURE: 81713217PURE UUID: 5b204516-3e3f-4037-ac10-0ff5db6691bfScopus: 85177489729WOS: 001121610800001ORCID: /0000-0003-0372-949X/work/152253409http://hdl.handle.net/10362/163057This research was funded by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT- Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia), with Ph.D. grant PD/BD/150579/2020, as part of the Eco-Construction and Rehabilitation Program (EcoCoRe). The authors acknowledge Matteo Cingolani for carrying out the acoustic analysis, the technicians of LISG and DIN Labs of the University of Bologna for their help in the laboratory tests; Mirko Braga (Ingessil S.r.l) for his help and suggestion to use sodium silicate solution as an adhesive; Stefania Liuzzi and Francesco Martellotta (Polytechnic University of Bari) to provide suggestions to carry out the research; Anna Rovigatti for the important support for the acoustic analysis. Publisher Copyright: © 2023 The AuthorsArundo donax (giant reed or giant cane) is a widely available, perennial, invasive, non-food crop, present worldwide and employed for several uses, including building practices. Considering the increasing demand for sustainable building materials, A. donax can be an efficient solution. This study investigated its properties as a bio-aggregate mixed with a sodium silicate solution as an adhesive. A horizontal analysis that provided a general characterization of the composite was carried out. The results showed that the A. donax-based composite had an apparent density of 517 kg/m³, thermal conductivity of 0.128 W/(m.K), and high hygroscopicity, with a moisture buffering value of 4.33 g/(m² %RH), property that could be both an advantage for indoor comfort and a drawback. The uncommon sound absorption behaviour can be comparable to granular materials, with the highest sound absorption coefficient values, α, between 600 Hz and 700 Hz. Due to the range and the shape of the acoustic absorption property, this material may be helpful in acoustic treatments for speech noise. The mechanical tests defined flexural and compressive strength, respectively, 0.35 N/mm² and 0.9 N/mm², ensuring applicability. Above all, these tests opened new possible solutions for A. donax-based composite production either alone or in combination with other agro-industrial wastes and justified further tests, such as fire resistance and bio-susceptibility.187439532engAcoustic absorptionBio-wasteGiant reedGranular MaterialHygroscopicityMechanical propertiesAgronomy and Crop ScienceSDG 9 - Industry, Innovation, and InfrastructureSDG 12 - Responsible Consumption and Productionjournal article10.1016/j.indcrop.2023.117756https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/85177489729