Properties of low-density cement-bonded composite panels manufactured from polystyrene and jute stick particles

Abstract

Abstract This study was conducted to evaluate the properties of cement-bonded composite (CBC) manufactured using jute stick particles and expanded polystyrene (EPS) beads to reduce the density of CBC for mitigating the main limitation of CBC in its applications. The CBCs were manufactured by using cement, jute stick particle, EPS and jute fiber by cold pressing having the pressure of 5 MPa and pressing time of 24 h. CBCs were also manufactured by replacing the jute stick particles with EPS beads, the processing conditions remaining the same. There were at least 5 replications for each type of board. Waste jute fibers were added for improving the degenerated mechanical properties of CBC caused by the addition of EPS beads. Important physical properties, i.e., density, water absorption (WA) and thickness swelling (TS) and mechanical properties, i.e., modulus of elasticity (MOE) and modulus of rupture (MOR) of the manufactured CBCs were tested following the Malaysian Standards. Higher percentage of EPS beads significantly reduced the density of CBCs and the lowest density (0.91 ± 0.02 g/cm3) was found when the EPS beads replaced 30% jute stick particles. As expected, mechanical properties decreased with the gradual replacement of jute stick particles by EPS beads. However, the degraded mechanical properties significantly increased when waste jute fibers were added in the CBCs. Addition of EPS beads in CBCs reduced the density, which might increase the potentiality for the utilization of cement-bonded composites for various applications.