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CHAPTER 1

The Problem and Its Setting

This chapter provides an overview of the concept related to this study including

background of the study, objectives, scope and limitations and the definition of terms.

1.1 Introduction

According to the last United Nations estimates, Philippines population has been

growing steadily for the past years ranking 13th – most populous country with a total

population of 107.5 Million in the 2018 Population Rank (World Population Review,

2018). As the population grows the human needs and consumptions increases resulting to

massive amount of waste. According to Asian Development Bank in 2017, the

Philippines generate about 35,000 tons of garbage daily, or more than 8,600 tons per day

in Metro Manila alone (Xinhua, 2017). The uncontrollable growth of waste produced

causes adverse effects in society such as pollution and health implications. However, one

of the best and commonly used ways of solving this issue is through recycling or turning

these wastes into useful products.

Solid wastes such as chicken feather and agricultural waste like bamboo will be

used to develop an innovative material. Using these wastes, the researchers will produce

a fiberboard that will be compared to the requirements for MDF in accordance with

ASTM D 1037-96a.
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1.2 Background of the Study

Our country has been experiencing a great battle against waste disposal.

According to the National Solid Waste Commission under Department of Environment

and Natural Resources, the Philippines have accumulated waste of 14.66 Million tons in

2014. The Philippines is looming with garbage problems despite the passage of the

Ecological Solid Waste Management Act or the Republic Act (RA 9003). The household

is the major source of wastes in the Philippines which takes 74%. The other percent come

from markets, poultry farms and other commercialized and industrial establishments

(Castillo, et al., 2013).

Meanwhile, the problems brought by the rapid population growth of the country

are not only the massive increase of waste but also the demand for construction industry

is rapidly growing at an enormous pace. Forest is declining at an alarming rate of 7

Million hectares based from Department of Environmental and Natural Resources in

2014. The raw material demand from the forest industry has continued to grow at a high

rate thus causing shortage for wood based construction material. This problem along with

the necessity of conserving natural resources have led to great efforts of investigations

and development of viable alternative materials that are environment-friendly (Guru et

al., 2018). For the last few years, the demand for composite wood products such as

particle board, fiberboard, and plywood has increased substantially (Ashori et al., 2009).

The Medium Density Fiberboard (MDF) increasing demand from the new modern

residential housing construction and from commercial buildings makes the material

remain in the lead position in wood construction industry (Mordor Intelligence, 2018).
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Chicken Feather has the potential for building and construction material. It is by

nature made up of over 90% protein, also known as keratin and since considers being a

waste (Acda, 2009). Chicken feathers will likely contribute great amount of improvement

in the quality of a board because of its resistant to insect infestation such as termites

because they are inedible. It can make the board last longer even with the presence of

termites (Winandy et al, 2003).

Bamboo has been known for its broad purpose being one of the natural resources

of the tropics (Lobovikov et al., 2007). Bamboo fiber matures and develops strength

properties comparable to most wood species; its utility has expanded to include its

transformation into various structural floors, panel and engineered bamboo products.

Epoxy Resin is a type of polymer that has been applied into different engineering

fields because of its excellent mechanical properties, chemical resistance and electrical

insulation. They have good bonding strength to other materials, good chemical and

environmental resistance, good chemical properties and good insulating properties, anare

generally manufactured by reacting epichlorohydrin with bisphenol. (Uygunoglua et al.,

2015).

This study aims to produce a three-layered fiberboard made up of chicken feather

as the core layer and bamboo fiber as the face layer using epoxy resin as a binder,

knowing that the two materials give a considerable high strength property, it is expected

that it will produce a fiberboard that can be competitively comparable to the

commercially available boards. This experiment will attempt to yield such product to

alleviate the problems regarding several waste materials wherein it will be of use and of

value.
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1.3 Objectives

The general objective of this study is to characterize the physical and mechanical

properties of the three-layered sandwich chicken feather fiberboard reinforced with

bamboo fiber using epoxy resin as a binder.

Specifically, it aims to:

1. To determine the physical properties of a three-layered chicken feather

fiberboard reinforced with bamboo fiber such as Density, Water Absorption

and Thickness Swelling Test.

2. To determine the mechanical properties of a three-layered chicken feather

fiberboard reinforced with bamboo fiber such as Modulus of Rupture Test,

Face Screw Holding Test, Edge Screw Holding Test, Internal Bond Strength

Test and Sound Absorption Test.

