wood-cement composites using suitable mix of sandust and fibres from veins of palm tree leaves.

Abstract

Some tropical wood species are currently used in wood work and generating an important quantity of wood waste in Benin western Africa recycling this wastes through building material is a way to solve environmental challenge but the wood resources are not inexhaustible and vegetable fibers such as Eleais guineensis fibers obtained from veins of palm tree leaves are available in the nature the main concern of the study is to determine the must suitable mixes of E. guineensis fibers and five West African hardwood species namely Diospiras mespiliformis, Khaya grandifoliola, Tectona grandis Pterocarpus erinaceus and Isoberlina doka for wood-composites. The compability with cement of mixes of fibers and sawdust is studied based on measurements of heat hydration and compability indices. The tensile and the compressive strengthsof the composites were determined to evaluate the potential of the mixes. The results show that the woody residus inhibit the hydration reactions of cement and greatly more then containing E. guineensis fibers. Hydratation tests indicated that all the mixes could be rated as having moderate to good compatibility cement after hot water treatment. Mechanical test showed that the mixes containing Isoberline doka, Tectona , grandis and Khaya grandifoliola sawdust provided the highest mechanical strengths.