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Chapter One

Introduction

1.1 Background of the Study

The environmental responsiveness has changed the customs of materials designing as

designers become considerate on the environmental specifications of their products. Among the

engineering sector, this movement nowadays was realized by the renewable resources utilization.

The use of environment-friendly alternative building materials has remarkably gained its

importance in the construction industry. Such materials that offer unique strength, stability and

versatility in its applications have significantly become a necessity in product selection.

Bamboo is primarily a type of giant grass with woody stems. The stems are called

“shoots” when the plant is young and “culms” when the plant is mature. The bamboo is an

orthotropic material with high strength along and low strength transverse to its fibers. These

fibers are more concentrated in the outer skin, as shown in Figure 1.1, which is the strongest part.

Figure 1.1 Bamboo Fiber

Outer part of bamboo split

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Although bamboo grows very tall and stout, bamboo is not a tree. It is a giant grass. It is

the fastest growing woody plant in the world and grows at a rate of 1.5-2 inches/hour (37.5 – 50

mm/hour). In fact, it is known to be the first green plant growing after the bombing in

Hiroshima, a city in South-western Honshu in Japan which was devastated by the atomic bomb

used in war of 1945. These species of perennial, woody, usually shrubby or treelike plants has

about 70 genera divided into about 1000 species of family Poacea. The plants range from stiff

reeds about 1 meter tall to giants reaching 50 meters in height and 300 millimeters in diameter.

Bamboo is an ideal substitute for wood because it is fast growing and easily propagating

with a short regeneration period. Numerous bamboo-based products have been developed. Most

of the new products are in the form of composites and reconstituted panels such as floor tiles or

parquet owing to bamboo’s thin-walled, round and hollowed body which is small in diameter.

The natural durability of bamboo is generally low. Once exposed to the natural agents of

deterioration, it is prone to attack by wood-destroying organisms. Hence, proper preventive and

control measures should be used to produce high quality bamboo products.

Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) is a clear, tough and shatterproof material. It provides

a barrier to oxygen, water, and carbon dioxide. PET's ability to contain carbon dioxide

(carbonation) makes it ideal for use in carbonated soft drink bottles. It is usually identified by

“number 1” located at the bottom of most soft drink bottles. PET is also used to make bottles for

water, juice, sports drinks, beer, mouthwash, catsup, and salad dressing. It can also be found on

food jars for peanut butter, jam, jelly, and pickles as well as in microwavable food trays.

In the Philippines, a natural fiber named abaca fiber is abundant. In fact, the country is

the world's leading abaca producer. It is cultivated around its land area of 130,000 hectare by

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some 90,000 small farmers. This abundance opens opportunities for explorations on its

uses in more value added engineering properties (FAO, 2009).

Abaca fiber, valued for its strength, flexibility, buoyancy, and resistance to

damage in saltwater, is chiefly employed for potentials in boat/ship building industries,

aeronautics as well as in construction business, especially for high -rise buildings. A good

ecological balance combined with its excellent technical properties cited by Chrysler-

Daimler paved way to the use of abaca as underbody protection for cars. The development

of this new end-use for abaca fiber in composite applications for the automotive industry

contributed to the increasing demand for fiber.

This research addresses the different problems encountered on resilient bamboo tiles by

studying its behavior. The success of this study aims to provide baseline information on the

development of proper connections to eventually create new and various designs for tile

products. Additionally, knowledge obtained from this study will help in the quest for sustainable

solutions on environmental issues. The result of the study can boost the development of resilient

tiles for fine-looking homes as a replacement for the decreasing number of natural resources. In

the long run, it may find a niche in the commercial world as more developed markets continue to

campaign for greener construction systems and products.

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1.2 Statement of the Problem

In spite of being highly renewable, bamboo has no official recognition as a structural

material. The bamboo has approximately 10,000 species which makes standardization

unattainable in the International Conference of Building Officials (ICBO) and International Code

Council (ICC).

In the Philippines, different bamboos and bamboo based products researches have been

conducted to standardize its usage to replace commercially available raw materials in the market.

Thus, several applications of different construction species of bamboo were studied as a beam,

girder and flooring in the country. However, studies on resilient tile using bamboo and its

different mode characteristics were not given much attention through the recent years.

In this study, the investigation of the different properties of resilient bamboo tiles using

Kauayan Tinik, also called as Philippine Bamboo, with recycled plastic caps as substrate is being

undertaken.

1.3 Objective of the Study

1.3.1 General Objective

The general objective of the study is to develop resilient bamboo tiles with

recycled polyethylene terephthalate as substrate.

1.3.2 Specific Objectives

Specifically, the study aims to achieve the following:

a. To determine the physical and mechanical properties of raw materials

required in the assembly of composite tile.

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b. To determine the property of the plastic matting with different

percentage of abaca fiber and the best mix design of the abaca

reinforced plastic matting for production of the resilient bamboo tiles.

c. To determine the physical properties of resilient bamboo tile such as

thickness swelling, water absorption, and delamination.

d. To determine the mechanical properties of resilient bamboo tile such

as flexural loading, hardness, abrasion resistance and falling ball

indentation.

e. To make a comparison with the existing commercial product which is

polyvinyl tile in terms of cost, properties and characteristics.

1.4 Significance of the study

This section provides a brief description of the various significance of the study in these

three categories: technological, economical, and environmental aspects. For the field of industry,

the proposed study promotes the possibility to create a composite resilient bamboo tile from the

combination of bamboo and recycled plastic caps reinforced by abaca fiber and also to further

develop the capability of the tile in aesthetic purposes in construction industry.

For the community, the composite tiles had been made from bamboo and plastic caps.