3. To determine among the proposed mix design of the three-layered chicken

feather fiberboard reinforced with bamboo fiber using epoxy resin as a binder

that will exhibits the physical and mechanical properties standards set by the

ASTM D 1037.

1.4 Significance of the Study

The researcher desires to have a practical and economical way to create a three-

layered fiberboard using chicken feather fiber as the core layer and the bamboo fiber as

the face layer using epoxy resin as a binder.

The study will give poultry industry an idea about the benefits and other uses of

chicken feather. There will be a greater profit to have a double purpose in chicken
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industry. This subject will be a practical option to them since the chickens are readily

available in every locality.

This study is composed of natural materials, using chicken feather as alternative

fiber and reinforced with bamboo fiber for a fiberboard will be a great help considering

that these are just wastes and the potential product that can pass the ASTM standard for

medium density fiberboard. The 3Rs – Reuse, Reduce, and Recycle, will be exercised.

Furthermore, this study will secure the resource depletion thus serve as another option for

taking towards a greener nation.

The continuous increase in the amount of poultry industry here in the Philippines

also result as an increase in the amount of chicken feathers improperly disposed affects

the condition of both the environment and the people around living in it. Instead of

burning all the chicken feather it can be recycled and can transformed into other products

that opens the possibility of fiberboard material present in the market being more

efficient and economical as well as helps improved the environment.

This is significant to the future researchers by contributing additional knowledge

and experimentation in the innovation of creating a new fiberboard material. This also

includes the other potentials of bamboo and chicken feather for further exploration as an

alternative material in engineering industry.

1.5 Scope and Limitations of the Study

The study covers the production and testing of physical and mechanical property

for characterization of three-layered chicken feather fiberboard reinforced with bamboo

fiber. The planning, preparation and testing of the study were conducted at Integrated
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Research and Training Center (IRTC) at the Technological University of the Philippines

Manila. The raw materials used in the study were collected on a single source to ensure

homogeneity. The 45 day old chicken feather was gathered in Blumentritt Market in

Manila where large production and industry of chicken was present; the bamboo fiber

was collected in Bacoor, Cavite. The specimen undergone series of test methods in

accordance to ASTM D 1037 – 12 “Standard Test Methods for Evaluating Properties of

Wood-Base Fiber and Particle Panel Materials” and limited to: physical property test

specifically, the density test, thickness swelling test, water absorption test, mechanical

property test having face and edge screw holding strength test, modulus of rupture,

internal bond strength test and sound absorption test. The equipment used was the one

provided by the IRTC such as the Universal Testing Machine to analyze load testing of

the material. The study concentrates on the characterization and production of chicken

feather and bamboo fiber material that varies from its fiber ratios. The study used five

mix design for different fiber ratios. The researchers used 15 specimens, three trials for

each mix design and were measured according to the required test specimen size

provided by the ASTM D 1037. The results obtained were compared with the Physical

and Mechanical Property Requirements for MDF in accordance with ASTM D 1037-96a.

The useful and relevant information acquired from this study may provide their

insight on how they can use different materials and residues which can also applied as a

substitute for woods on building construction.

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` 1.6 Conceptual Framework

The property characterization of the three-layered chicken feather fiberboard

reinforced with bamboo fiber using epoxy resin as a binder was the main objective of this

study. The researchers underwent several procedures and followed the stages as shown in

Figure 1.1.

INPUT PROCESS OUTPUT

I. Environmental Problem I. Material Preparation I. Results of Physical

 Massive waste problem  Fabrication of bamboo Property Test
and high demands for fibers together with  Density
wood construction chicken feather and epoxy  Water Absorption
industry resin for binder.  Thickness Swelling

II. Ideas and Concepts II. Production II. Results of Mechanical

 Discover of new  Extraction Property Test
sustainable usage of  Mixing  Bending Strength
chicken feather waste and  Layering  Holding Strength Capacity
bamboo fiber material for  Pressing  Sound Absorbing
wood construction  Setting Time and Capacity
industry which is both Trimming
user and environment  Testing of Boards III. Summary of Findings,
friendly. Conclusions and
Recommendations
III.Material III.Testing
 Determination among the
 Chicken Feather Fiber  Physical Properties proposed mix design of
 Bamboo Fiber  Density Test the three-layered chicken
 Epoxy Resin  Water Absorption feather fiberboard
 ASTM Standard for MDFs  Thickness Swelling reinforced with bamboo
 Mechanical Properties fiber using epoxy resin as
IV. Equipment  Modulus of Rupture a binder that exhibit the
 Face Screw Holding physical and mechanical
 Universal Testing
Strength Test properties standards set by
Machine the ASTM D 1037 and
 Edge Screw Holding
 Weighing Scale ASTM C 423 for Sound
Strength Test
 Wooden Mold Absorption.
 Internal Bond Strength
 Safety Gloves and Masks
Test
 Sound Absorption Test

