Republic of the Philippines

CAMARINES SUR POLYTECHNIC COLLEGES

Nabua, Camarines Sur

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
ISO 9001:2008

1
Chapter 1

THE PROBLEM

Introduction

Global warming is one of the major environmental problems in the world.

Burning of plastics and organic materials contributes greatly to this problem

which continues to spread and became a severe concern of the government as

years passed by. Climate change is one of the effects of global warming that

brings typhoons and other disasters that hit the world with stronger wind and

leaves more damaged houses every year. In the Philippines, typhoons,

earthquakes, and floods bring dilemma to the people as they would worry

whether their houses could withstand the coming disaster. Some houses in Bicol

Region are made from basic materials such as lumber, bamboo, fiberboard and

plywood for the main structures and nipa and galvanized iron sheets for roofing.

Light materials like boards and plywood are also used.

Typhoons often happen in the Bicol Region and this often result to the

houses having damaged parts which needs immediate repair. Mostly, the light

materials are the ones that are damaged. The people would then be required to

buy construction materials to repair the ruined parts of their houses. The

continuing increase in prices and availability in the market of the basic

 Republic of the Philippines
CAMARINES SUR POLYTECHNIC COLLEGES
Nabua, Camarines Sur

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
ISO 9001:2008

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construction materials needed to build houses is also a problem that needs

solution.

Agriculture is considered as one of the main sources of income of

Filipinos. Among the crops being produced in the agricultural land farms in the

country is rice and it is considered as a staple food for most Filipinos across the

country. According to the Philippine Statistics Authority (2016), in Bicol Region

alone, the area allocated for rice production is adding up to 354,089 hectares and

the rice produced totals to 1,275,494 metric tons. This made the rice the leading

crop along with other products such as hogs, chickens, corns and coconuts. The

percentage share to total agricultural output of the region is 26.43% which ranked

the Bicol region as fifth in the national production of rice.

Every year, the country produces 15.2 million tons of rice that leaves a

total of 11.3 million tons of rice straw (PhilRice, 2016). These rice straws are

deemed useless which are then burned by the farmers after harvesting. These

causes air pollutants such as hydrocarbons, sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide,

and nitrogen oxide which contribute greatly to the climate change that is

happening all around the world. Launio (2013) stated that rice straw are

scattered in the fields by farmers where they harvested the rice and wait for it to

decay and become fertilizer. It takes time for the rice straw to decompose. If they

are left on the field, farmers would not be able to grow new rice in the exact
 Republic of the Philippines
CAMARINES SUR POLYTECHNIC COLLEGES
Nabua, Camarines Sur

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
ISO 9001:2008

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planting season. This results to burning of the rice straw instead of letting it

decompose naturally.

According to Hiziroglu (2013), bamboo is one of the most diverse groups

of plants in the grass family which belongs to the sub-family of Bambusoideae. It

is widely recognized as non-wood forest resource but still considered an under-

utilized non-wood species and a good alternative to wooden materials belongs to

groups of angiosperms and monocotyledon. It can be used for building

construction material and also for making furniture and plywood because of its

equal and better physical and mechanical properties and also having a good

potential for making fiberboard.

Bamboos grow in tropical areas like the Philippines (Locsin, 2000). They

usually grow in areas close to water such as riverbanks and streams. They also

don’t need much attention as they easily grow by themselves. This plant is given

but small value as they can easily be found and replaced. It can grow up to 25

meters in six months. These bamboos are widely used for everything from food

and medicine to furniture or scaffolding. There are many families that create

bamboo set. They get their income by selling the set. As they produce it, they

also generate bamboo waste that they just throw and burn.

These agriculture raw materials are inexpensive and readily available

sources of lignocellulosic fibers having the characters of low cost, low density
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CAMARINES SUR POLYTECHNIC COLLEGES
Nabua, Camarines Sur

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
ISO 9001:2008

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biodegradability and toughness which has acceptable properties (Halvarsson,

2010). Lignocellulosic fibers such as rice straw and bamboo fiber waste can be

easily transformed into particles which resemble the particles of wood fibers and

can be used as raw materials. By using straw fibers and bamboo fiber waste as a

raw material for fiberboard, it can reduce the environmental stress. Due to the

rapid change in the environment and global warming are experience in modern

civilization, environmentally friendly materials are needed.

Commercial fiberboards are costly, strong, stiff and heavy which makes

rice straw and bamboo fiber suitable materials to make an alternative fiberboard.

Rice straw and bamboo fiber waste are also left behind and burned which adds

up to the pollutants, as mentioned earlier, and making this alternative fiberboard

would help in reducing the pollutants. Reduction of pollutants would result to the

betterment of the environment and the society. Those materials may also

produce an inexpensive fiberboard. This alternative fiberboard can be treated in

much the same way as the commercial fiberboard without its problem of

instability and inherent defects.

