TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page No.

I. Title Page ……………………………………………………………..

II. Table Contents ……………………………………………………………
III. Abstract ………………………………………………………………….
IV. Research Plan ………………………………………………………….
a. Materials and Methods ………………………………
b. Treatment/General Procedure ……………………
V. Introduction …………………………………………………………
a. Background of the Study ……………………………..
b. Objectives
1. General Objective …………………………..
2. Specific Objectives …………………………..
c. Significance of the Study ……………………………
d. Scope and Limitations ………………………………
e. Review of Related Literature ……………………..
VI. Results and Discussion …………………………………………..
VII. Recommendations ………………………………………………
IX. References/Bibliographies …………………………………….
X. Acknowledgement ………………………………………………..
XI. Picture Credits ………………………………………………………..
Abstract

This study aims to determine if oyster shells is acceptable as primary component in

making bricks. Specifically this study aims to determine if oyster shells is acceptable as primary
component in making bricks in terms of color, texture and durability. This study also determines
the difference between oyster shell bricks vs. commercial bricks in terms of durability.

Based on the findings of the study, oyster shell brick is very acceptable in terms of color,
texture and very acceptable as commercial bricks in terms of its durability. It is therefore
concluded that oyster shells can be made into bricks. The researchers recommended that,
related studies maybe conducted o other uses of oyster shells aside from being used into
bricks.

Research Plan

a. Materials and Methods

This experimental study aims to determine the acceptability of an oyster shell as a

primary component in making bricks in terms of color, texture and durability.

The experimental method of research was employed in this study. Travers (1978) says
that experimentation has become the most prestigious method of advancing scientific
knowledge. Gay (1976) thinks that their method is the only method of research that can truly
test the hypothesis concerning cause and effect relationship. He further says that the
experimental method represents the most valid approach to the solution of problems, both
practical and theoretical. An experimental research, therefore, consists of manipulating an
experimental variable under highly controlled conditions to determine how and why a
particular events occur (Manuel and Mendel, 1976).

a. Materials

The following are the experimental materials in making bricks out of oyster shells:

 Oyster shells

 Cement
  Sand

 Water

 Dried Clay

Other Materials:

 Molding Box

 Mortar and Pestle

 Red Oxide

 Basin

b. Treatment/ General Procedures

1. Gathering of Materials

The researchers gathered oyster shells in Barangay Pili, Panay, Capiz and brought
to the Laboratory Room of Pontevedra National High School, to perform the method that is
needed in experimenting.

2. Procedures

The following procedures are observed in making bricks:

1. Gather all the materials needed

2. Pound the oyster shells and afterwards, the dried clay using mortar and pestle and set aside.

3. Put 2 cups of pounded oyster shells, 1 cup of cement, 1 cup of sand, 1 cup of pounded dried
clay and 2 ½ cups of water into the basin, then mixed.

4. Put ¼ cup of red oxide into the mixture to add more color in the product.

5. Put the mixture on the molding box.

6. Dry the bricks for about 1 week to ensure that the mixture will completely dry and ready to
use
Background of the Study

The Oyster is used as a common name for a number of distinct groups of bivalve
mollusks that live in marine or brackish habitats. The valves are highly calcified. Brick nowadays
are very useful as building materials. It is known as the long lasting and strongest referred to as
artificial stone. Some common materials used in making bricks are clay, mortar, cement, sand
and water. The calcium carbonate which is found also in cement.

The higher cost of commercial bricks makes them unaffordable for those who belong to
the lowest level of the society. Since, Philippines is surrounded by water, most of the products
in different variety are seafood. the study and use of seafood especially the shell of oyster as
substitute for higher cost of commercial bricks, hence; this study is conducted.

The study was conducted in order to discover the potential of oyster shell as primary
component in making bricks.

Objectives

1. General Objective:

This study aims to determine if oyster shells is acceptable as primary component in

making bricks.

