The Utilization of Coconut Fibre into Fired Clay Brick

Abstract

Over the year, agricultural establishment produced many types of waste in its daily operation. Coconut fibre for example is one of the most abundant agricultural wastes produced in Malaysia. Despite the massive amount of the waste produced, the standards of waste management in Malaysia are still poor. The main purpose of this study is to focus on the potential of coconut fibre utilization into fired clay bricks. The objectives of this study are to determine the characteristics of coconut fibre, to identify the gas emissions during firing process from coconut fibre brick and to investigate the physical and mechanical properties of from coconut fibre (1%, 3% and 5%) incorporation into fired clay brick. All the bricks were fired in a furnace up to 1050°C at 1°C/min. The gas emissions that were measured are carbon monoxide (CO), carbon dioxide (CO2) and sulphur dioxide (SO2). Based on the three gases, the results showed that CO2 is the highest gas emission produced during the firing process. Physical and mechanical properties tested are total shrinkage, dry density and compressive strength. Results found that by adding different percentages of coconut fibre, most of the properties were complied with the standards except for the compressive strength of 5% of coconut fibre in clay brick. Therefore, the utilization of coconut fibre could be one of the alternative disposal methods for agriculture waste and it will also provide low-cost material for brick that produce adequate physical and mechanical properties.