Figure 1.1 Conceptual Framework of the Study

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1.7 Definition of Terms

This are the terms encountered and used in this study.

Bio – Composites – biocompatible or eco-friendly composites that consist of a large

variety of organic or inorganic components, such as natural and synthetic polymers,

polysaccharides, proteins, sugars, ceramics, metals and nanocarbons. They are present in

various forms such as particles fibers and foams (Haraguchi, 2014).

Density - the mass of a unit volume of a specimen at specified moisture content. It is

defined in a qualitative manner as the measure of the relative "heaviness" of objects with

a constant volume (ASTM D 2395, 2014).

Epoxy Resin - a flexible usually thermosetting resin made by copolymerization of an

epoxide with another compound having two hydroxyl groups and used chiefly in

coatings and adhesives (Merriam-Webster Dictionary, 2019).

Fiber - is a natural or synthetic substance that is significantly longer than it is wide.

Fibers are often used in the manufacture of other materials (Merriam-Webster

Dictionary, 2019).

Fiber Reinforced Composites - are composed of axial particulates embedded in a matrix

material. The objective of fiber reinforced composites is to obtain a material with high

specific strength and high specific modulus (Altair, 2016).

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Mechanical Properties - characteristics of the materials that indicate the elastic or

inelastic behavior of a material under pressure (force) such as bending, brittleness,

elongation, hardness and tensile strength (Business Dictionary, 2018).

Medium – Density Fiberboard – also known as MDF, is a manufactured (engineered)

wood product composed of wood fibers that are mixed with resin and wax and pressed into

flat panels under high temperature and pressure (Beneke, 2018).

Modulus of Rupture - frequently abbreviated as MOR, (sometimes referred to as

bending strength), is a measure of a specimen’s strength before rupture. It can be used to

determine a wood species’ overall strength; unlike the modulus of elasticity, which

measures the wood’s deflection, but not its ultimate strength (Meter, 2018).

Natural Fibers - may be obtained from plant, animal, and mineral sources. Those from

plant sources include cotton, flax, hemp, sisal, jute, kenaf, and coconut. Fibers from

animal sources include silk, wool, and mohair. Those from mineral sources

include asbestos & metal fiber (New World Encyclopedia, 2016).

Reverberation – Reverberation is the collection of reflected sounds from the surfaces in

an enclosure like an auditorium. It is a desirable property of auditoriums to the extent that

it helps to overcome the inverse square law drop off of sound intensity in the enclosure

(Hyper Physics, 2017)

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RT-60 - defined as the time, in seconds, it takes sound in a reverberant environment to

decay 60dB in level. Measurements are usually made in narrow bands (octave or 1/3

octave), rather than broadband (20Hz to 20kHz). ISO standard, octave bandwidths are the

most common basis of measurement, with ISO standard, 1/3 octave bandwidths being

often used as well (Lehi, 2007)

Screw Holding Test – shall be made on screws threaded into the panel to measure the

resistance to screw withdrawal in a plane normal to the face of the panel. For numerous

applications, the withdrawal resistance of screws from the edge of the panel is desired.

When that value is required the screw withdrawal resistance in the plane parallel to the

face shall be determined (ASTM D 1037, 2012).

Sound Absorption - in addition to the geometric decrease in intensity caused by the

inverse square law, a small part of a sound wave is lost to the air or other medium

through various physical processes. One important process is the direct conduction of

the vibration into the medium as heat, caused by the conversion of the coherent molecular

motion of the sound wave into incoherent molecular motion in the air or other absorptive

material (Britannica, 2018).

Water Absorption - a test to determine the amount of water absorbed under specified

conditions. Factors affecting water absorption include: type of plastic, additives used,

temperature and length of exposure. The data sheds light on the performance of the

materials in water or humid environments (ASTM D 570, 2012).