2. Specific Objective:

Specifically This study aims to:

1. Determine if oyster Shells is acceptable as primary component in making bricks in

terms of:

a. Color

b. Texture

c. Durability

2. Determine the difference between oyster shell bricks as commercial bricks in terms of
durability.
Significance of the Study

Cement, as ingredient in making material such as bricks is now unaffordable due to the
increase of its price.

It is therefore, very significant to search for new alternative ingredient in making bricks.

Manufacturers. It could be an avenue to our bricks manufacturer to use oyster shells

instead of having more cement in making bricks. It will also help them to lessen its
manufacturing cost.

People who utilize bricks. It is beneficial for them because using oyster shells as bricks, it
makes them affordable for those who belong to the lowest level of the society.

Moreover, this study could be an avenue of providing livelihood to our fellowmen in

making diversified product particular bricks out of oyster shells.

Scope and Limitations

This study aims to determine if oyster shells is acceptable as primary component in

making bricks. It also aims to determine if oyster shell is acceptable as primary component in
making bricks in terms of color, texture and durability and it also aims to determine the
difference between oyster shell bricks and commercial bricks in terms of its durability. The
researchers will test the acceptability of oyster shell bricks in terms of color and texture. We
also test the durability of oyster shell bricks and its difference between commercial bricks.

This study will cover 30 respondents from Pontevedra National High School, 20 are the
teacher and the remaining are the students from Special Science Class from Grade 9 SSC (5) and
SSC 4 (5) in determining the acceptability of oyster shell bricks in terms of color and texture.
The researchers choose Tabag, Pontevedra, Capiz as the area of experimentation. This study
will last for one week, from July 9, 2014.

Review of Related Literature

The earliest bricks were dried brick, meaning they were formed from clay-bearing earth or mud
and dried (usually in the sun) until they were strong enough for use. The oldest discovered
bricks, originally made from shaped mud and dating before 7,500 BC, were found at Tell Aswad,
in the upper Tigris region and in southeast Australia close to Diyarbakir (Brook Timothy, 1998)
In the early 19th century, oysters were cheap and mainly eaten by the working class.
Throughout the 19th century, oyster beds in New York Harbor became the largest source of
oysters worldwide. On any day in the late 19th century, six million oysters could be found on
barges tied up along the city’s waterfront. They were naturally quite popular in New York City,
and helped initiate the city’s restaurant trade. New York's oystermen became skilled cultivators
of their beds, which provided employment for hundreds of workers and nutritious food for
thousands. Eventually, rising demand exhausted many of the beds. To increase production,
they introduced foreign species, which brought disease; effluent and increasing sedimentation
from erosion destroyed most of the beds by the early 20th century. Oysters’ popularity has put
ever-increasing demands on wild oyster stocks. This scarcity increased prices, converting them
from their original role as working-class food to their current status as an expensive delicacy
(Lutterodt, 1989).

The research intends to study the cementing potential of pulverized oyster shell, rich in
calcium, when mixed with fly ash and soil. Cylindrical compacted soil and compacted soil and
cubic lime specimens with different proportions of the shells and fly ash are made to study the
strength variance(Cho- Fu Liang and Hung-Yu Yang,March 3013). Recent studies have shown
that crushed oyster shells can perform as a variable aggregate or grit in concrete and mortars.
Not only that, oyster grit could do a great deal to help reduce CO2 emissions(Barbara
Steinmann ,March 31 2013). Scallop and oyster shells were exposed to heat treatment at
1050◦C . SEM and XRD analysis results showed that the resultant powder turned completely
into CaO after the treatment. The antifungal activities of non-treated and heat- treated scallop
and oyster shell powder slurry were investigated(Ronge Xin,1995). Oyster Shells to
commercially available ones such as the Mariwasa Ceramic Tiles and Floor Center Ceramic Tiles
in terms of impact strength and porosity via One-Way ANOVA(April Mae Agbayani and Allen
Espinosa, November 2006)

