Binderless boards based on sago waste husk for production of
building and packaging materials
A simple processing technology
has been developed for production
of binderless board based on
100% sago waste husk. A pilot scale
fibre processing unit was
constructed in the Philippines that
was used to demonstrate the
production of board material. Now
the options for full scale operation
are being evaluated.
Background
Sago waste husk is abundantly available in
all tropical countries as cheap residue
from the sago home industry. Coconut
husks consist of circa 30 wt.% fibres
and 70 wt.% lignin-rich pith. Using the
intrinsic resin properties of lignin in the
pith and the strength of the coir fibre,
high quality boards can be made by
the compression moulding process
from the milled sago waste husk, without
addition of chemicals. The now largely
under-utilised biomass resource can
be transferred into a valuable
feedstock for the production of wood
substitute products.
Industries and markets
The market for high quality and cheap
fibre boards and composite materials
is substantial. Increasing local demand
for building materials and wood
products can be forecasted in
developing countries as well as for
competing products to supply export
markets.
The production of commercial
attractive materials, that in addition
are fully renewable and ecological
sound, will have positive effects on
income for the coconut farmer, create
labour in husk supply, boards
production and trade. The availability
of cheap building boards will stimulate
the activity in the building sector for
local housing.
A variety of high quality products can
be manufactured from flat binderless
building panels or beams with high
strength and stiffness to 3D formed
shapes for production of trays and
pallets for use as packaging materials
or plant pots. The coconut husk
material can be used in furniture
manufacturing and many other
industries applying wood products.
Information
The process sequence from coconut
husk to board material includes
separation of the husk from the
coconut, refining of the husk to small
particles and hot pressing to board
without the addition of any chemical
binder. The sensitivity of processing
parameters and the economical
characteristics of the production
process have been addressed.
The technical performance of the
material is summarised in table 1. The
boards show mechanical properties
comparable or superior to those of
commercial medium density
fibreboard (MDF) and surpassing those
of particle board. The thickness
swelling of the boards and the water
absorption is lower than for MDF.
Excellent fire resistance and screw
holding capacity show promise for use
as building product. The density of
these Sago waste husk boards, however,
is higher than for most commercial
fibre boards.
The project on ‘Coir based building
and packaging materials’, was funded
by the Common Fund for Commodities
(CFC, Amsterdam) and supervised by
FAO (Rome).
For information please contact:
Dr. Jan E.G. van Dam
Phone: +31.317.475.213
Email: jan.vandam@wur.nl
Martin H.B. Snijder, MSc
Phone: +31.317.475.197
Email: martin.snijder@wur.nl
(Project’s Location at Klaten,Central Java)
