Kenaf building blocks

Abstract

Kenaf fibers are emerging as promising alternative building materials that will provide a much needed boost to the construction industry. The objective of this investigation is to use Kenaf, a fast growing sustainable agricultural fiber to produce wall building blocks as an alternative to using wood products for wall construction in buildings. The aim is to produce a low-cost wall building material that will provide affordable housing to meet global housing need. The method employed is to use a low-energy and cost effective process to make kenaf blocks by mixing kenaf, an agricultural fiber, with Magnesium Oxychloride cement, an organic binder and water to produce a matrix that can be placed in molds to produce the blocks. The blocks made are light weight with an average weight of 10.365 pounds, an average unit weight of 78.79 pounds per cubic foot and have an average compressive strength of 2768.68 psi with a maximum strength of 3515 psi, which is sufficient for walls in one story construction. Undergraduate Research Assistants were involved in the execution of the project and learned principles of basic research and engineering characteristics of kenaf building blocks. The blocks gained compressive strength steadily attaining about 50% of the target strength in 15 days. The blocks made are light weight and strong and may be very cost effective when used in one story buildings. © American Society for Engineering Education, 2013.