RT Journal Article ID 43d1b23139cce41c A1 Collet, Florence A1 Bart, Marjorie A1 Serres, Laurent A1 Miriel, Jacques T1 POROUS STRUCTURE AND HYDRIC PROPERTIES OF COB JF Journal of Porous Media JO JPM YR 2010 FD 2010-03-01 VO 13 IS 2 SP 111 OP 124 K1 porosity K1 hydric K1 sorption K1 permeability K1 diffusivity AB The aim of this work is to determine porous structure and hydric properties of cob, a local traditional material of the Rennes basin in Brittany (France) that is now used in low-energy buildings for its hygrothermal properties: this material shows low thermal conductivity (0.4 W m−1 K−1), high thermal capacity (815 J kg−1 K−1), and is said to bean efficient hydric regulator. This material, made of clay and reinforced with animal or vegetal fibers, is traditionally pressed in situ. Nowadays, manually compacted blocks of cob are prefabricated and are stabilized with a low quantity of cement (3% to 5% of clay mass). In this work, porous structure and hydric properties are investigated experimentally. The pore size distribution is measured by mercury porosimetry. Water vapor sorption isotherm (adsorption and desorption) and water vapor permeability are investigated by measuring weight differences according to time at 23° C. Then, porous structure and hydric properties are coupled in a theoretical study. The pore size distribution is computed from water vapor sorption. The specific surface area is then computed from mercury porosimetry and from water vapor sorption isotherm. From water vapor sorption and permeability measures, the water vapor diffusivity is evaluated. PB Begell House LK https://www.dl.begellhouse.com/journals/49dcde6d4c0809db,34e733a734651790,43d1b23139cce41c.html