Materials Today: Proceedings 45 (2021) 6369–6371

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A study report on carbon sequestration by using Hempcrete

Vinay Kumar G a, Ravi Ramadoss a,⇑, Rampradheep G.S b
a
SRM Institute of Science & Technology, Department of Civil Engineering, Kattankulathur, Tamil Nadu, India
b
Kongu Engineering College, Department of Civil Engineering, Tamil Nadu, India

a r t i c l e i n f o a b s t r a c t

Article history: Usage of energy efficient materials and zero carbon emission materials have become a latest trend in con-
Received 25 October 2020 struction industry many of these materials include agriculture and industrial residue one among those
Accepted 3 November 2020 materials are hempcrete. Hempcrete is a new building material consists of two major components they
Available online 27 February 2021
are hemp shiv and lime-based binders. A woody core of cannabis sativa plant chopped into small particles
is called as hemp shiv, lime-based binders are made by mixing of binders which has high content of
Keywords: hydrated lime which may include natural hydraulic lime, pozzolans, cements etc. hempcrete cannot be
Energy efficient materials
used as load a load bearing wall structure due to its poor compressive strength but it has good thermal
Carbon emission
Lime
and insulation properties which can be used as filling material with structural frame and as insulation
Hempcrete material for existing walls, roofs, and floors. Hempcrete can be made as monolithic walls by arranging
Carbon sequestration form work with desired thickness or precast blocks, prefabricated wall panel this paper emphasizes about
fundamental properties of hempcrete in different aspects and their performance.
Ó 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Selection and peer-review under responsibility of the scientific committee of the International Confer-
ence on Mechanical, Electronics and Computer Engineering 2020: Materials Science.

1. Introduction By differing the blend plan, hemp-lime materials may likewise

Hempcrete lime is a current development material. The composite
material joins quickly developing inexhaustible and carbon seques-
trating plant-based totals (hemp shiv) with a lime-based cover to
shape a lightweight material that is fit to different development appli-
cations, including strong dividers, rooftop protection, and under-floor
protection and as a major aspect of the timber-surrounded structure
[1]. It likewise offers great warm and acoustic execution and the
capacity to manage inward relative stickiness through hygroscopic
material conduct, adding to more beneficial structure spaces and giv-
ing compelling warm mass [2] Table 1 Table 2.
A lightweight hempcrete-lime composite is framed by blending
hempcrete shiv and a lime-based fastener [3]. The lime ties the
hemp totals together, invigorating the material unobtrusive basic
and solidness. Lime likewise shields the shiv from natural rot,
mostly through its capacity to wick water away from the hemp
shiv and its high alkalinity, just as giving fundamental impervious-
ness to fire [4]. Hempcrete lime can be utilized to shape strong
non-load-bearing boards, commonly as a major aspect of timber
or other confined structures.
⇑ Corresponding author.
E-mail address: ravi.ra@ktr.srmuniv.ac.in (R. Ramadoss).
be utilized in denser or lighter composites for floor protection
and rooftop protection a few investigations have indicated that
hemp-lime has great warm and acoustic protection properties.
The lightweight hemp-lime assimilates sound, hosing transmission
through dividers and different components.
It likewise gives a creative method of meeting the undeniably
rigid warm protection necessities of the Building Regulations.
The carbon sequestration and capacity limit of hemp-lime is a huge
advantage of the material.
Hempcrete is a bio-total based common (low-sway) envelope
and a protection framework. It is a composite material made out
of hemp shiv (hurd), lime cover, and water. Hemp dividers can
have a few unmistakable points of interest including vitality effec-
tive execution, feasible OBC standard, superb degree of air tight-
ness and low warm crossing over, recyclable and delivered
utilizing sustainable sources, high dampness buffering, great exe-
cution imperviousness to fire, high acoustic execution, high tough-
ness and high carbon sequestration [5].
It’s warm properties are subject to the materials contributed,
blend extents, measure of water utilized, the level of porosity,
and the last thickness. Hempcrete has a conductivity of 0.076–
0.11 W/mK when blended in with a gentle to direct pressure-

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matpr.2020.11.012
2214-7853/Ó 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Selection and peer-review under responsibility of the scientific committee of the International Conference on Mechanical, Electronics and Computer Engineering 2020:
Materials Science.
Vinay Kumar G, R. Ramadoss and R. G.S Materials Today: Proceedings 45 (2021) 6369–6371

Table 1 property it has a wide variety of applications. pH in hydrated lime

Properties of hemp. remains for a long time due to this it protects hemp from allowing
S. No Properties Values in the growth of fungus and bacterial attack and biological decay.
3
1 Specific Gravity (G/Mm ) 1.5
2 Moisture Absorption (%) 9.40 ± 0.53 4. Methodology of the study
3 Water Absorption (%) 85–105
4 Tensile Strength (MPa) 900
Hempcrete cannot be made as a load bearing wall structure so it
5 Modulus Of Elasticity (Gpa) 34
6 Bulk Density (kg/m3) 115 is framed to a monolithic wall structure or prefabricated wall panel
due to its poor compressive strength but hempcrete is used as good
Table 2 sound insulation material and it absorbs high amount of carbon
Chemical composition of Hemp. compared to other plant based materials so this study is about
investigating the carbon sequestrated and other parameters by
S. No Chemical Values
preparing prefabricated wall panels as shown in Fig. 1a and precast
1 Cellulose 50–60%
bricks as shown in Fig. 1b and using them in the slums to find the
2 Hemicelluloses 15–20%
3 Lignin 20–30%,
results according to the Indian climatic conditions.
4 Pectin 4–5%
5. Fundamental parameters
driven lime comprising of  85% hydrated lime and  15% mud or
pozzolans [6]. 5.1. Compressive strength

