Abstract
This study was designed to evaluate the physical and mechanical properties of cement-bonded composite made from oil palm (Elaeisguineensis) empty fruit bunch (OPEFB) fibres. The production variables investigated were pre-treatment of fibres with water at varying temperatures (cold, 60 °C and 100 °C), five chemical additive (NaOH) concentrations (2%, 4%, 6%, 8%, and 10%), OPEFB fibres ash content at three cement replacement levels (10%, 20%, and 30%) and three fibre contents (5%, 10%, and 15%) by weight of cement. The composites were tested for modulus of elasticity (MOE), modulus of rupture (MOR), internal bonding strength (IBS), compressive strength, density, thickness swelling (TS), and water absorption (WA). The pre-treatment of fibre with water at a temperature of 60 °C and a NaOH concentration of 8% significantly enhanced and modified the performance of the composites. It increased MOE (from 5.5 to 8.9 GPa) and MOR (from 3.6 to 7.3 MPa), and decreased WA (from 26.2 to 12.8%) and TS (from 2.5 to 0.5%). The results revealed that pre-treatment of fibres, partially replacing cement with OPEFB fibre ash and fibre contents had a marked influence on the properties of the composite board produced (p < 0.05). It was concluded that pre-treatment of OPEFB fibres, when optimised, enhanced the sorption resistance and some mechanical properties of the cement composite.
Highlights
One of the most abundant agricultural wastes in Nigeria is the by-product of oil palm processing factories, which is oil palm empty fruit bunch (OPEFB) fibre
The physical and mechanical properties were investigated as functions of OPEFB fibres pre-treatment in water at different temperatures, as well as in a solution containing sodium hydroxide at different concentrations
(2) There were significant differences in water absorption (WA) and thickness swelling (TS) values when untreated and pre-treated OPEFB fibres were used for cement composite production
Summary
One of the most abundant agricultural wastes in Nigeria is the by-product of oil palm processing factories, which is oil palm empty fruit bunch (OPEFB) fibre. OPEFB fibres are extracted by a retting process from empty fruit bunch. OOiill PPaallmm EEmmppttyy FFrruuiitt BBuunncchh CCoolllleeccttiioonn aanndd PPrreeppaarraattiioonn. TThhee bbuunncchh wwaass mmaannuuaallllyy sseeppaarraatteedd aanndd ccuutt iinnttoo ffiibbrreess ooff 1155 ttoo 2200mmmm iinn lleennggtthh. PPrree--TTrreeaattmmeenntt ooff OOiill PPaallmm EEmmppttyy FFrruuiitt BBuunncchh FFiibbrreess wwiitthh SSooddiiuumm HHyyddrrooxxiiddee SSoolluuttiioonn. AAsshhiinnggtthhee OOiill PPaallmm FFiibbrreess ffoorr PPaarrttiiaall RReeppllaacceemmeenntt ooff CCeemmeenntt TThhee OOPPEEFFBB ffiibbrree wwaass aasshheedd iinn aa mmuufflfflee ffuurrnnaaccee aatt aa tteemmppeerraattuurree ooff550000°◦CC iinn aa llaabboorraattoorryy uunnttiill mmiillkkyy wwhhiittee ccoolloouurr wwaass aacchhiieevveedd iinnddiiccaattiinngg tthheerree wwaass nnoo uunn--bbuurrnntt ccaarrbboonn pprreesseenntt. The OPEFB fibre–cement composite was produced by dry-mixing the fibres, cement, and sand in a pTlhaestOicPcEoFnBtaifniberreu–cnetmil aenhtocmomogpeonsoitueswmaisxtpurroedwucaesdacbhyiedvreyd-m.
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