Untitled

Tanauan City Integrated High School
Science, Technology and Engineering Program

“Excellence is Our Culture” i
SISAL (Agave sisalana) PLANT FIBERS AS

REINFORCEMENT IN MAKING FIBERBOARD
A Thesis
Presented to
The Faculty of Science Department
TANAUAN CITY INTEGRATED HIGH SCHOOL
Tanauan City
In Partial Fulfillment
of the Requirements for the Program
SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY and ENGINEERING PROGRAM
Rhian Denise P. Narvacan
Charles Harry Cos
Irish Lorraine L. Malocloc
Chelsea Louise M. Pacurib
Lorraine Steffani Pamute
Researchers
Osmerando P. Alcantara Jr.

“Excellence is Our Culture” ii
Adviser
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TITLE PAGE…………………………………………………………......i
TABLE OF CONTENTS……………………….....…………...............ii
LIST OF FIGURES…………………………………………….….…....iii
CHAPTER
I. THE PROBLEM
Introduction…………………………………….……...….…..1
Statement of the Problem……………………….….……… 6
Hypothesis ……………………………………………………7
Scope and Delimitation ……………..…………….……...…8
Significance of the Study………………………………..…...9
II. REVIEW OF LITERATURE
Literature Review…………………..……………………......11
Conceptual Framework……………………………….……..22
Synthesis……………………………………………………...23
Definition of Terms…………………………………………...26
III. RESEARCH METHOD AND PROCEDURE
Research Design…………………………………….…..…..28
“Excellence is Our Culture” iii
Data Gathering Procedure……………………………….….31
Statistical Treatment of Data…………………………...…..35
REFERENCES
References………………………………………………..…..36
LIST OF FIGURE
Figure Page
1 Conceptual Paradigm ………………………………………………. 22
2 Research Flowchart………………………………………..…………30
“Excellence is Our Culture” 1
CHAPTER I
THE PROBLEM
Introduction
Housing problems have been a major situation in the Philippines, but not just in
the Philippines, this problem has been dealt with (until now) globally, as every year,
3.5 to 7 billion trees are cut down and 37% of these are caused by timber
harvesting (forest, 2017). The demand for the forest products industry is increasing
with the population which also causes the natural resources from forests to
continue to deplete. Because of this, there is a need to search for alternative
resources for the forest products industry (Uner et al., 2016). Upon the government
in the search for alternative sources, the reduction in wood supply also led to
several problems that had to do with furnishings and constructions in places in the
Philippines and globally, specifically with populations with high rates of individuals
and families that are under poverty rate; which also includes houses with poor
construction, and sometimes without a house at all. As of today, according to the
Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), nearly 1 in 5 Filipinos are living below the
poverty line with chances that the number will increase. More Filipinos are poorer
today compared to 2018, the PSA said that the Philippines has a total of 18.1% that
are below the poverty threshold this year (PSA, 2022), and around the globe,
people living in slums of informal settlements grew to over more than 1 billion
(Prevention Web, UN 2022). In that case, several housing projects in the
Philippines like the National Housing Authority (NHA), the National Economic and
Development Authority (NEDA), The Department of Human Settlements and Urban
Development (DHSUD), and other governments had been finding solutions to
homelessness and houses with poor construction while governments like
Department of Science and Technology-Forest Products Research and
Development Institute (DOST-FRDI), partnered with FMB (The Department of
Environment and Natural Resources Forest Management Bureau) in a project to
assess the wood processing plants in the Philippines to help strengthen our
country’s wood processing industry.
By developing and implementing comprehensive and integrated housing
development and resettlement, concentrating on socialized housing, quickly
identifying and developing government lands suitable for housing, and ensuring the
sustainability of socialized housing, NHA was given exclusive national government
agency responsibilities. Their main responsibilities were to develop and implement
a comprehensive and integrated housing program that would cover, among other
things, housing development and resettlement, sources and schemes of financing,
and the division of government and private sector participation in order to improve
house construction in our nation (Corporate Profile, NHA). Building materials for
foundation, framing, installation of insulation, interior and exterior fixtures, flooring,
(etc.) should be enough to complete the whole process of building a house. In the
Philippines, the top materials used for house construction are concrete, steel (or
