utilization of corncob particles as structural board

Chapter I

INTRODUCTION

Background of the Study

The implementation of total log ban resulted in the scarcity of lumbers which are

the primary material use in making structural board. This problem posed a great risk in

structural board businesses, like companies which are engaging in the manufacture of

structural wood cabinets, book shelves and industrial pallets. Although, imported

structural board materials are available in the market but they have higher prices because

of imputed tax and custom duties and other incidental expenses. This condition will

relatively decrease the income of the manufacturers due to increase in the cost of

production, and additional expenses that will be passed on to the users. Therefore, we

must produce such materials that could lessen the burden of our economic stability.

Corn, also known in some countries as maize, is an herbaceous plant domesticated

in Mesoamerica and subsequently spread throughout the American continents. After

European contact with the Americas in the late 15th and early 16th centuries, maize

spread to the rest of the world. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maize, December 13, 2009)

Corn is the staple food for 20% or about 12 million Filipinos. The Philippines

produces or contributes about 1% of the world's corn production or about 22% of the total

corn produced by the South-East Nations. It also constitutes about 50% of the feeds for

the local livestock and poultry industries. Also, yellow corn accounts for about 70% of

livestock mixed feeds. From 1999-2003, the production range of corn was from

4,584,593 metric tons to 4,615,625 metric tons with an average annual growth rate of

0.14%. (http://en.wikipilipinas.org/index.php?title=Corn_Industry, December 13, 2009)

In this study the researcher is trying to produce structural board from waste of

farm. The researcher will use corncob particles as the main ingredients in making

structural board combined with wood glue. This study will also try to determine the

amount or percent of glue in the mixture that would produce a strong board. This research

will also find new ways to recycle corncob dust and will be tested if it can produce better

board than the commercial board.

Statement of the Problem

This study aims to test the corncob particles as structural board. Particularly, this

study attempts to answer the following questions:

1. Does corncob particles can be used in making structural board?

2. Is there a significant difference between the tensile strength of the structural board

made of corncob particles and commercially sold in market?

3. At what percentage of wood glue do corncob boards have high tensile strength

compared to commercials structural boards?

Null Hypotheses

1. There is no significant difference between the tensile strength of the structural board

made of corncob particles and commercially available structural board.

Scope and Delimitations of the Study

This study will be conducted at Barrio Marawi, Marawi City. The corncobs will

be collected from Balindong, Lanao del Sur.

The goal of this study is to determine the tensile strength of the board made from

corncob particles that is capable of producing better boards. The amount of wood glue

that will be mixed with the corncob particles is measured too. There will be a

comparative study involved between the commercial board and the corncob boards.

Significance of the Study

There is a need to explore for a possible source of structural board materials

besides wood lumber. One possibility is the use of materials which are made of corncobs.

Using this farm produce wastes could enhance farmers’ income and contribute in the

preservation of our environment. It also prevents farmers from throwing them in some

waterways that usually resulted to clogging of canals, thereby causing a massive flood to

low lying areas. In some cases, it resulted to the destruction of infrastructures and loss of

lives and properties, as well.

Definition of Terms

For better understanding the terminologies that were used are defined:

1. Corncob is the central core of a maize or corn (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corn_cob,

December 14, 2009)

In this study corncob particle is used to make structural board.

2. Power Burn (2T) is a high quality oil intended for two stroke gasoline engines such as

motorcycle, scooters, moped, power mowers, chainsaws and other engines.

In this research this definition is used.

3. Wood Glue is an adhesive used to tightly bond pieces of wood together.

(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wood_glue, December 14, 2009)

4. Solvent

Chapter II

RELATED LITERATURE AND STUDIES

This chapter presents the related literature and studies relevant to the present

investigation.

Particle Board

In the United States, the classification of boards, made from wood particles is not

standardized. Particle Board frequently refers to the terms fiber boards, particle board,

flake board, and oriented board.

Particle board is manufactured by mixing wood particles or flakes together with a

resin and forming the mix into a sheet. The raw material to be used for the particles is fed

into a disc chipper with between four and sixteen radially arranged blades. The particles

are first dried, after which any oversized or undersized particles are screened out. Resin,

in liquid form, is then sprayed through nozzles onto the particles. Once the resin has been

mixed with the particles, the liquid mixture is made into a sheet The sheets formed are

then cold-compressed to reduce their thickness and make them easier to transport. Later,

they are compressed again, under pressures between two and three megapascals and

temperatures between 140 °C and 220 °C. The boards are then cooled, trimmed and

sanded. They can then be sold as raw board or surface improved through the addition of a

wood veneer or laminate surface. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Particle_board, December

13, 2009)

Uses of Corn

The primary use for corn (seed) in United States and Canada is as a feed for

livestock, while some is for the production of corn sweeteners like corn syrup, and the

production of ethanol. Ethanol, a type of alcohol, is mostly used as an additive in gasoline

to increase the octane rating. It is also used for making Bourbon whiskey.

