| dc.description.abstract | This study focuses on examining the performance of Madre de Cacao as wood fiber
insulation board. Madre de Cacao is a fast-growing tree growing to various regions,
including Davao City. The utilization of Madre de Cacao fiber has potential in providing
environmentally friendly solution by using a renewable resource that would otherwise go
to waste or rejected. A natural fiber is derived from the Madre de Cacao tree, scientifically
known as Gliricidia Sepium. This study aims to investigate the performance of Madre de
Cacao fiber as a wood fiber insulation board specifically its’ thermal conductivity, thermal
resistance, flammability, modulus of elasticity and rupture. Madre de Cacao are collected
from the field. Barks are separated after cutting down the trees. Barks are soaked in a
container for 3 weeks and washed thoroughly until the fibers are out and dried. In its dry
state, the epoxy resin is poured gradually in a form of 150mm x 300mm x 8mm fiber board.
There are 5 different mixtures (M-1, M-2, M-3, M-4, & M-5) comprising different amount
of resin and fiber. The use of resin in the combination will produces a High-Density Fiber
Board. Major qualities of an insulation board were tested to measure the performance of
the Madre de Cacao Fiber Board. These tests include Thermal Conductivity Test (ASTM
C411), Flammability Test (ASTM E84), Modulus of Elasticity, and Modulus of Rupture
Test (ASTM C356). For thermal conductivity, a scaled room where 5 different mixture of
Madre de Cacao Fiber insulation, PE insulation is applied and the other room is un insulation has become a way measure the differences in temperature. Temperatures are
recorded between 12PM-1PM and 3PM-4PM. M-3 has the lowest recorded temperature
among the 5 mixtures. the Results showed that the room insulated with Madre de Cacao
Fiber has a lower temperature than the PE Insulation. For flammability, 5 samples are
exposed to fire for 1 minute. Weight loss and burned areas are tallied. The results from M1
to M5 are 22.96, 26.24, 29.52, 45.92, and 78.72. Only M5 has reached Class C which mean
this mixture can ignite fire and spread fast. For Modulus of Elasticity, the 5 samples carried
a loading bar with 4.5kg increment and deformation are recorded. M-4 and M-5 have MOE
of 2.4GPa and 1.8GPa and fails to meet ISO 8335-1987 standard while the rest passed of
the mixture have passed. For Modulus of Rupture, 5 samples were taken to QSTI for
compressive strength test. All the mixtures have satisfied ISO 8335-1987 standard. Among
the five mixtures. M-3 is the most optimum and recommended mixture. Therefore, Madre
v
de Cacao Fiber can be recognized as an effective alternative for wood fiber insulation
board.
Keywords: Madre de Cacao, Wood Fiber Insulation, Gliricidia Sepium, Thermal
Conductivity, Elasticity, Flame Spread Index
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