metal), bricks, and wood (iConceptSEO, 2021). Woodcrafts, furniture, and other
objects that can be made through wood are very popular nowadays due to their
applications, qualities, and designs. There are different types of wood that are used
in different products like plywood, veneer, beech, chipboard, oak, and fiberboard
(furniture, n.d.). Recognizing the limited natural resources and depleting forest
products yet still being affordable and accessible, the focus of this study is modified
wood material in the form of fiberboard.
Fiberboard is a type of composite wood product. It is weaker compared to real
wood. This means that when it is installed, there is a chance that it could split or
crack under a lot of stress. If it is not placed with nails at closer intervals, the board
can drop in the middle. This means that projects which require fiberboard will take a
little more work than those with real wood (medium density fiberboard, n.d.).
Fiberboard is used to reduce ridges and uneven surfaces in subfloor and to make a
robust and stable support for the final floor finish. It also helps increase serviceable
life of final floor and has a high load bearing and weight resistance. It is lightweight,
and it holds paint well. Fiberboard has an eco-friendly composition with the use of
natural ingredients or wastes and scraps from wood (Collins, 2017). Fiberboard can
be made with plant fibers, which makes it affordable and sustainable. The plant
fiber can make the fiberboard more durable. In the Philippines, there are a lot of
fiber plants that can be found like the Abaca fiber, Pineapple fiber, Jute fiber,
Banana fiber, and Agave or Pita fiber.
Several countries like the Philippines grow species of agave for commercial
applications. The agave fiber was used to manufacture textiles, industrial fillers,
paper, filters, mattresses, carpets and a variety of ropes and twines (Adams,
2015). The lower-grade fiber is processed by the paper industry because of its
high content of cellulose and hemicelluloses. While the medium-grade fiber is used
in the cordage industry for making ropes, baler and binder twine. Ropes and twines
are widely engaged for marine, agricultural, and general industrial use. The higher-
grade fiber after treatment is converted into yarns and used by the carpet industry
(Lock, 1969). Sisal plant is a member of the agave family. The plants grow for 7 to
12 years and then produce a flower stalk and then die. Each plant produces 180 to
240 leaves yielding 1 to 4 tons of fiber per hectare. Its fiber is long, coarse, and
durable. It has also high resistance to bacterial damage and to deterioration in
saltwater. Sisal fibers lie along the surface of the leaf (wild fibers, 2017). Agave is a
genus of monocots native to the hot and arid regions of the Americas, although
some Agave species are also native to tropical areas of South America. The genus
is primarily known for its succulent and xerophytic species that typically form large
rosettes of strong, fleshy leaves.
Among the basic needs of the poor living in urban areas, the one that makes
the biggest contribution to enhancing their human dignity is decent housing. If we
consider that food, shelter, clothing and education are among the most basic of
their needs, it is shelter that is the most visible manifestation of the dignity of a
human being. That is why it is very important that there be sustained and vigorous
efforts of the government (both national and local), the business sector, and civil
society to implement the provisions of R.A. No.7279, whose objectives are to uplift
conditions of underprivileged and homeless citizens in urban and resettlement
areas through decent housing at affordable cost, coupled with basic services and
employment opportunities.
Nowadays, wood and its different types like plywood and fiberboard or particle
board are used. Some are cheap and some are expensive depending on the
ingredients used and their quality. That’s why the proponents wanted to conduct a
study in making a reinforced fiberboard with the use of sisal fibers. The proponents
will be conducting this study to test and identify if the fiber in sisal plants can be
used as reinforcement for making fiberboards.
Statement of the Problem
This study aims to reinforce fiberboards using Sisal (Agave sisalana) plant.
Specifically, this seeks to the following:
1). Determine the properties of extracted fiber by using electron microscopy.
The materials will be in fact fascinating and exhibit outstanding properties
in the areas of mechanical strength, flame-retardant properties and
antimicrobial properties.
2). Identify the properties of the develop product by utilizing Agave sisalana in
terms of:
a. Flexural Strength
b. Impact Strength
c. Compressive Strength
d. Pull-out Load Strength

