Investigation Into Using Rice Husk as Major Raw Materials in Producing Particles Board

INVESTIGATION INTO USING RICE HUSK AS MAJOR RAW MATERIALS IN PRODUCING PARTICLES BOARD
BY

ALHAJI LADAN SIDDI YABO
PGS/06/TEC/01012
SUPERVISOR:
PROFESSOR ABDU SALIHI

BEING A SEMINAR II PAPER SUBMITTED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING, FACULTY OF TECHNOLOGY, BAYERO UNIVERSITY, KANO, IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE AWARD OF M.ENG. DEGREE IN PRODUCTION ENGINEERING

November, 2010
Abstract
This project investigates the use of an agro-residue material (rice husk) as a major raw material in the production of Particle Boards. Rice husk was collected from a rice mill industry situated at Arkilla in Wamakko Local Government of Sokoto State. Cement bonded particleboards of 6mm thickness were produced from rice husks using production variables of cement/rice husk mixing ratios of 1.5:1 and 2.0:1, each with a nominal board density of   900kg/m3 and 1200kg/m3 from two categories of rice husk particles (fine and coarse) . The additives concentration of   was maintained at 3%. The physical and mechanical properties, such as Water absorption (WA), Thickness Swelling (TS), Linear Expansion (LE), Modulus of Rupture (MOR), and Modulus of Elasticity (MOE), of the boards produced were determined. The Particleboards produced exhibited mean values ranging from 50.13% to 44.11% for WA, 2.01% to 0.082%   for TS, 0.31% to 0.23% for LE, 1.83N/mm2 to 6.23N/mm2 for MOR, and 1087.9N/mm2 to 2694.9N/mm2 for MOE respectively for fine rice husk particles and 52.24% to 45.73 % for WA, 2.18% to 1.14% for TS, 0.39% to 0.29% for LE, 1.05N/mm2 to 6.05N/mm2 for MOR, and 984.3N/mm2 to 2332.37N/mm2 for MOE respectively for coarse rice husk particles. The result shows that an increase in cement/rice husk mixing ratio and density caused an increase in both MOR and MOE while there was decrease in WA, TS, and LE respectively. Based on the results obtained, boards produced at the highest cement/rice husk mixing ratio of 2.0:1 and board density 1200kg/m3 at additives...