The Feasibility of Jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus) Sap as Binder in Making

Hollow Blocks with Cornstarch as Additive

12-Artemis
CHAPTER I

THE PROBLEM AND ITS BACKGROUND

Introduction

In the past decades, infrastructures had rapidly increased and up until now, it

keeps increasing. Many structures get build as the world get modernized. According to

Statista (2018), the construction industry builds an average of 13,000 buildings every

day through 2050. In addition, according to Britannica (2016), many aspects of

modernity, when amplified past a certain stage, elicit a defensive reaction. After

reaching a point of practical saturation, urbanization succumbs to suburbanization, a

desire to remain in areas with open spaces and, at the very least, a breath of fresh air

One of the main materials that are used in constructions are hollow blocks.

Hollow block is a famous material used in structures because of its durability and the

convenience of using it due to its uniformity in size and shape. Large structures, such as

boundary walls, are often constructed with hollow blocks. The smaller amount of

concrete used to build each block adds up to a substantial cost savings for the entire

wall's materials. They are also easier to carry due to their lighter weight. If the design

calls for it, the hollow cores also provide enough space to position reinforcing materials

like steel bars. Water pipes and electrical conduits are also run through them. One or

more hollow cores exist in hollow concrete blocks. These cores minimize the block's

total cross-sectional area by at least 25%. A hollow-core concrete block is generally

more than 50% solid (Liu, 2015).

 The Feasibility of Jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus) Sap as Binder in Making
Hollow Blocks with Cornstarch as Additive
12-Artemis
The Jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus), is a species of a tree of the mulberry

family originated in the parts of South Asia. The jackfruit is abundant in many parts of

the world. It is cultivated at low elevations throughout India, Burma, Ceylon, southern

China, Malaya, and East Indies. The Jackfruit is also cultivated and naturalized in the

Philippines. According to a study conducted by Dass (2017), the Jackfruit sap has the

ability to become sticky for it contains a substance which is a component of an adhesive,

latex. The latex is a milky fluid found in many plants such as poppies and spurges, which

comes out when the plant is cut and coagulates on exposure to the air.

Starch is known as a semi-crystalline material which contains alternate

crystalline and amorphous regions (Ratnayake et. Al., 2011). It is a polysaccharide

consisting of a large number of glucose units linked together by a(1,4) bonds. It is a

heterogeneous material consisting of linear (amylose) and branched (amylopectin)

molecules (Wang et, al., 1998). The composition of starch is more or less universal with

a major component of amylopectin (75%) and a minor component of amylose (25%)

irrespective of its source. The application of starch extends to the construction industry

where it has been used as a binder in thermally insulating composites (Umurigirwa et.

Al., 2015), an admixture for viscosity modification in concrete (Isik et. Al., 2014), a

modifier in asphalt (Al-Hadidy, 2011), and retarder in the cement hydration process

(Peschard et. Al., 2004).

Nowadays, hollow blocks are becoming fragile because of lateral loads, the

pushing or pulling forces from any natural calamities. Over the lifetime, hollow blocks

may encounter variety of problems like cracking, leaking, separating, and deterioration

of materials (McCarley, 2017).

 The Feasibility of Jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus) Sap as Binder in Making
Hollow Blocks with Cornstarch as Additive
12-Artemis
In this study, the Jackfruit sap and cornstarch will be mixed with the components

in the making of hollow block to see if the sap will make it stronger or not.

Statement of the Problem

The purpose of this Experimental Study entitled “The Feasibility of Jackfruit

(Artocarpus heterophyllus) Sap as Binder in Making Hollow Blocks with Cornstarch

Additive” is to identify if the Jackfruit Sap is an effective binder in making hollow

blocks.

Specifically, the study aims to answer the following questions:

1. What is the techno-economic viability of the product?

2. Is there a significant difference between the best treatment and the control

treatment hollow block in terms of:

a. Durability

b. Intactness

c. Benefits

3. Which of the treatments is the best in terms of:

a. Durability

b. Intactness

c. Benefits

4. What are the physical property level of the best treated hollow block in terms of:

a. Strength Test

b. Porosity Test
 The Feasibility of Jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus) Sap as Binder in Making
Hollow Blocks with Cornstarch as Additive
12-Artemis
Statement of the Hypothesis

The following are the hypotheses formulated for this study

Ho: There is no significant difference between the best treatment hollow block

and the control hollow block.

Ha: There is a significance difference between the best treatment hollow block

and the control hollow block.

Scope and Delimitation of the Study

This study focuses on determining the feasibility of Jackfruit (Artocarpus

heterophyllus) as binder in making hollow blocks with Cornstarch additive. The

researchers will use the sap extracted from the Jackfruit trunk. The sap will then be

mixed on the components on making hollow blocks. In this study, there will be a total

of four (4) treatments. Treatment 1 will be 60% of cement-cornstarch mixture, 25% of

Jackfruit latex, and 15% of sand. Treatment 2 will be 70% of cement-cornstarch mixture,

15% of sand. Treatment 3 will be 80%of cement-cornstarch mixture, 5% of Jackfruit

latex, and 15% of sand. The control treatment will be 50% of cement and 50% sand. The

samples will also undergo the strength and porosity test. This study will be conducted

from the month of April 2021 to June 2021.

