| Abstrakt: |
This study is aimed at assessing the practicability of harnessing the properties of the plaster of Paris (POP) ceiling to improve its use in thermal insulation by combining it with oil palm mesocarp fiber (OPMF). Various weight proportions of the OPMF were used to replace the POP during the fabrication of the samples. A drying process was applied to all the samples used for the study. The results obtained showed that the addition of filtered OPMF to the POP matrix improved from 0% to 40%, the change in mean values of water absorption, bulk density, thermal conductivity, specific heat capacity, thermal diffusivity, heat flow time, flakiness, and flexural strength (12.22 – 25.75) %, (1.768 – 1.407) 103 kgm-3, (0.2245 – 0.1465) Wm-1K-1, (1.498 – 1.825) 103 Jkg-1K-1, (8.477 – 5.705) 10-8 m²s-1, (9.64 – 14.37) mins., (0.65 – 2.08) %, and (3.02 – 1.38 ) N/mm² respectively. The study showed that the addition of the OPMF to the POP matrix enhanced the efficiency of POP as a ceiling material with excellent heatinsulating ability and could be effective in buildings. If this model is effectively implemented, it would not only be useful as a good thermal insulator but also help mitigate the pollution usually experienced as a result of improper disposal of oil palm fiber. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