The researchers then came up with an environmental-friendly and

economical fiberboard that might help in the resolution of the addressed

problems by making a fiberboard from two raw materials: rice straw and bamboo

fiber.
 Republic of the Philippines
CAMARINES SUR POLYTECHNIC COLLEGES
Nabua, Camarines Sur

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
ISO 9001:2008

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Objectives

The study developed a fiberboard from rice straw and bamboo fiber.

Specifically, this study sought to:

1. Identify the physical properties of bamboo fibers and rice straw.

2. Identify the properties of the fiberboard with different design proportion

made of bamboo fiber and rice straw in terms of:

A. Physical Property

1. Moisture content

2. Absorption

3. Termite resistance test

4. Shrinkage test

5. Thickness of swelling

B. Mechanical Property

1. Compressive Strength

2. Flexural Strength

3. Determine the significant difference of the physical properties and

mechanical properties between the different design proportions of the

fiberboard made from rice straw and bamboo fiber.

4. Determine the cost effectiveness of the design fiberboard versus the

existing fiberboard.
 Republic of the Philippines
CAMARINES SUR POLYTECHNIC COLLEGES
Nabua, Camarines Sur

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
ISO 9001:2008

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Hypothesis

There is no significant difference of the physical properties, and

mechanical properties between the different design proportions of the fiberboard

made from rice straw and bamboo fiber.

Scope and Delimitation

The study focused on the most acceptable mix proportions of the

fiberboard made from rice straw and bamboo fiber and its properties which

includes moisture content, absorption, termite resistance test, shrinkage test,

thickness of swelling, compressive strength, and flexural strength. The study

used gasoline and styrofoam as binding agent and delimited to the production of

fiberboard made from rice straw and bamboo fiber which can be used as ceiling,

partition, and exterior wall.

Significance of the Study

This study will be of great importance to the following:

Low Income Families. Construction materials in the Philippines at the

present are costly, specifically fiberboards. There are families who receive

incomes that are lower than the average and this study may greatly help them as

it aims to produce cost-effective design fiberboard from indigenous materials.

Production of this low cost material might help the families in their burden about
 Republic of the Philippines
CAMARINES SUR POLYTECHNIC COLLEGES
Nabua, Camarines Sur

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
ISO 9001:2008

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incomes and might assist them to have a house of their own. This may also open

jobs for creating fiberboards from bamboo fiber and rice straw.

Environment. This study aims to produce an environmental friendly

fiberboard from indigenous and raw materials. The materials that will be used

are those that are considered wastes and are burned after the primary material is

taken. Burning these materials produces pollutants and greatly contributes to the

climate change happening at the present. This study might help in the reduction

of pollution by recycling bamboo fiber and rice straw instead of burning them.

Rice Farmers and Furniture Workers. The production of bamboo

furniture and palay rice produces wastes which are thrown away after the primary

materials are gathered. This study might greatly benefit the rice farmers and

bamboo furniture manufacturers in generating additional income from the rice

straw and bamboo waste by producing fiberboards from the said indigenous

materials.

Government. Through this study, the government may be able to

minimize the cost of materials for infrastructure and use them to support other

projects that may benefit everyone in the country. This could also possibly help in

the country’s problem of unemployment and housing projects.

Fiberboard Manufacturer. This study may encourage entrepreneurs to

consider the possibility of utilizing raw and indigenous materials when making
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CAMARINES SUR POLYTECHNIC COLLEGES
Nabua, Camarines Sur

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
ISO 9001:2008

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fiberboards. This might help them spend less and gain more for their businesses

as these materials can be easily found.

Construction Industry. This study may benefit both the industry and their

consumer as it aims to produce low-cost housing material (fiberboard) but with

the same quality as those with the expensive and existing fiberboard.

Future Researchers. This study might possibly be used as reference for

the next researchers who wish to conduct a study similar to this. This may also

motivate others to consider the feasibility of bamboo fiber and rice straw as their

primary materials for the study they are going to conduct.

Definition of Terms

In order to be able to fully understand this study, the researchers defined

the following terms, conceptually and operationally:

Absorption is the uptake of water, other fluids, or dissolved chemicals by

a cell or an organism as tree roots absorb dissolved nutrients in soil. The

property of the fiberboard made from bamboo fiber and rice straw to absorb

water when soaked.

ASTM is an acronym for American Standard for Testing Materials. The

parameters and methods used to test the tests to be conducted on the fiberboard

made from bamboo fiber and rice straw.