 The Feasibility of Jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus) Sap as Binder in Making
Hollow Blocks with Cornstarch as Additive
12-Artemis
Significance of the Study

This study is significant to the following:

To the Community. This study will help the community by using stronger

hollow blocks in building their future homes, or any kind of structures with the Jackfruit

Sap.

To Hollow Block Businesses. This study will help the business owners to

produce stronger and more durable products that will satisfy their customers for a

durable and stronger product.

To the Researchers. The findings of this study may provide new knowledge and

experience about the feasibility of Jackfruit sap as a binder in making hollow blocks.

To the future Researchers. The findings the study will present may be used as

reference data in conducting new researches or in testing the validity of other related

product.

Conceptual Framework

Based on local and foreign studies, jackfruit sap has the ability to become a paste

which is crucial in making adhesive, or called “Latex.” According to Dass (2017), the

characteristic of the sap is extremely sticky and therefore is also used as an adhesive.

Therefore, this sticky sap will affect the composition of a hollow block. The jackfruit

sap aid in better dispersion of carbon black in rubber compound and provides additional
 The Feasibility of Jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus) Sap as Binder in Making
Hollow Blocks with Cornstarch as Additive
12-Artemis
wet skid resistance (WSR) which can be used as a low molecular weight resin (Bhadra,

2019).

In a study conducted by Kulshreshtha et. Al. (2017), cornstarch in concrete is a

possible building material due to its light-weight, rapid gain in strength, biodegradability

and derivation from renewable resources. However, in this study, durability and

sustainability provide challenges for commercial application. Vieira et al. (2005) and

Crépy et al. (2014) utilised modified starch as the dispersing agent in self-compacting

concrete. In a study conducted by Isik and Ozkul (2014) and Cappellari et al. (2013),

these researchers were able to improve the rheological property of the mix, concrete and

mortar respectively. By adding starch, Al-Hadidy et al. (2011), improved the moisture

and temperature susceptibility of asphalt material by adding starch. Rheological and

gelatinization properties have been used to enhance the flow and binding properties of

various materials in all the aforementioned studies.

With the provided studies stating that jackfruit latex has a sticky property and

cornstarch in concrete that is proven to rapidly gain strength. The researchers will mix

these materials to see positive results.

 The Feasibility of Jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus) Sap as Binder in Making
Hollow Blocks with Cornstarch as Additive
12-Artemis
Research Paradigm

Independent Variable Dependent Variable

Jackfruit (Artocarpus
heterophyllus) Sap as binder in
Making Hollow Block with
Cornstarch Additive
• 60% cement-cornstarch,
25% Jackfruit latex, and
15% sand
• 70% cement-cornstarch,
15% Jackfruit latex, and
15% sand
• 80% cement-cornstarch,
5% Jackfruit latex, and
15% sand
• 50% cement and 50% sand
(Control – ordinary hollow
block)
Figure 1. Research Paradigm
• Difference in durability
between the treated hollow
blocks.
• Difference in strength test
between the treated hollow
blocks.
• Difference in porosity test
between the treated hollow
blocks.
• Difference in durability,
strength test, and porosity
test between the best
treated hollow block and
the control treatment.

Figure 1 shows the Independent and Dependent Variables. In the first box, it

shows the materials as well as the treatments that needs to be done by the researchers.

Moreover, on the second box, it is shown that the study attempts to determine the

following; difference in durability between the treated hollow blocks; difference in the

strength test between the treated hollow blocks; difference in porosity test between the

treated hollow blocks and; difference in durability, strength test, and porosity test

between the best treatment and control treatment.

 The Feasibility of Jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus) Sap as Binder in Making
Hollow Blocks with Cornstarch as Additive
12-Artemis
The researchers’ primary purpose is to find out which of the treatments is the

best treatment and also to find out which are more durable between the ordinary (Control

treatment) and the best treatment.

Definition of Terms

• Cornstarch – Cornstarch is a white, tasteless, odorless powder, used in food

processing, papermaking, and the production of industrial adhesives.

• Hollow Blocks – Hollow block is a type of concrete block mostly used as a

material on building structures. A light-weight and cost-friendly material in

constructions.

• Jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus) – A species of tree of the Mulberry

family. Native to parts of South Asia and is suited in the tropical areas.

• Latex – Latex is a milky fluid found in 10% of all flowering plants which is also

found in Jackfruits. It is a sticky fluid that is a component in making adhesive.

• Sap – Sap is a fluid transported throughout a plant via xylem cells or its phloem

sieve tube elements.