Forming Empty Fruit Bunch Cementboards (EFBCB) Using Hand and Hand Plus Vibration: Effect on Density, Thickness Swelling, Thickness Monitoring and Internal Bonding

Abstract

In residential housing parts, natural fiber reinforced cement-based materials are becoming increasingly applicable. Oil palm empty fruit bunches (EFB) fibres are considered one of the natural fibres providing advantages such as availability, renewability, low cost and proven fibre extraction technology. Therefore, the objective of this research is to study the effect of hand and hand plus vibration forming on Density, Thickness Swelling, Thickness Monitoring and Internal Bonding of Empty Fruit Bunch Cement Boards (EFBCB) and to propose the most suitable forming method in fabrication of EFBCB that contribute to the optimum properties of cement board. Panel boards with dimension 350 x 350 x 12 mm fabricated based on the target density 1300 kg/m³. The method were determined according to the British Standards (BS EN 317:1993). The result showed that the average density that were obtained for all sample meet the requirement British Standard, 1291.67 kg/m³, 1315.33 kg/m³, 1324.67 kg/m³ and 1349.67 kg/m³ respectively. For thickness swelling, only 2 minutes hand plus vibration that were achieved British Standard which is 1.48%. Thickness monitoring shows an increasing in every sample, 12.91, 13.16, 13.76 and 14.10. Result for internal bonding shows that hand forming have a lower value compared to the hand plus vibration. The nearest value that complied BS EN 317:1993 was 0.4808 N/mm².