Use of Coir Fibre Waste as an Effective Raw Material for Fibre Boards Reinforced with Natural Rubber Latex Compounds and PhenolFormaldehyde Resin
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Date
2018
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Uva Wellassa University of Sri Lanka
Abstract
Coir pith is a by-product resulted in extraction of coir from coconut husks. Small
fibre particles namely "Kato" mm) are accumulated during coir pith extraction
process as a waste material, which has been an issue in the production process.
There is a potential to utilize "Kates" as an economically viable raw material to
manufacture coir boards (CBs). CBs can be used as alternative source for Hard &
Particle Boards and other Synthetic Boards. An effort was made to develop a CB as
an alternative to the above boards evaluating the basic parameters. Processing was
undertaken using a coir cutter machine and then it was developed in to CB. Each
CB (15 x 15 x 0.5 cm) was prepared using 35 g of "Kcitu" changing the mass of
Natural Rubber Latex Compounds (NRLC) and Phenol-Formaldehyde Resin (PFR).
Mass of NRLC in CBs varied as 30, 40 and 50 g and the PFR as 5, 10, 15 and 20 g.
Having moulded, vulcanization was carried out at 120 °C for 20 min. For the CBs,
moisture content (%), density (kg m-3
), water absorption (%), swelling and physicomechanical properties such as maximum force at break (N) and maximum
elongation (%) were evaluated according to ASTM and IS standards. Tests were
carried out at 27 °C temperature. CBs were prepared successfully by optimizing the
composition. The density of CBs was within the acceptable range: 465.8 - 653.61
kg tn-3
, which is close to the density of 'Hard Boards' and 'Particle Boards'.
Moisture content, water absorption and swelling properties were up to the standards.
The force at break and maximum elongation showed an increase when the amount
of NRLC and PFR was increased. In conclusion, "Katu" can be used as an effective
raw material for manufacture of CBs reinforcing with NRCL and PFR for the use of
other boards given above.
Keywords: Coir fibre board, Natural rubber, Phenol-formaldehyde
Description
Keywords
Materials Sciences, Mineral Sciences