MECHANICAL PROPERTIES AND WATER-ABSORPTION CHARACTERISTICS OF SELECTED NATURAL FIBERS AS A REPLACEMENT FOR ASBESTOS

Anuoluwapo Samuel Taiwo; Emmanuel Oseremen Egbodion; Adeolu Adesoji Adediran; Samuel Akinyemi Shittu; Samuel Olufemi Balogun; Olanrewaju Seun Adesina

Anuoluwapo Samuel Taiwo Department of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, Federal University of Technology, Akure, PMB 704, Ondo State, Nigeria
Emmanuel Oseremen Egbodion Department of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, Federal University of Technology, Akure, PMB 704, Ondo State, Nigeria
Adeolu Adesoji Adediran Department of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering, Landmark University, PMB 1001, Omu-Aran, Kwara State, Nigeria
Samuel Akinyemi Shittu Department of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, Federal University of Technology, Akure, PMB 704, Ondo State, Nigeria
Samuel Olufemi Balogun Department of Science Laboratory Technology, Ogun State Institute of Technology, Igbesa PMB 2005, Igbesa, Ogun State, Nigeria
Olanrewaju Seun Adesina Department of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering, Landmark University, PMB 1001, Omu-Aran, Kwara State, Nigeria

Keywords: natural fibers, waste papers/cement matrix, mechanical properties, Housing construction

Abstract

This work investigates the influence of banana (Musa Sapientum) and jute fibers as a reinforcement in a cement/waste brown paper pulp matrix for applications in housing construction in Nigeria. The natural fibers were extracted from banana trunk and cocoa sack and, thereafter, treated with 1-M sodium hydroxide (NaOH) for 2 h to expose the lignin and cellulose and thus expose the hemicellulose content of the fibers. The treated fibers were allowed to dry in air for 7 days before cutting into short fibers of 10 mm length. Paper pulp was prepared by soaking waste brown cardboard papers in water for 24 h, thereafter, it was grinded in the paper pulp machine to form a paper pulp slurry, and then sun-dried for 5 days. The treated fibers were thoroughly mixed with the dried paper pulp to develop Fiber Cement Board (FCB) samples of varied weight content (5, 10, 15, and 20) w/% using the hand lay-up technique with the aid of a cold compacting machine. Thereafter, an appropriate quantity of cement as binder and treated sugarcane bagasse as filler material were added to the mix. The developed FCB samples were allowed to cure in air in the laboratory for 28 days before testing. Flexural, compressive, thermal conductivity, and water absorption tests were carried out on the samples using a universal testing machine, Lee's disk apparatus, and the percentage weight of different immersed samples in water, respectively. The results of the mechanical properties examined showed that FCB sample D containing (10 w/% banana fiber, 10 w/% jute fiber, 15 w/% cement/bagasse and 65 w/% paper pulp) gave the optimum results for the flexural and compressive properties with a respective value of 0.843 MPa and 7.333 MPa, while FCB sample F gave the best results for the thermal conductivity and water-absorption property.

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