utilization of coconut meat as brick material

8/11/2019 Utilization of Coconut Meat as Brick Material

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Laguna State Polytechnic UniversitySta. Cruz CampusSta. Cruz, Laguna

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING

UTILIZATION OF COCONUT MEAT AS BRICK

MATERIAL


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Introduction

Due to the high production cost, people have seemingly been finding ways

to sustain these developments in an economical ways without risking the

infrastructures durability and strength. This paved way to using the resources

available locally, resulting to environmentally friendly or "green" building

materials to arise. By using green building materials, men take upon the

responsibility of using earths resources in a sustainable manner, thus improving

resource management.

One of most abundant local product of the country is coconuts. Of

approximately 12 million hectares of farmland, 3.56 million hectares are for the

cultivation and production of coconut. The coconut palm is one of the most useful

trees in existence; every part of it can be useful in different ways. The products

vary from foods, health supplements, accessories, beauty products, specially to

industrial products such as furniture, construction works, making large population

of Filipinos livelihood dependent to the coconut industry.

The coconut palm is one of the most useful trees in existence, every part

of it having some value. Throughout the Philippines, the coconut is consumed

and utilized in a variety of ways. The products vary from construction works,

furniture, accessories, beauty products, up to products that can be consumed

internally like foods, health supplements, and many more, making large

population of Filipinos livelihood dependent to the coconut industry. One of the

raw materials that coconut produces is the coconut meat.


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Using natural or organic materials to produce an environmental and eco-

friendly bricks has been long accepted. The use of coconut meat as clay cement

brick material is one option that could help Filipinos to produce more significant

product such as construction materials out of coconut.

One of the common materials used in building construction is bricks,

which serves numerous functions. Bricks are significantly used for temperature

control, fireproof and aesthetic enhancement. It is a block or a solo unit of

ceramic material used in masonry construction and production. Naturally bricks

are stacked jointly or laid as stonework using different kinds of mortar to hold the

bricks together and make a stable structure. Bricks are typically produced in

common or standard sizes in bulk quantities. They have been classified as one of

the longest building materials used throughout history. In general sense, a brick

is a standard sized weight bearing building unit. When the term is used in this

sense, the brick might be made from clay, lime and sand concrete or shaped

stone.

Background of the Study

The origin of the coconut plant is vague. Many researchers suggest

Malaysia to be the likeliest place; others consider the north-west of South

America. Now it is grown in more than 70 countries throughout the world. The

major countries are India, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Philippines and Maldives.

Botanically, a coconut is known as a fibrous drupe. The husk, or

mesocarp, is composed of fibers called coir and there is an inner stone. The hard
https://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Botanyhttps://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Botany


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endocarp of the stone has three germination pores. It is through one of these that

the radicle emerges when theembryo germinates. Adhering to the inside wall of

the endocarp is the testa, with a thick albuminous endosperm the coconut meat,

the white and fleshy edible part of the seed. (newworldencyclopedia.org)

It was understood, at least as early as 1978 in Indonesia that coconut has

potential for use in structural components. For the next twenty years, very little

was done outside of India to realize the value of this agricultural waste product

until the late 1990s. In July 1997, Dr. Jan E.G. van Dam presented a paper

tackling the usage and significant of coconut technology in construction, in which

the meeting takes place in the Philippines. (Stanton Greer, 2008)

The term brick refers to small units of building material, often made from

fired clay and secured withmortar,a bonding agent comprising of cement, sand,

and water. Long a popular material, brick retains heat, with-standscorrosion,and

resists fire brick is an ideal material for structures in confined spaces, as well as

for curved designs. Moreover, with minimalupkeep,brick buildings generally last

a long time. It is also an aesthetically pleasing medium; brick has been used as a

building material for at least 5,000 years. Brickmaking improvements have

continued into the twentieth century.

This study seeks to produce low cost and nature-friendly clay bricks with

coconut meat used as an organic raw material.
https://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Embryohttp://www.answers.com/topic/mortarhttp://www.answers.com/topic/corrosionhttp://www.answers.com/topic/upkeephttp://www.answers.com/topic/upkeephttp://www.answers.com/topic/corrosionhttp://www.answers.com/topic/mortarhttps://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Embryo


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Conceptual Frameworks

The conceptual model of the study is presented in form of paradigm

below.

Independent Variables Dependent Variables

Figure 1.Research Paradigm of the Study

Frame 1.The independent variables is consists of the materials (Coconut meat,

clay, plain cement, colored cement, water), tools and equipment (molder,

measuring cup, container, trowel, coconut meat grater), man power and cost

Frame 2. The dependent variable is the Utilization of Coconut Meat as Brick

Material

Materials

(Coconut meat, clay,

plain cement,

colored cement, water)

Tools and Equipment

(molder, measuring cup

container, trowel

coconut meat grater)

Man Power

Cost

Utilization of Coconut Meat as

Brick Material

Frame 1 Frame 2


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Objectives of the Study

The study Utilization of Coconut Meat as Brick Material aims to attain the

following objectives:

1. To compare common brick available in the market in the coconut meat clay

cement bricks in terms of durability

2. To determine if coconut meat is a suitable material for making clay cement

brick

3. To produce an environmental and economic friendly construction material

4. To formulate the right proportion of water, clay, cement and coconut meat that

will attain the working property of bricks that are made with cement and

clay only.

Significance of the Study

The research study bears significance to the following:

University

This research will contribute to the universitys research and development

program

Future Researchers/ Students

This will serve as reference to the incoming researchers that will have a

study with relation to the utilization of bricks with the use of organic materials

such as coconut meat.


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Community

The product will give the community an idea on how to make construction

materials using organic substance such as the coconut meat which is commonly

thrown away

Environment

This will lessen the problem for disposal of residual waste in with relation

to this study the coconut meat

Consumers

Coconut meat clay cement brick that will be an outcome in this research

study will serve the consumers a durable and low-cost construction material.

Coconut farmers

This will be an ideal investment for coconut farmers. The product will

serve as an additional income.

Scope and Limitations

This study is limited only on the utilization of clay cement brick with

coconut meat as an additive material. It is highly recommended to indoor use but

can also be used in cladding, fencing wall, partition and aesthetic enhancement.

The product to be produced in this study is strictly not for pavements. The

product shape is rectangular solid. The size is limited only to 3 5/8 x 2 x 8(D

x H x L). The color may vary depending on the used color cement.

The level of acceptability are measured by the used of questionnaire that

will be answered by the respondents. It is then analyzed and interpreted by a five


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point scale interpreted as Strongly Agree, Agree, Neutral, Disagree and Strongly

Disagree

Definition of Terms

Bricka block that is made out of cement and clay then air dried. Usually used

in masonry construction.

Clay a fine-grained soil, firm earthy material that is plastic when wet and

hardens when heated or air dried.

Coconut

fruit of the coconut palm.

Coconut meat the white part of the seed of the coconut; an organic material

that is used to add volume to the bricks and enhance it working property

Colored cement an additive material that is use as coloring agent of the bricks

Material - the substance out of which a thing is or can be made

Plain cement used as the bonding agent for the bricks and enhances the

bricks working property.

Utilizationto put, to use, especially to find a profitable or practical use for

utilization of coconut meat as brick material

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