 Republic of the Philippines
CAMARINES SUR POLYTECHNIC COLLEGES
Nabua, Camarines Sur

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
ISO 9001:2008

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Bamboo also known as Bambusoideae is a group of perinneal

evergreens in the true grass family. The bamboo fiber, which will be used as a

primary material for the fiberboard, is taken from this plant.

Bamboo fiber is a cellulose fiber extract or fabricated form the natural

bamboo and is made from, or in the case of material fabrication, is, the pulp of

bamboo plants. It is usually not made from the fibers of the plant, but is a

synthetic viscose made from bamboo cellulose. The fiber from the bamboo will

be used as one of the primary materials to produce the fiberboard.

Compressive Strength is the capacity of a material to withstand axially

directed pushing forces. The strength of the fiberboard made from bamboo fiber

and rice straw to withstand compressive strength.

Compressive Strength Test measuring the maximum amount of

compressive load a material can bear before fracturing. The measured strength

of the fiberboard made from bamboo fiber and rice straw when subjected to a

compressive stress.

Durability concerns the preservation of the integrity of a mixture under the

influence of weathering, that is, the resistance to the deteriorous effects of heat,

water, and other atmosphere influences. The property of the fiberboard made

from bamboo fiber and rice straw to resist different factors and variables such as

compressive strength, fire, and water absorption while maintaining its strength

and present state.

 Republic of the Philippines
CAMARINES SUR POLYTECHNIC COLLEGES
Nabua, Camarines Sur

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
ISO 9001:2008

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Economical marked by careful, efficient, and prudent use of resources.

Fiberboard is compressed building material (sold as panel or sheets) of

plant or wood fibers, bonding agents, fillers, and other material added to increase

its durability, rigidity, and strength, and to impart resistance to fire, insects,

moisture, molds, etc. also called insulation board. Fiberboard is the material that

might be produced using the bamboo fiber and rice straw which will be subjected

to different factors to determine its different properties.

Flexural strength of a material is defined as its ability to resist

deformation under load. The measured strength of the fiberboard made from

bamboo fiber and rice straw when subjected to a flexural stress.

Moisture Content is the amount of water in a substance. This is the

property of the fiberboard made from bamboo fiber and rice straw that tells how

much water is absorbed or stayed in the fiberboard after binding.

Physical property is a characteristic of matter that may be observed and

measured without changing the chemical identity of a sample. The different

properties of the fiberboard made from bamboo fiber and rice straw such as

compressive and flexural strength, fire resistance, and absorption.

Proportion is a part, share, or number considered in comparative relation

to a whole. The different shares of bamboo fiber and rice straw made into

fiberboard that will be subjected to different tests.

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CAMARINES SUR POLYTECHNIC COLLEGES
Nabua, Camarines Sur

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
ISO 9001:2008

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Raw materials are referring to rice straw, bamboo fiber, gasoline and

styrofoam. The primary materials used to make the fiberboard.

Rice Straw is the part of the rice plant wherein the cut part at the grain

harvest or after. It is one of the materials bonded together to produce a low-cost

fiberboard.

Strength is the capacity of an object or substance to withstand great force

or pressure.

Termite test is a test to determine the ability of a specimen sample to

resist termite infestation. In this study, this test will be used to test the termite

resistance of the fiberboard made from bamboo fiber and rice straw.
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CAMARINES SUR POLYTECHNIC COLLEGES
Nabua, Camarines Sur

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
ISO 9001:2008

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ENDNOTES

(1) Philippine Statistics Authority (2016). Retrieved from https://psa.gov.ph

(2) PhilRice.org (2016)

(3) Tacio, H. (2014). Using rice straw as organic fertilizer. Retrieved from
www. sunstar.com.ph/article/352391

(4) Hiziroglu, S. (2013). Interior composite panels from under-utilized wood

and non-wood species. Retrieved from www.researchpublish.com

(5) Bawer, M.C. (2015). Diversity of Bamboo Species in Lubuagan,

Kalinga,North Luzon Philippines. Retrieved from www.researchpublish.com

(6) Halvarsson, S. (2010). Manufacture of straw mdf and fiberboards. Thesis

for the degree of Doctor of Technology, Sundsvall. Retrieved from www.diva-
portal.org

(7) Kaminski, S., Trujillo, D., and Lawrence, A. (2016). Structural use of
bamboo: Part 1: Introduction to bamboo. Retrieved from
www.researchgate.net

(8) IRRI’s Rice Almanac (2013). Retrieved from ricepedia.org

(9) Labalan, B. (2014, March 8). Bicol 6th Top Rice-producing Region.
Philippines today. Retrieved from www.philippinestoday.net

(10) Bayrante, R., Tajada, M., Renegado, D.Jr., Nueva, B.Jr. (2010). Banana
Stout Petiole Fiberboard. Undergraduate Thesis, Camarines Sur
Polytechnic College.