Development of Particleboard from Green Coconut Waste

In this study, green coconut waste was successfully transformed into coconut fibre-based particleboards. In addition to urea-formaldehyde (UF), two types of green binder: BST00 (low ammoniated latex and epoxidized natural rubber latex-based) and BST20 (epoxidized natural rubber latex-based) were used in particleboard fabrication. The particleboards were fabricated using coconut pith and fibre with 15% binder loading through two pre-compression steps followed by a final hot compression at 140 °C for 15 mins at ∼2.1 MPa. Board properties such as density, thickness swelling (TS), water absorption (WA), and internal bond (IB) strength were determined in accordance with JIS A 5908 standard, except for modulus of rupture (MOR) (ASTM D1037). BST00-bonded particleboards exhibit the poorest properties among the three samples, making BST00 the least effective binder. BST20-bonded particleboards show the best overall properties with the highest density of ∼1 g/cm3, IB value of 0.416 MPa, MOR of 11.61 MPa, best water resistance with TS of 14% and WA of 24%. The UF-bonded particleboards have the highest MOR of 12.05 MPa. Overall, the UF- and BST20-bonded coir particleboards met the minimum JIS A 5908 requirement except density (0.4-0.9 g/cm3) and TS (<12%). The green binder BST20 has shown great potential to replace UF.

Renovation Effect of Flax FRP-Reinforced Cracked Concrete Slabs under Impact Loadings

The impact behaviour of flax fibre-reinforced polymer (FFRP) renovated coconut fibre-reinforced concrete (CFRC) slabs was investigated through two series of experiments and theoretical analysis. The first experiment was carried out to find out the effectiveness of FFRP retrofitted method for the partly damaged concrete structure and its performance under impact loadings. The renovation process was applied on the pre-cracked rectangular CFRC slabs of 600 mm × 300 mm × 50 mm with FFRP laminates, before the repeated impact tests. Then, the parameters of these slabs, i.e., impact force history, deflection history and damage pattern, were discussed in detail. Another experiment was conducted on the FFRP-CFRC square slabs with a dimension of 600 mm × 600 mm × 50 mm. Based on test results, the effect of different FFRP configurations was discussed to find out the effective reinforcement method. In addition, the two-degree-of-freedom spring-mass model was applied to predict the impact force. Results demonstrate that FFRP composites have a good potential to be utilised as renovated construction materials under dynamic load conditions.

Species introductions through coconut fibre

Based on plant material collected in the forest nursery of the Balearic Island Forestry Center (CEFOR) for autochthonous plant production and the University of the Balearic Islands experimental facilities, two new plant records are presented for the Mediterranean island of Mallorca. Dactyloctenium aegyptium, an invasive grass previously recorded in other areas of the Mediterranean basin, and Glinus oppositifolius, a new record for the European flora. In both cases the species are presumed to have arrived through contaminated batches of the coconut fibre substrate used in both facilities.

Review on Strengthening the Characteristics of Concrete Using Oil Coated Coconut Fibre

Sustainability is a widely acknowledged concept in modern day construction scenario. Although the construction industry is transforming in a substantial way in terms of the material used and the equipment used, the construction cost has risen steeply along with the worse impact on the environment due to this it has resulted in the acceptance of method like the use of natural fiber for example Coconut fibre for improving the strength of concrete. Coconut fiber is easily and widely available in abundance, which makes it fairly sustainable as form of reinforcement material in concrete. The use of coconut fibre as in form of reinforcement has also emerged as new source of income for the coconut producer. In addition, it can also be seen as a new effective way for the discarding of coir mattress wastage. The major problem of coconut fibre i.e. high water absorption rate of the fibre can be reduced to certain extent by coating the fibres with appropriate oil. In addition to this, the fibres which are naturally occurring is also ecologically sustainable and can lower the global carbon track effectively. This study aims to analyse the difference in strength of coconut fibre (processed fibres coated with oil and oil raw fibres coated with oil) reinforced concrete at various fibre contents and to collate it with the traditional concrete. The different strength aspects which are analysed in this study are the tensile, compressive and flexural strength of the concrete reinforced with coconut fibre at different percentages like 4%, 5% & 6% by the weight of cement of fibre. The optimum percentage of the raw fibre meshes and processed fibre were found and the optimum percentage of super-plasticizer required for the desired workability was also examined.

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.

Effect of grafting and growing media on the chosen fruit quality compounds and sensory parameters of sweet pepper (Capsicum annuum L.)

Grafting is an effective tool in intensive vegetable growing systems that provides standard quality and yield. In the present study, the effect of two rootstocks (‘Capsifort F1’ and ‘Snooker F1’) on two commercial varieties (‘SV9702 F1’ and ‘Karpex F1’) grown on two media (soil and coconut fibre) was evaluated. During our 2-year study, those instrumental attributes, which have a dominant effect on the chosen chemical components of fruit quality (total soluble solids and titratable acidity) were investigated. Sensory tests were also implemented in order to identify any changes due to the applied technological combinations. Sensory profile analysis was used to identify the descriptive attributes and their perceived intensities. Panellists worked in individual booths with standard lighting, test results were recorded with the Profisens software. In general, it can be concluded that the major instrumental and sensory parameters did not deteriorate as a result of grafting and the application of coconut fibre medium. Some attributes were identified, where the grafted plants on coconut fibre medium showed higher values, namely flesh thickness and shape. Based on our results, grafting and the application of coconut medium is a feasible technological development for growers and agri-business companies.