Alkaline treatments on EFB fibre: the effect on mechanical-physical properties and fibre-cement hydration rate

The natural fibres commonly used to enhance the brittleness of the cement matrix but appropriate fibre should be used for a particular purpose depending upon the type of fibre and characteristics. The Oil Palm Empty Fruit Bunch (EFB) fibre is one of the major crops in Malaysia, which contribute large scale of waste that is durable and make it reasonable for utilization in cement-based product. However, the presence of hemicellulose, lignin and extractive (oil, sugar and starch) affect the performance of EFB fibre and causes an incompatibility of EFB fibre and cement. Hence, this research is been conducted to explore the suitable proportion of Sodium Hydroxide (NaOH) treatment for EFB fibre to increase the compatibility of cement with EFB fibre. The NaOH concentration of 0.2%, 0.4%, 0.6%, 0.8%, 1%, 2%, 3% and 4% were used in this study as a chemical pre-treatment of EFB fibre for surface morphology observation and hydration rate test. Meanwhile for only untreated fibre, fibre treated with 0.4% (low concentration), 1% (medium concentration) and 4% (high concentration) of alkali treatment were tested for tensile strength of single EFB fibre. The fibre treated with NaOH has shown a significant different on the hydration temperature for EFB fibre- cement mixed compared with the untreated fibre. The higher NaOH concentration, the greater hydration temperatures obtain. The Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) image show that the increment NaOH concentration applied, the rougher EFB fibre surface is observed with lesser silica body remain. The tensile properties of individual fibre treated with NaOH (0.4%, 1% and 4%) has shown significant increment as compare to the untreated fibre with the highest tensile properties mean value 422.90 N/mm2 at 4% NaOH concentration

Coconut fibre and sawdust as green building materials: a laboratory assessment on physical and mechanical properties of particleboards

This paper evaluates, via a laboratory assessment, the physical properties (BS EN 323:1993, BS EN 324) and mechanical performance (BS EN 310: 1993) of hybrid particleboards using agricultural wastes, namely coconut fibre and sawdust. The process begins with the preparation of the materials where they are sieved and retained with the 5-mm sieve and then oven-dried. The hybrid particleboard mixed with the addition of resin (urea formaldehyde) was sprayed and hot pressed. The hot press temperature was set at 180◦ C, with the resin content of 8 wt.% and the design density of 650 kg/m3 used in producing the particleboard. The percentage/ratio of the composition of sawdust (SD) to coconut fibre (CF) varied ranging from 100SD:0CF to 70SD:30CF, 50SD:50CF, 30SD:70CF, and 0SD:100CF. Meanwhile, as for the thickness of the boards, it was categorised into three groups which are 16 mm, 20 mm, and 32 mm. The particleboards were conditioned to the room temperature for seven days before being tested for physical properties and mechanical performances. The results show that the most optimum composition of sawdust to coconut fibre is 0% sawdust to 100% coconut fibre (0SD: 100CF) and the optimum thickness is 20 mm, where its density is 761.99 kg/m3, swelling thickness is 11.98%, and water absorption at 37.64%. With the modulus of elasticity of 1510 N/mm2, the modulus of rupture of 17.8 N/mm2, and the internal bonding of 1.08 N/mm2, they satisfied the universal standard of Particleboard Type P3 of BS EN 312:2010

Time-lag analysis of potential waste materials as thermal insulation in tropical climate: A preliminary investigation

Energy consumption has shown that residential building is among the main contributors of energy demand. Besides, the harsh climatic conditions have causes substantial amount of energy which contributes indirectly towards the impact on carbon emission to the nations. Hence, this research utilised the potential agricultural wastes materials that is potential for insulate the thermal building performance. The outer and inner surface temperature has been measured on selected seven (7) type of wastes material from agricultural and processing sector every 30 minutes from 0900hr to 1800hr for a day in order to determine the decrement factors (DF), average daily time-lag for heat transfer as one of the thermal insulation properties. Results on the time-lag for all selected potential waste materials as thermal insulation whereas sugarcane bagasse is the lowest 107.5 minutes, followed by both coffee grounds and coconut husk with 130 minutes and wood wool with 132.5 minutes. Meanwhile, empty fruit bunch, coconut fibre and pineapple leave with time-lag of 140 minutes, 142.5 minutes and 145 minutes respectively are the highest time-lag occurred. Generally, the lowest Tis is the better the thermal performance therefore, coconut fibre with smaller DF, larger LT but slightly higher Tis than EFB (32°C) which is 32.2 °C might be the suitable material use as thermal insulation