Hemp shive is the chopped fibrous stem of the hemp plant. It has high thermal insulation and moisture absorption properties making it suitable for building materials like hempcrete, which is a mixture of hemp shive, lime, and water. Hemp shive has advantages like being sustainable, renewable, and having low embodied energy and carbon. However, it also has disadvantages like low compressive strength and requiring a supporting structure. Further research is needed to improve the cost and performance of hemp shive building materials to drive wider adoption.
Hemp shive is the chopped fibrous stem of the hemp plant. It has high thermal insulation and moisture absorption properties making it suitable for building materials like hempcrete, which is a mixture of hemp shive, lime, and water. Hemp shive has advantages like being sustainable, renewable, and having low embodied energy and carbon. However, it also has disadvantages like low compressive strength and requiring a supporting structure. Further research is needed to improve the cost and performance of hemp shive building materials to drive wider adoption.
Hemp shive is the chopped fibrous stem of the hemp plant. It has high thermal insulation and moisture absorption properties making it suitable for building materials like hempcrete, which is a mixture of hemp shive, lime, and water. Hemp shive has advantages like being sustainable, renewable, and having low embodied energy and carbon. However, it also has disadvantages like low compressive strength and requiring a supporting structure. Further research is needed to improve the cost and performance of hemp shive building materials to drive wider adoption.
What is Hemp Shive? Chopped fibrous stem of the Hemp plant.
Hemp Shive
Hemp core has a high silica content which is unique among natural fibres. Production of Hemp Shive Can be grown virtually anywhere
Does not require pesticides
Reversal effect on environmental deterioration
Natural low carbon footprint
Grows very quickly and in small spaces
No wastage as every element of crop can be used Properties of Hemp Shive Breathable construction material
Naturally absorbs CO 2
Very hydrophilic (can absorb up to 450% its own weight)
High thermal insulation
Flexible and malleable
Alternative to aggregate in certain applications
High silica content which allows it to bind well with the lime binder used for Hempcrete
What is Hempcrete? Applications In Construction Hempcrete Mixture of Hemp Shives, Lime Based Binder and Water Usually contains cement/inorganic material To optimise composite properties, 40% of mix is Hemp Shive
Insulation
Wall Coverings
Plaster/Stucco
Flooring Products Polypropylene Hemp Shive composites Processed using plastic forming methods e.g. extrusion
Fibre board
Hempcrete Advantages Low embodied energy High embodied carbon Very good thermal insulation properties Good noise insulation properties Breathes, key to the prevention of condensation Resistant to rodent, insect, fungi and bacteria attack Flexible and crack resistant Visually attractive and pliable Lightweight (Appx. 1/7 th the weight of concrete) Improves with age Sustainable and Recyclable Non-toxic Low density in comparison to Concrete
Hempcrete Disadvantages Typical compressive strength of 1MPa hence can not be used as a structural element 1/20 of that of concrete
Density only 15% that of concrete (however this could be good!)
Walls must be supported by a frame (timber/masonry)
Territorial legislation Red tape Expensive imports (reduces the carbon negativity)
Complicated initial start-up
Can not be used for foundation construction
Extensive exposure to moisture can significantly deteriorate properties
Comparison
COMPARE AGAINST A TRADITIONAL CONSTRUCTION MATERIAL Applications Outside Construction The Need For Further Innovation Research needed to drive down cost Niche market in Europe Cost must be lowered and technology adopted to reduce fuel demand due to import
Positive impact on environment through use of Hemp Shive
The ability to achieve better than zero carbon through further innovation across the entire industry
Small number of successful buildings in the UK
Significant barriers to the wider uptake of hemp shive lime Lack of confidence in use/performance of plant based material No design guidance (including construction detail/specification) Limited understanding of hygrothermal behaviour The Future Huge investment required
Incentives to grow more crop
Generate and capture robust scientific and engineering knowledge of the raw material to characterise: Physical properties Mechanical properties