e. Durability
f. Water Absorption Rate
3). Is there a significant difference between Agave sisalana and commercial
material in terms of:
b. Impact Strength
e. Durability
Hypothesis
Based on the sub-problems presented, the following hypothesis have been
formulated:
1). There is no significant difference between the fiberboard with sisal
fibers and fiberboard without sisal fibers, in terms of:
b. Impact Strength
e. Durability
Scope and Delimitation of the Study
This study aims to strengthen the fiberboards with the use of Sisal
Plant Fibers. The main purpose of the study is to extract the sisal plant into
fibers and use it as a reinforcement in the fiberboard. The researchers are
about to prove that the reinforcement of fiber strands coming from Agave
sisalana will help the normal fiberboard to make it more durable, stronger
and less expensive. On the other hand, the stem and roots of the Agave
plant will not be covered by this upcoming experiment, it is only focused on
the leaves of the sisal plant. Sawdust was also used in this study instead
of wood chips that are commonly used in fiberboards. This study will make
us use of the decorticating machine for the extraction of sisal fibers. This
limits the use of hot press for fiberboard production since the binder that
will be used was urea formaldehyde. The test methods covered by this
study were modulus of rupture test and screw withdrawal.

Significance of the Study
This study of strengthening the fiberboard with the use of sisal plant fiber is
significant to the following:
Community. Communities that lack access to suitable housing The
fiberboards can provide a stronger foundation for the existing homes. The
fiberboards can also be utilized to improve the fundamental framework of
buildings, which might make them survive longer. Fiberboards can be used
to make furniture for homes, offices, and other locations. In housing
projects that were mandated as the sole national government agency (to
engage in shelter production) like NHA or National Housing Authority, the
treated fiberboards can be used as another source or a part of the building
materials in construction/framing, mainly focusing on the housing needs of
the lowest in an urban population in the Philippines to at least improve the
foundation of their houses.
Wood Engineer. Wood engineers to have a better understanding of
sisal plants used as fiberboards. This study can also help them learn more
about alternative ingredients used in wood making, which could help
increase the production of wood and furniture.
Department of Science and Technology (DOST). Contribute to the
current database of DOST regarding fiberboards and the sisal plant. The
study can serve as a basis or reference for future studies to be done.
Future Researcher. Future research to be done by students. The
teachers can also use this study as an example of a study. All the possible
data and concepts presented in our research may be used as references
and literature to help with their concept related to our research. This could
also help them evaluate the use and properties of fiberboard, improve and
identify the gaps needed to be addressed and as well as possibly for them
to create even better research that has to do with reinforcing/strengthening
fiberboards if the Agave sisalana fibers were not strong enough. The
results of the treated and experimented fiberboards may also have a
purpose in the future about replacing plywood or other wood used with
fiberboard as an alternative source.

CHAPTER 2
REVIEW OF LITERATURE
This chapter indicates the ideas relevant to the reinforcement of
fiberboard with the use of sisal plant fiber. This will provide the readers
information and background about the present study. Literatures and
studies in both local and foreign will include the processes related to fiber
extraction of sisal plant and the machines that were used in manufacturing
the fiberboard. Articles, books, journals, and other researches that provide
information about the study are presented in an organized and
understandable manner.
Related Literature and Studies
This review article aims to comprehensively overview the most
important, relevant, and widely used natural fiber-reinforced polymer
composites (NFPCs) and their applications. The effects of different
chemical treatments on the mechanical and thermal properties of natural
fiber reinforcement, thermoset, and thermoplastic composites were
studied. Many drawbacks of NFPC, such as high-water absorption, low fire

resistance, and poor mechanical properties, have limited its applications.
We concluded that the chemical treatment of natural fibers improved the
adhesion between the fiber surface and the polymer matrix, ultimately
improving the physico-mechanical and thermochemical properties of
NFPC. (Layth et al., 2015).
This study was developed to confirm the workability and strength
properties of sisal fiber reinforced concrete with different mixing ratios and
different proportions of fiber additives. 5% fibers in M20 and M25 mix
designs and molded into cubes and cylinders. 5 fiber fractions for the M20
blend design, respectively. 51% increase in compressive strength and a 3.
51% increase in compressive strength and a 3. 904% increase in tensile
strength were observed for 1. 904% increase in tensile strength were
observed for 1. 5 fibers in the M25 blend design, respectively. (Rahuman,
2015).
In this study, we investigated leaf dimensions and fiber properties of
Agave sisalana and how leaf dimensions are related to fiber properties.
The whorl of the plant was systematically divided into lower, middle, and
upper parts, and five leaves were randomly collected from each helix
position. Leaf fibers were extracted and 2 cm fibers were taken from three
locations on the leaf (top, middle and bottom). The results showed that the
sisalana agave leaves collected above were the longest and the widest at
the base and middle. The highest Agave sisalana runkel ratio was 0.42.
Young sisal leaves (Agave sisalana) have the best fiber properties for the
production of high-quality paper. (Onakpoma et al., 2020).
The mechanical properties of ukam, banana, sisal, coconut, hemp,
and E-glass fiber reinforced laminates were evaluated to evaluate their
potential use as new materials in engineering applications. The mechanical
properties were tested and the glass laminate was found to have an
ultimate tensile strength of 63 MPa, a flexural strength of 0.5 MPa, a
compressive strength of 37.75 MPa, and an impact strength of 17.82 J/m2.
Ukam plant fiber laminate boasts a maximum tensile strength of 16.25
MPa and an impact strength of 9.8 J/m among natural fibers. Laminated
sisal hemp boasts a maximum compressive strength of 42 MPa and a
maximum bending strength of 0.0036 MPa among natural fibers. Results
showed that natural fibers are of interest for low-cost engineering
applications and can compete with artificial glass fibers (E-glass fibers)
where high stiffness per unit weight is desired. (Samuel et al., 2012).
Durable building materials are in demand around the world to build
sustainable and cost-effective infrastructure. Developing cheap and
durable materials from renewable raw materials contributes to sustainable