The bamboo is known to be an abundant resource and a rapidly renewable material while the

polyethylene terephthalate could be recycled from disposed products like bottles caps. These

materials are always available and are at a low-cost. The possibility to produce a low-cost

resilient tile may become a more feasible alternative for the community if proven to be so

through comparison with existing commercial products. Being able to produce a composite

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resilient tile from waste material is beneficial to environment by producing a wider possible

output from recycling polyethylene terephthalate.

Moreover, the success of this study can provide baseline information on the development

of proper use of waste material, and eventually develop new and various designs for a tile

assembly.

Knowledge obtained from this study will help provide for sustainable solutions to various

environmental issues. Once established, fewer forests would be cut down for human

consumption. This will create more and more bamboo plantations which will generate

employment opportunities. In the long run these plantations will contribute to the sequestration

of carbon dioxide and the mitigation of greenhouse gases and climate change which give adverse

impacts on earth.

1.5 Scope and Delimitation

This study focuses on the property characterization and production of the resilient

bamboo tile with recycled Polyethylene Terephthalate as substrate. The binder that has been used

was assumed to have bonding effects between a wood and plastic.

This study limits the use of Kauayan Tinik (Bambusa Blumeana) as top surface of the

composite tile with approximately three years of maturity harvested and processed by the

Cottage Industry Technology Center (CITC) in Marikina, Rizal and recycled Polyethylene

Terephthalate reinforced abaca fiber as substrate. The substrate shall have the average thickness

of 1.5 mm with tolerance of ±0.10 mm, reinforced with 40 mm length, S2 grade abaca fiber. The

thickness of the bamboo layer shall be 2 mm, while the resilient tile shall be produced in

dimensions of 200 x 200 x 3 mm.

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This study also limits the usage to only one coating that will serve its waterproof and tile

guard. To protect the product from powder-post beetle and termite infestation, a mixture of

Borax and Boric acid was used. Furthermore, the bamboo slats were treated by sun-drying

method.

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1.6 Conceptual Framework

I. ProblemIncreasing concern on environment protection and preservationTo produce a much cheaper variation of tile productsTo utilize the potential of Abaca fiber as reinforcement on simpler products

II. KnowledgeVariation on tile structure

III. Resource RequirementsBamboo SlatsBamboo VeneerPlastic MattingAbaca FiberPoly Urethane

IV. HardwarePlanar MachineTwo Roll millCompression Moulding MachineTile MoldMechanical PressBamboo Veneer LatheCutterElectric SawTape MeasureHammerScraperTwin Rip Saw

I. PreparationBottle capsRemoval of DirtSorting based on plastic typeCutting to bitsBambooHarvested from MarikinaStripping and treatmentWoodwork process to slatsAbaca FiberHarvested and pre-processed from BicolCutting into 40 mm in lengthII. ConstructionBamboo SheetStripping and planing into 1 – 1.3 mm thick sheetPlastic MattingMixture of bottle caps and Abaca fiberRemold into 1 – 1.3 mm 200 mm square matsComposite TileJoining bamboo sheet/slats and matting with the use of adhesiveIII. Physical Property TestThickness SwellingWater Absorption Delamination

IV. Mechanical Property TestFalling Ball IndentionFlexuralAbrasion ResistanceHardness

I. Physical Property Test ResultsThickness SwellingWater Absorption Delamination

II. Mechanical Property TestFalling Ball IndentionFlexuralAbrasion ResistanceHardness

III. Selection of the most effective designRefabrication of the most effective design

IV. Presentation of Product

Input Process Output

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1.7 Theoretical Framework

Research

Gathering and Selection of

Material

Preparation of Bottle Caps

Production of Plastic Matting

Assembly of Resilient

Composite Tile

Testing of Resilient Tile

Selection of Most Effective Design

Assembly of Tile using the most effective design

Preparation of Abaca

Preparation and Treatment of

Bamboo

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1.8 Definition of Terms

Abaca fiber − is known worldwide as Manila hemp and the Philippines’s premier fiber which

is originally used for making ropes.

ASTM – American Society for Testing and Materials

Bamboo – any various woody of tropical and temperate regions having hollow stems thick

rhizomes and shoots that are used especially for building, furniture, and utensils.

Borax –also known as sodium borate, sodium tetra borate, or disodium tetra borate, is an

important boron compound, a mineral, and a salt of boric acid. Powdered borax is white,

consisting of soft colorless crystals that dissolve easily in water.

Clump – composed of many culms

Culm – stem of a bamboo when it is mature

Delamination – separation into constituent layers.

Internodes - hollow portion of the bamboo

Modulus of Elasticity – for any material, the ratio of stress (force per unit area) to strain

(deformation per unit length) within the elastic range, generally expressed in GigaPascals (GPa).

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Modulus of Rupture – the measure of the force necessary to break a given substance across, as

a beam, expressed by eighteen times the load which is required to break a bar of one inch square,

supported flat wise at two points one foot apart, and loaded in the middle between the points of

support.

Moisture Content − is the amount of water contained in the material.

Node – mass of bamboo fiber in between culms

Resilience − is the ability of a material to recover to its original size and shape after being

deformed by an impact load.

Shoots – stem of a bamboo when it is young

Tensile Strength – is the maximum stress that a material can withstand while being stretched or

pulled before failing or breaking. Tensile strength is the opposite of compressive strength and the

values can be quite different.

Treated Wood – is the wood with an approved preserved under treating and quality control

procedures.

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Universal Testing Machine (UTM) – is a universal type of testing machine for compression,

tension and bending test of metallic materials, concrete and others.

Water Absorption – the amount of moisture, a unit or material that will be absorbed when

immersed in water at a specified temperature for a stated period of time; generally expressed as a

percentage for dry weight.