Abstract　To　make　effective　use　of　plant　leaves　as　an　environment-friendly　heat-insulating　building　material,　our　research　group　has　tested　five　poplar　leaf　modification　methods　to　improve　compatibility　between　leaf　fibres　and　cement-based　materials.　The　work　involved　testing　water　absorption　of　before　and　after　modification　of　leaf　fibres,　the　setting　time　and　hydration　heat　of　the　fibre-cement　paste,　and　analysed　the　mechanisms　and　effect　of　fibre　modification　methods　on　compatibility　between　fibres　and　cement-based　materials.　The　results　show　that　processing　of　fibres　with　surface　coating　and　dipping　methods　improved　compatibility　between　fibres　and　cement-based　materials　to　some　extent　and　in　different　aspects.　Overall,　the　following　three　methods　gave　superior　performance:　pure　acrylic　polymer　emulsion　spraying,　sodium　silicate　solution　spraying　and　water　dipping.　©　2015　Elsevier　Ltd.