development. Due to its low cost, high strength-to-weight ratio, and
recyclability, sisal fibers can be considered a suitable reinforcement for
concrete. The advantages of fiber-reinforced sisal concrete composites
over other conventional materials appear to lie primarily in their high
specific strength, stiffness, and fatigue properties, allowing for more
versatile structures. Another important advantage of sisal composites is
their superior environmental compatibility and biodegradability over other
conventional materials, so they are expected to contribute to
environmentally friendly and sustainable construction. (Kumar et al., 2017).
In this work, residual softwood fibers from the pulp and paper
industry were used to produce environmentally friendly formaldehyde-free
fiberboards bonded with calcium lignosulfonate (CLS) as a lignin-based
formaldehyde-free adhesive. H. Water absorption (WA), thickness
expansion (TS), modulus of elasticity (MOE), flexural strength (MOR) and
free formaldehyde emissions were evaluated according to European
standards. In general, only composites developed with 14% CLS showed
MOE and MOR values comparable to standard requirements for medium
density fiberboard (MDF) for use in dry areas. All laboratory-fabricated
composites showed a distinct reduction in moisture-related properties.
Surprisingly, the produced fiberboard has near-zero formaldehyde content,

achieving Super E0 class (≤1.5 mg/100g). The amount of CLS adhesive
did not significantly affect the formaldehyde content. (Antov et al., 2021)
Agave species are an important family of acid-metabolizing (CAM)
plants of the Crassulaceae family with remarkable tolerance to heat and
drought stress (Agave Deserti) in arid regions and diverse agricultural
applications. Agave genomes are generally too large to be sequenced,
which greatly limits our understanding of the molecular basis of agave
stress tolerance and economic traits. Deserti or This study represents the
first transcriptomic comparison of domesticated and wild agave and serves
as a guide for further research on agave evolution, environmental
adaptation, and enhancement of economically important traits. (Huang et
al., 2018).
Due to their remarkable properties, natural fibers have the potential
to replace synthetic fibers in the production of polymer composites. The
fibers were treated with 24, 48, and 72 h soaking times using NaOH
concentrations of 2%, 6%, and 10%. Mechanical properties such as tensile
strength and flexural strength were measured for treated, untreated and
reinforced fibers. Optimal tensile and flexural strengths of the composite
were found at 44.0 MPa and 50.8 MPa for fibers with a polyester ratio of
30:70, NaOH concentration of 6%, and soaking time of 48 h. Treated

polyester composites reinforced with sisal fibers have been found to have
superior tensile and flexural properties and lower water absorption than
untreated fibers. (Ayalew et al., 2022).
A previous study on the performance of heat-treated blue agave
fiber composites showed that heat treatment of the fibers at 180 °C
increased the crystallinity of the fibers, but the mechanical performance of
the resulting agave fiber composites did not change significantly.
Therefore, in this study, we attempt to better understand the effects of heat
treatment on the mechanical performance (single fiber tensile strength)
and morphology (SEM) of blue agave fibers before compounding. Heat
treatment of the fibers at 180° C. Morphological analysis of the fiber
fracture surface showed that the heat-treated fibers were more fragile than
the untreated fibers, consistent with an increase in fiber crystallinity and
stiffness. (Langhorst et al., 2021).
This study investigated the potential use of metalworking (cutting)
fluids as surface additives in the production of medium density fiberboard
(MDF). Addition of cutting oil to the surface layer improved the flexural
strength, flexural modulus, and internal adhesive strength, and decreased
the thickness swelling and water absorption. The improved adhesive bond
between fibers can be explained by improved heat transfer from the

surface to the core layer of MDF. Preliminary results of this study indicated
that metalworking fluids used in the metal industry can be efficiently used
as surface additives in the manufacture of MDF. (Ayrilmis et al., 2022).
Composites made from natural fibers such as sisal and jute polymer
composites are becoming increasingly attractive due to their high strength
to weight ratio, light weight and biodegradability. Mixtures of natural fibers
and glass fiber reinforced polymer (GRP) are increasingly being used. In
this study, sisal jute glass fiber reinforced polyester composites are
developed and their mechanical properties such as tensile strength,
flexural strength and impact strength are evaluated. As a result, we found
that incorporating sisal jute fibers into GRP improved its properties and
could be used as an alternative to glass fiber reinforced polymer
composites. (Ramesh et al., 2013).
A study was conducted on the effects of the addition of Agave
sisalana pulp on the physical and mechanical properties of sisal epoxy
fiber composites as an alternative to composites. The physical and
mechanical properties of Agave Sisalana fiber composites have been
tested with density values of 1.064 g/cm3 - 1.335 g/cm3, water absorption
of 1.59% - 2.62%, porosity of 1.7% - 3.5%, strong bending of 54.542 MPa -
86.412 is shown. Composites of Agave sisalana fibers and epoxy resins