2. Scope Compressive strength is a major parameter that is considered

This paper aims to quantify the total carbon sequestration
achieved by lime hemp concrete through its biogenic and non-
biogenic components. It’s a known fact that hemp concrete stores
carbon within itself through photosynthesis undertaken via the
hemp plant; and carbonation is undertaken by the lime primarily
based binder. For this purpose the methodology adopted is to man-
ufacture few test cubes according to the mix design derived from
the studied literature and perform compressive strength, flexural
strength, and thermal properties, acoustic properties, reaction to
fire test along with that we also perform X-Ray Diffractometric test
to estimate the amount of carbon sequestrated and CHN Elemental
analysis to know the amount of carbon dioxide already captured by
the hemp shives through photosynthesis.
3. Materials used & its properties
3.1. Hempcrete
Cannabis sativa is the botanical name of hemp; hemp is one of
the oldest cultivated plants from 8000 B.C for various industrial
purposes including the construction industry it creates high eco-
nomic value for farmers by steady sustainable production though
hemp is the by-product of the stem which are chopped in size of
1–2.5 CMS [7]. Hemp has a highly porous structure with a high
capillary capacity which can be observed inside the hemp stem
due to this it absorbs more water say like 10 times of its weight
it requires more water for mixing and maintaining workability [8].
for every construction material it reflects the resistance offered
by the object without changing its shape or form without undergo-
ing failure under compressive loading [10]. Various researches
have different versions on the compressive strength of hemp
though hemp is a natural product we cannot ensure the exact
strength it may vary from one to another due to many parameters
like type of hemp, type of binder used, the proportion of binder
used, etc [11]. In this paper, we will conduct an experimental
approach to study the compressive strength of Hempcrete by using
various mix proportion combinations if required we will add
admixtures to achieve strength.
5.2. Flexural strength
Flexural strength is defined as the ability to resist the bending
stress from various literature studies it was found that hemp con-
crete is good at taking flexural stress in some literature it also says
that the flexural strength increases by increasing the amount of
binder content [12]. By performing the experimental study, we
can justify them
5.3. Thermal properties
To design an energy-efficient building a designer should have
an idea about the thermal properties of the materials used in the

3.2. Binder characteristics

The lime-based binder is used as a binding agent the major rea-

son for choosing lime as the binder is it is easily available and com-
patible with hemp rather than cement also it has a property of
carbonation [9]; lime can be classified as four types they are:

1. Quick lime.
2. Fat lime.
3. Slaked lime.
4. Hydraulic lime.

Among the four types of lime, we choose hydraulic lime because

it has a quick initial setting time and it has high compressive
strength than any other lime and it is lighter in weight due to this Fig. 1a. Hempcrete as monolithic wall panel.

6370
Vinay Kumar G, R. Ramadoss and R. G.S
Fig. 1b. Hempcrete as precast bricks.
building so that we can calculate the amount of heat released from
them hempis known for its high thermal capacity when compared
with conventional cement concrete [13]. Based on the type of
hemp we chose the R-Value and U-Value varies.
5.4. Acoustic properties
Hempcrete is known for its acoustic insulation. It has a better
capability of sound absorption compared to conventional cement
concrete walls and brick walls it is also clear that any physical
parameters and chemical composition will not affect the acoustic
absorption of hemp by adding binders to the hemp it will enhance
its acoustic properties especially hydraulic lime binder has better
acoustic absorption than any other binders [14].
5.5. Fire resistance
Fire resistance is an important factor to be considered for every
building as a safety aspect not only for safety but also for the per-
missions, insurance [15]. According to a few literatures, it is clear
that structures made by hemp are interestingly fire resistant it
doesn’t catch fire that easily as a straw bale or grass. Still, we will
experiment on how hemp reacts to fire and high temperatures
[16].
5.6. X-ray diffraction test
X-Ray diffraction test is conducted to know the amount of car-
bon sequestrated by the hemp [1] many works of literature have
given various values of the amount of carbon sequestrated so we
will conduct XRD analysis for various periods and find the approx-
imate amount of carbon absorbed by the test mould and per cubic
meter in the wall panel.
5.7. CHN Elemental analysis
CHN Elemental Analysis is performed to know the amount of
carbon present in the hemp shives before adding it with binders
[1] the very few researchers adopted this method but this gives
us the exact amount of carbon sequestrated.
6. Conclusion
In this paper the researchers are trying to study feasibility of
hempcrete according to Indian climatic condition though many lit-
eratures available on hempcrete which are suitable according to
6371
Materials Today: Proceedings 45 (2021) 6369–6371
foreign countries like Australia, Canada, Russia, etc very few
research is done on the Indian climatic conditions so based on this
paper and keeping all parameters into considerations from previ-
ous literature we will conduct an experimental study on the key
parameters and find suitable solutions.
Declaration of Competing Interest
The authors declare that they have no known competing finan-
cial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared
to influence the work reported in this paper.
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Further Reading
[1] K. Srividhya, A. Mohan, M. Tholkapiyan, A. Arunraj, Earth quake disaster
mitigation through engineering design, Mater. Today Proceed. 22 (2020) 1074–
1077.
[2] P. Tronet, T. Lecompte, V. Picandet, C. Baley, Study of lime hemp concrete (LHC)
– mix design, casting Process and mechanical behavior, Cem. Concr. Compos.
67 (2016) 60–72.
[3] H. Bedlivá, N. Isaacs, Hempcrete – an environmentally friendly material?, Adv
Mater. Res. 1041 (2014) 83–86, https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net.
[4] Goasdoue, M. (2017). Hempcrete.com.au: The Australian Hempcrete
Technologists. [online] Hempcrete.com.au. Available at:http://www.
hempcrete.com.au/index.php?option=com_content.