incorporating solid by-products of agricultural wastes
particles/fibres/flakes/chips as an alternative to 'wood' aggregates in a
cement-bonded particle/fiber board.
After spending some time compiling and digesting materials that I managed
to lay my hand on, I've decided to pursue this idea according to the
following procedures:
1. 'wood' aggregates to cement ratio of 1:2 to 4 (say, 3)
2. water content of between 25% to 35% (say, 30%)
3. particles/aggregates passing a sieve size of approximately 1 mm
4. oven-cured at 80oC between 6-8 hours (say, 8 hours) to facilitate board handling
5. 2-4 weeks of further curing (say, 4 weeks)
6. physical and mechanical tests on specimens prepared from the boards
What do you think of the steps? Are they acceptable and if they are, are
there any missing steps? If they are not acceptable, could you suggest
the right/appropriate steps to be followed in the laboratory-production
of the above-mentioned boards. What would be the pressure at which the board should be
subjected to in the oven?
Your expert suggestions and ideas are greatly appreciated and I look
forward to receiving your comments.
Thank you very much.
Azmi Ibrahim.