can be applied to automobile bumpers. (“Effect of Mass Addition on
Physical Properties and Mechanical Properties of Agave Sisalana Fiber
Composites-epoxy,” 2022).
This chapter deals with the structural, thermal, and mechanical
properties of sisal fibers obtained from the Agave sisalana plant. The
adhesion promoters used in the fibers and polymer matrix have a
significant impact on the tribological properties of the resulting composites.
Sisal fiber reinforced polymer composites such as sisal epoxy, sisal
polyester, sisal phenol, and sisal polyethylene have excellent mechanical
and tribological properties. Sisal fibers also serve as a very useful
ingredient that provides desirable properties to friction composites. (Chand
et al., 2021).
Current research explores the use of sisal fibers and cement
additives to improve the compressive strength properties of mud blocks,
expanding traditional indigenous knowledge and meeting current standard
grades of building materials. After 28 days, compressive strength and
density tests were performed according to ASTM standards. Test results
showed that the use of sisal fiber and cement increased the compressive
strength of mud blocks by up to 210.1%. The optimal blend design for

improving the compressive strength performance of the mudblock was
10% and 1% sisal fiber composition. (Temesgen et al., 2022).
One way he solves this problem is to add Agave Sisalana fiber and
E-Glass fiber. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of the
addition of Agave sisalana fiber and E-glass fiber on the impact resistance
of acrylic denture base restorations. The results showed the effect of
impact resistance between fiber-free and E-glass fiber additives containing
Agave sisalana fibers on acrylic denture restorations. Acrylic denture repair
Agave sisalana fibers of both fibers with a concentration of 3.3% have
higher impact resistance than E-glass fibers. The conclusion of this study
is that the addition of agave saisalana fiber and E-glass fiber improves
impact resistance in acrylic denture restorations, with agave saisalana fiber
having the highest impact resistance. (Sugianitri et al., 2021).
The tests were carried out in strict accordance with technical
recommendations, norms and technical documentation. Laboratory
samples were prepared in the form of cubes and prisms from concrete with
a compressive strength of 48 MPa and sisal fiber contents of 0.25%, 0.5%,
0.75%, 1.0%, 1.25% and 1.5%. Testing was performed at her 15th day of
age. The compressive strength and tensile strength of concrete samples
were investigated using optical microscopy. The optimal content of fiber

reinforcement with sisal fibers was determined to be 1%. The resulting
increases in strength properties of the fiber-reinforced concrete samples
were 22% in compressive strength, 27% in axial compressive strength,
and 33% in tensile strength at the optimum dosage of sisal fiber at 1% by
weight of cement. (Stel’makh et al., 2022).
The interfaces of sisal fibers treated with alkali, potassium
permanganate, atmospheric pressure plasma, and silane-reinforced
polypropylene composites were studied by single fiber pull-out tests to
examine the surface morphology. The results showed that the
morphological changes observed on the sisal fiber surface were obvious.
Untreated, permanganate and plasma treated sisal fiber reinforced PP
show a stable exfoliation process. Silane-treated sisal fiber reinforced PP
exhibits an unstable delamination process. Single fiber tensile tests
showed that the IFSS values were on the order of the FIB. (Gan et al.,
2014).
This study focused on the reinforcing effect of apple cellulose
nanofibers (LCNF) on fiberboards made from softwood and hardwood
fibers. For softwood fiberboards, the bending properties of LCNF
blendboards were higher than those of control fiberboards at all densities.
For hardwood fiberboards, the bending properties of the 1.00 g/cc density
board LCNF blend fiberboard were higher than the control fiberboard.
Regarding the internal bond strength (IB), the IB of the LCNF composite
fiberboard was higher than that of the control fiberboard. (Kojima et al.,
2016).
In this work, biocomposites with superhydrophobic surfaces were
prepared by reinforcing waste polypropylene with sisal fibers (Agave
sisalana). Based on characterization results, a composite with a fiber
content of 15% appears to be the optimum ratio. The biodegradability of
the composites before surface modification was determined by calculating
the weight loss, 0.11%, 4.62%, 7.15%, and 10.97%, and the tensile
strength was 10.25 ± 0.05. , 14.47 ± 0.02, 14.48 ± 0.02 and 19.90 ± 0.09
MPa for 0%, 5%, 10% and 15% fiber content, respectively. The
superhydrophobicity of the surface-modified biocomposites was defined by
their self-cleaning and low wettability. (Abebayehu et al., 2021).
In 2015, Rahuman and Yeshika conducted a study on properties of
sisal fiber reinforced concrete with different mix proportions and different
percentage of fiber addition. Only after addition of super plasticizer to the
mix, the appropriate workability was achieved. There was no much
difference in compaction factor as the variation was very minute after the
addition of fiber. According to the study, 1.5% addition of fiber was more
effective on compression strength for both the mix design M20 and M25.
Whereas percentage increase in the tensile strength was comparatively
more in M20 than M25.
Conceptual Paradigm
(INPUT) (PROCESS) (OUTPUT)
Amount of sisal fibers Fiber Extraction
(0%, 25%, 50%, 75%)
Drying of Fibers Fiberboard reinforced

