DEVELOPMENT OF CHICKEN FEATHER REINFORCED INSULATION PAPERBOARD FROM WASTE CARTON AND PORTLAND CEMENT

Abstract

Cartons and chicken feathers are common wastes which we need to dispose in one way or another. Disposal problems associated with these wastes can be solved by processing them into useful products such as insulation and ceiling boards. In this study, chicken feather reinforced ceiling board was developed from waste carton and Portland cement. The quantity of the chicken feather was kept constant at 10% based on previous findings, while the cement and waste carton contents were varied to produce 5 samples of different compositions. The density of the board was found to range between 337.8 and 700.7 kg/m2, while the thickness swelling ranges between 0.81 and 9.02%. Water absorption values of the samples varied between 7.16 and 24.41%, while the compressive strength and modulus of elasticity values varied from 4.8 - 10.3 N/mm2 and 1.03 - 1.60 GPa, respectively. The values of modulus of rupture ranges between 1.34 and 2.2 MPa while the thermal conductivity of the samples ranges from 0.951 to 1.077 W/m.K. Density, compressive strength, modulus of elasticity, modulus of rupture and thermal conductivity of the samples increased as the cement content increased, while the thickness swelling and water absorption decreased with increase in cement content. The results revealed that the properties of ceiling boards developed from 80% cement, 10% carton and 10% chicken feather can compete favorably with most ceiling boards available in the market.