Results and Discussions

Table 1

Commercial Bricks Oyster Shell Bricks

Weight Deformed/ Force Weight Deformed/ Force
Placed Cracks on the (Newton) Placed Cracks on the (Newton)
(kilogram) bricks (kilogram) bricks
(Yes/None) (Yes/None)
1 None 9.8 1 None 9.8
2 None 19.6 2 None 19.6
 3 None 29.4 3 None 29.4
4 None 39.2 4 None 39.2
5 None 45 5 None 45
6 None 58.8 6 None 58.8
7 None 68.6 7 None 68.6
8 None 78.4 8 None 78.4
9 None 88.2 9 None 88.2
10 None 98 10 None 98
11 None 107.8 11 None 107.8
12 None 117.6 12 None 117.6
13 None 127.4 13 None 127.4

Table 2

Durability Rate Not Acceptable Moderately Acceptable Very Acceptable

(1N-25N) Acceptable (51N-75N) (76N-100N)
(26N-50N)
Oyster Shell ̷
Bricks
Commercial ̷
Bricks

Table 1 and 2 shows the rate of durability and acceptability of oyster shell bricks and
commercial bricks. The data revealed that oyster shell bricks is very acceptable as commercial
bricks in terms of durability.

Table 3

Oyster Shell Bricks

Variables Not Acceptable Moderately Acceptable Very Total

Acceptable Acceptable
0.03 0.2 0.9 2.4 3.43
Color
0.03 0.13 0.8 2.4 3.46
Texture
 Table 4

Oyster Shell Bricks

Not Acceptable Moderately Acceptable Very Acceptable

Acceptable
(1.00-1.25) (1.51-2.49) (2.50-3.00)
(1.26-1.50)
̷
Color
̷
Texture

Table 3 and Table 4 shows the result of the rate of the acceptability of oyster shell
bricks. The data revealed that oyster shell bricks is very acceptable in terms of color and
texture.

Based on the table presented, oyster shell bricks is very acceptable in terms color,
texture and very acceptable as commercial bricks in terms of its durability.

Conclusions

Based on the findings of the research study considering its limitations, the following
conclusions were drawn:

1. Oyster shells are acceptable as primary component in making bricks.

2. Oyster shell bricks are very acceptable as commercial bricks in terms of its durability.

3. Oyster shell bricks are very acceptable in terms of color and texture.

Recommendations

In the light of the findings and the conclusion in this study, the following
recommendations are proposed:

1. Find other method in making oyster shell as primary component in making bricks.

2. Utilize large number of respondents to make the results more reliable.

References/Bibliographies

1. April Mae Agbayani and Allen Espinos. Ceramic Tiles from Oyster Shells (November 2006).
Retrieved from http://www.scribd.com/doc/14095444/Ceramic-Tiles-From-Crassostrea-
Iredalei-Oyster-Shells

2. Barbara Steinmann. Oyster Shells as Aggregate (March 31, 3013). Retrieved from
http://materia. nl/article/oyster-shell-aggregate/

3. Brook Timothy. History of Bricks (1998). Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brick

4. Cho-Fu Liang and Hung-Yu Yang. Feasibility of pulverized Oyster Shell as a Cementing
Material (March 4, 2013). Retrieved from
http://.www.hindawi.com/journals/amse/2013/809247/

5.Lutterodt. History of Oyster (1989). Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.og/wiki/Oyster

6. Ronge Xing. Comparism of Antifungal Activities of Scallop Shell, Oyster Shell and their
Pyrolyzed Products (1995). Retrieved from
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1687428513000824

Acknowledgement

The researchers namely: Patricia Mae Potato, Joyme Fernandez and Mark Niel Bebita
extend their heartfelt gratitude to the following:

To Dr. Leowel P. Batuigas, Principal III, Pontevedra National High School;

To Dr. Leonerico E. Barredo, as their research adviser, for his unconditional support, for
sharing his knowledge about research, and god criticisms;

To all teachers and student and student who served as the respondents in this study for
their time and good suggestions;

To their friends and classmates for their help during the conduct of the study;

And most of all, to God Almighty for guiding

the researchers and giving them the will power to
finish the research study.