Amount of sawdust with Agave sisalana
(100%, 75%, 50%) fibers
Fiberboard Making
Urea formaldehyde
Data Gathering
Ammonium Chloride
Conceptual Framework
The input is the first frame containing the products that are used in
making fiberboard with their respective ratios. Specifically, the sawdust,
the sisal fibers, urea formaldehyde and ammonium chloride are the
ingredients used. The second frame consists of the process and methods
that are provided the data. The collected materials will be experimented
and observed then the data gathered will be analyzed. The third frame,
which is the output, contains the product of this study. Fiberboard

reinforced with the use of Agave sisalana fiber is the product of the study.
The feedback connects the output, the process and the input.
Synthesis
In 2014, Ramirez conducted a study in the sweet sorghum stalk fiber
as reinforcement for composite production. Based on the study, fibers are
can be extracted from sweet sorghum stalks using sodium hydroxide. Also
it states that the tensile strength of extracted fiber bundles will be
determined to be directly proportional to reaction time and inversely
proportional to concentration. Fiber yield decrease as the temperature
increase. Fiber morphology such as length, cell wall thickness and lumen
diameter were also measured. Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM)
images showed that the high tensile strength fiber bundle will be ridge on
the surface. The study concludes that the sweet sorghum stalk fiber has
high potential as reinforcement for composite production.
In 2014, Santos conducted a study in making a coconut fiberboard.
Coconut fiberboard (CFB) is a new product manufactured from fibrous
materials like coconut coir, fronds, spathes and shredded wood that are
mixed with Portland cement at a predetermined ratio of 70% cement to
30% fiber by weight. CFB was made by forming the cement-fiber mixture
into mats and pressing them to the desired thickness ranging from 8 mm to
25 mm. The board is 244 cm long by 61 cm wide. CFB can provide panels
of good strength properties. It is considered cheap, durable and requires
low maintenance cost. The production technology was simple and the
manufacturing process requires equipment that does not need highly
skilled labor. It can be made up into modular structures to accelerate
building construction. It is a good insulating material and has fire retardant
characteristics. It is water-resistant.
Plant fibers have been used in different research concepts to
evaluate their capabilities, such as broadening their potential as a source
in engineering applications (Samuel et al., 2012) rather than merely
traditional and medical usage. Plant fibers are used in engineering
applications such as reinforced polyester composites (Ramesh et al.,
2013), concrete composites (Kumar et al., 2017), epoxy composites
(Ramesh et al., 2013), and polymer composites (Layth et al., 2015). In our
study, we acquired information from previous researchers that would be
used as references and as a benefit to our research topic.
Sources we have searched like finding out the Agave sisal’s
relationship between leaf and fiber characteristics (Onakpoma et al.,
2020), eco-friendly projects/research, and information that they have
gathered about Agave sisalana after conducting different tests and

treatments, it will be used as references and additional databases about
the plant we are using for our concept. However not all may be used as
our references, some information and tests in the sources we searched
may not be used and will be disregarded, as they were either too complex
or the data gathered is too old and may not be more accurate than the new
studies made today.
According to the study about Fibers Reinforced Polymer Composite
and Fiber Reinforced Concrete, Layth and Rahuman both used fibers.
However, Layth used fibers to reinforce polymer composites, whereas
Rahuman used fibers to reinforce concretes. Nonetheless, both studies
show that plant fibers can be used to strengthen and improve the quality
and durability of industrial products.
Regards with contrasting and comparing the related literatures and
studies in our study, the interpretation that was known in our study were
the Potential use of the plant in different ways by humans, their chemical
and physical properties, most of there were eco-friendly, or the usage of
plants/plant fibers and researches that were done that gives benefits to the
community, like the industries (example: in the wood industry, that's why
plants’ fibers are now experimented with in search of alternatives).
Although what is missing is more information about the sisal fibers as

potential use in engineering applications, discovering other potential
properties of agave sisal have once been applied in construction (if it is
applied, will it be soundproof or at least lessen the noise in its
surrounding?), how strong the product (ex: Fiberboard) will be once it is
applied with plant fibers and will still identify if the stem and roots have the
same properties the leaves have that we are looking for.
Definition of Terms
In order for everyone to clearly understand and be familiarized with
the study, the following terms are conceptually defined.
Agave Sisalana. A species of flowering plant native to Southern Mexico,
but widely cultivated and naturalized in many other countries.
Fiber. A thread or filament from which a vegetable tissue, mineral
substance or textile is formed.
Fiberboard. A building material made of wood or other plant fibers
compressed into boards.
Reinforcement. The action or process of reinforcing or strengthening.
Sawdust. A by-product or waste product of woodworking operations such
as sawing, milling, drilling and sanding.

