Fadhila MouissaAzzedine BenyahiaMokhtar DjehicheKamel BelmokreNadir DeghfelAli RedjemZine El Abidine Rahmouni2022-06-192022-06-192022http://dspace.univ-msila.dz:8080//xmlui/handle/123456789/29646This study investigates the effect of the chemical treatment of sawdust on the mechanical and 16 thermal properties of a clay composite reinforced with sawdust in variable mass proportions: 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2 and 17 2.5%, intended for use as brick in rural houses in desert areas. The sawdust was chemically treated with 5 wt% 18 NaOH and 0.01 wt% KMnO4 solutions. The mechanical test results of the reinforced composite with alkali- 19 treated sawdust show an increase in flexural and compression strength, reaching a maximum value of 0.89 and 20 4.85 MPa, respectively. However, the thermal test results show a significant decrease in the thermal conductivity 21 of the sawdust-reinforced composite. The best result recorded is that of untreated sawdust, which has a value of 22 0.37 (W.m 1.K 1) compared to the one reinforced with treated sawdustsawdust / clay / thermal conductivity / mechanical properties / chemical treatmentArticle