Urea Formaldehyde. A synthetic resin commonly used as binder in
fiberboards.
Ammonium Chloride. An organic compound functions as catalyst or
hardener in fiberboards.
Coarse. Strong or stiff
Cellulose. A substance that is incapable of being dissolved in a liquid, that
is the main component of plant cell walls and of vegetable fibers.
Droop. Can be bent or hang down.
Department of Science and Technology. The executive department of
the Philippine government responsible for the coordination of science and
technology-related projects in the Philippines and to formulate policies and
projects in the fields of science and technology in support of national
development.
Wood Engineering. The process of creating products, components and
structural systems with wood and wood-based materials.

CHAPTER 3
RESEARCH METHOD AND PROCEDURE
This chapter reveals the methods of research to be employed by the
researcher in conducting the study which includes the research design,
research flowchart, research instrument, procedures, and the appropriate
statistical treatment of data.
Research Design
Experimental research methods will be used in this study.
Experimentation is scientifically the most sophisticated research method. It
is defined as "observation under controlled conditions” (Dr. Ranjan Kumar)
Experimental research designs establish relationships between the causes
and effects of a situation. It is relevant to examine the effect of the
independent variable on the dependent variable when a treatment or
intervention manipulates the independent variable and the effect of the
intervention on the dependent variable is observed.
In this study, we want to determine if there is a significant difference
between commercially available fiberboard and fiberboard with sisal fibers
in terms of flexural strength, impact strength, compression strength, pull-

out strength, screw withdrawal strength, durability, water absorption rate
and price.
This study will utilize the true-experimental, posttest-only control
group design. A true experiment is also thought to be only experimental
design that can establish cause and effect relationships (Prayas Gautam,
2017). Posttest-only control group design follows all the same steps as the
classic pretest-posttest design except that it omits the pre-test. The
posttest-only control group design is a research design in which at least
two groups do not receive a treatment or intervention, and data are
collected on the outcome measure after the treatment or intervention. Two
groups will be assigned to this study: an experimental group and a control
group. The control group is a commercial fiberboard and the experimental
group is a sisal fiber-reinforced fiberboard. No pre-test will be performed,
one received treatment and one did not, and the same post-test will be
performed.
Research Flowchart
This flowchart shows the process and different methods to use in
this study.
Data Gathering Procedure
Phase 1: Collection of Materials and Equipment
The materials that will be used in this experiment are sisal plant
fibers, sawdust, urea formaldehyde, and ammonium chloride. The
machines that will be used are multi-fiber decorticating machine for fiber
extraction, oven cage for sawdust drying, and hot press machine for
fiberboard making. The researchers will also use the following instrument:
weighing scale, tape measure, cabinet, scissors, basins, molding box, mat,
beakers and stirring rod.
Phase 2: Procedures
Gathering the materials needed must be the first necessary step to
be able to perform this research. The main ingredients will be the sisal
plant fibers, sawdust, urea-formaldehyde, and ammonium chloride. The
fibers of sisal leaves will be washed, and will be extracted through the
decorticating machine. The sisal fibers will be sun-dried for two days,
which is then cut into 1-inch pieces. The sawdust also needs to be dried in
the oven for 15 minutes.

The specific mass of urea-formaldehyde needed for each ratio must
be prepared and put on a beaker. Then, a small amount of ammonium
chloride must be added to the urea-formaldehyde and must mix using a
stirring rod. On the basin, the mixture of the urea-formaldehyde and
ammonium chloride will be added to the sawdust and will mix constantly.
The same process will be conducted to the sisal fibers on another basin.
Then, the layering of the fiberboard will be made. Half of the sawdust will
be placed on a molding box followed by the sisal fibers and then the other
half of the sawdust. Then, it will be placed inside the hot press machine
covered with a paper mat. This will result to a multilayer type of fiberboard.
Phase 3: Quality Tests
The following are the test that will be conducted to determine the
quality of the fiberboard reinforced with sisal fibers:
3.1 Flexural Strength
Bending the material to know its maximum stress. Place the finished
fiberboard over two points of contact and then a force will be applied to the
top of the material.

3.2 Modulus of Rupture
Modulus of Rupture, frequently abbreviated as MOR, (sometimes
referred to as bending strength), is a measure of a specimen’s strength
before rupture. This test will be done by bending the material to know its
maximum stress. Place the finished fiberboard over two points of contact
and then a force will be applied to the top of the material.
3.3 Impact Test
An impact test is used to observe the mechanics that a material will
exhibit when it experiences a shock loading that causes the specimen to
immediately deform, fracture or rupture completely. To perform this test the
sample is placed into a holding fixture with the geometry and orientation
determined by the type of test that is used and then a known weight
generally but not always in the shape of a pendulum is released from a
known height so that it collides with the specimen with a sudden force. The
purpose of an impact test is to determine the ability of the material to
absorb energy during a collision. This energy may be used to determine
the toughness, impact strength, fracture resistance, impact resistance or
fracture resistance of the material depending on the test that will be
performed and the characteristic that is to be determined.

3.4 Compression Test
A compression test is a mechanical test in which a material or
product responds to forces that push, compress, squash, crush and flatten
the test specimen. Compression tests are important to measure the elastic
and compressive fracture properties of brittle materials or low-ductility
materials.
3.5 Screw Withdrawal Test
The Screw Withdrawal Testing measures the force required to
withdraw a fastener from a stringer or block component of a pallet. It
determines the force required for a pallet connection to fail due to force
parallel to the axis of the fastener.
3.6 Durability Test
Durability Testing is a testing technique used to determine the
characteristics of a system under various load conditions over time. This
testing helps us to identify the stability of transaction response times over
the duration of the test.

3.7 Water Absorption Test
This test measures the quantity of water that is absorbed in a given
time. It is a practical means of determining the liquid absorptiveness or
resilience of treated and untreated papers, boards, fabrics and other
materials.
In this methods, the physical and optical properties of the fiberboard
will be tested to determine the quality of the fiberboard. The expected
results of the methods to be done will be a fiberboard with a quality that is
similar or better than the usual type of fiberboard.
Statistical Treatment
Statement of the problem mentioned in chapter one provides
different statistical treatments for the study. The data that will be collected
in this study will be organized and classified based on the research design
and the problems formulated. The data gathered will be tallied and
tabulated in order to facilitate the presentation and interpretation of results.
Mean - this will be used to determine the quality ratings of each
ratios benefit of sisal fibers to the sawdust.

Standard Deviation - This statistical treatment used in order to
determine if the measurement of the durability, density, flexural strength,
impact strength, compressive strength, pull-out strength and screw
withdrawal strength.
Semantic Scale - This treatment will be used in order to determine if
there are significant difference between the fiberboards with 0%, 25%,
50% and 75% of sisal fibers.
Likert Scale - This will be used to determine the benefipullciaries
personal satisfaction level and impact on improving the quality of
fiberboards.
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Tanauan City Integrated High School

Science, Technology and Engineering Program

SISAL (Agave sisalana) PLANT FIBERS AS

Rhian Denise P. Narvacan

Charles Harry Cos

Irish Lorraine L. Malocloc

Chelsea Louise M. Pacurib

Lorraine Steffani Pamute

Osmerando P. Alcantara Jr.

Statement of the Problem……………………….….……… 6

Scope and Delimitation ……………..…………….……...…8

Significance of the Study………………………………..…...9

II. REVIEW OF LITERATURE

III. RESEARCH METHOD AND PROCEDURE

Data Gathering Procedure……………………………….….31

Statistical Treatment of Data…………………………...…..35

1 Conceptual Paradigm ………………………………………………. 22

continue to deplete. Because of this, there is a need to search for alternative

construction, and sometimes without a house at all. As of today, according to the

(Prevention Web, UN 2022). In that case, several housing projects in the

Development Authority (NEDA), The Department of Human Settlements and Urban

Development (DHSUD), and other governments had been finding solutions to

homelessness and houses with poor construction while governments like

Department of Science and Technology-Forest Products Research and

Development Institute (DOST-FRDI), partnered with FMB (The Department of

Environment and Natural Resources Forest Management Bureau) in a project to

country’s wood processing industry.

By developing and implementing comprehensive and integrated housing

development and resettlement, concentrating on socialized housing, quickly

sustainability of socialized housing, NHA was given exclusive national government

agency responsibilities. Their main responsibilities were to develop and implement

things, housing development and resettlement, sources and schemes of financing,

foundation, framing, installation of insulation, interior and exterior fixtures, flooring,

wood material in the form of fiberboard.

Fiberboard is a type of composite wood product. It is weaker compared to real

Banana fiber, and Agave or Pita fiber.

durable. It has also high resistance to bacterial damage and to deterioration in

rosettes of strong, fleshy leaves.

the biggest contribution to enhancing their human dignity is decent housing. If we

conditions of underprivileged and homeless citizens in urban and resettlement

used as reinforcement for making fiberboards.

Statement of the Problem

Specifically, this seeks to the following:

1). Determine the properties of extracted fiber by using electron microscopy.

The materials will be in fact fascinating and exhibit outstanding properties

in the areas of mechanical strength, flame-retardant properties and

d. Pull-out Load Strength

f. Water Absorption Rate

3). Is there a significant difference between Agave sisalana and commercial

material in terms of:

d. Pull-out Load Strength

f. Water Absorption Rate

Based on the sub-problems presented, the following hypothesis have been

1). There is no significant difference between the fiberboard with sisal

fibers and fiberboard without sisal fibers, in terms of:

d. Pull-out Load Strength

f. Water Absorption Rate

Scope and Delimitation of the Study

fibers and use it as a reinforcement in the fiberboard. The researchers are

plant will not be covered by this upcoming experiment, it is only focused on

study were modulus of rupture test and screw withdrawal.

Significance of the Study

significant to the following:

Community. Communities that lack access to suitable housing The