Human consumption of corn and corn meal constitutes a staple food in many

regions of the world. Corn meal is made into a thick porridge in many cultures: from the

polenta of Italy and the mămăligă of Romania to mush in the U.S. or the dish called

sadza, nshima, ugali and mealie pap in Africa. It is the main ingredient for tortilla and

many other dishes of Mexican food, and for chicha, a fermented beverage of Central and

SouthAmerica.

(http://www.experiencefestival.com/a/Maize_Uses_for_maize/id/4948977, December 13,

2009)

Cultivation of Corn

Corn is widely cultivated throughout the world, and a greater weight of maize is

produced each year than any other grain. While the United States produces almost half of

the world's harvest, other top producing countries are as widespread as China, India,

Brazil, France, Indonesia, and South Africa. Worldwide production was over 600 million

metric tons in 2003, just slightly more than rice or wheat. In 2004, close to 33 million

hectares of corn were planted world-wide, with a production value of more than $23

billion.

Maize is planted in the spring to take advantage of spring rains. Its root system is

shallow and the plant is dependent on steady rain or irrigation. In the United States, a

good harvest was predicted traditionally if the corn was "knee-high by the Fourth of

July", although modern hybrids often exceed this growth rate. Maize used as silage is

harvested while the plant is green and the fruit immature. Otherwise, maize is left in the

field very late in the autumn in order to dry thoroughly. In fact, it is sometimes not

harvested until winter or even early spring. The importance of regular rain is shown in

many parts of Africa, where periodic drought regularly causes famine by causing maize

crop failure; the older traditional African native millet (which is however less palatable

than maize, and much less productive in good years) would have survived and produced a

small crop in these conditions. (http://www.experiencefestival.com/a/Maize_-

_Cultivation/id/4948976, December 13, 2009)

Adhesive

Adhesive or glue is a compound in a liquid or semi-liquid state that adheres or

bonds items together. Adhesives may come from either natural or synthetic sources.

Some modern adhesives are extremely strong, and are becoming increasingly important

in modern construction and industry. The types of materials that can be bonded using

adhesives are virtually limitless, but they are especially useful for bonding thin materials.

Adhesives usually require a controlled temperature to cure or set. They can be electrically

and thermally conductive or nonconductive. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adhesive,

December 13, 2009)

Wood Glue

Wood glue is an adhesive used to tightly bond pieces of wood together. Many

substances have been used as glues. Wood glue bonds tightly to wood, but not to itself.

Therefore, woodworkers commonly use surprisingly little glue to hold large pieces of

wood. Most wood glues need to be clamped while the glue dries.

(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wood_glue, December 13, 2009)

Related Studies

Aside from the human consumption the corn be also utilized as structural board, which is

studied and proven by Ms. Asmin Comaradang(2004) in her study. She utilized corn as

structural board but she used rubber cement as her adhesive in combining the corncob

particles. For more information the reader can read the work of Ms. Asmin Comaradang

which is entitled “Utilization of Corncob Particles as Structural Board”

Chapter III

METHODOLOGY

This chapter consists of the method of research, the materials and equipment used,

procedure and statistical tool and data-analysis.

A. Method of Research

The type of research methods used in this study is the Experimental and

Developmental Research.

Experimental research is a highly controlled procedure in which manipulated

treatments or actions from a factor or condition, called the experimental or independent

variable, are applied upon another factor or condition, called the dependent variable, to

determine the effect of the former upon the latter, all other factors or variables being

constant or equal.

In this study, experimental research will be used because there are two variables

that will be compared the structural board made from corncob and the commercial

structural board. The independent variable is the materials used and the dependent

variable is the tensile strength.

Developmental research focuses on finding or developing a more suitable

instrument or process than has been available.

In this study, corncob will be utilized as structural board and it’s tensile strength

will be measured.

B. Materials and Equipments

Corncob particles

Wood Glue

Beaker

Stirring Rod

Molders

Commercial Structural Board

Weights

Sand

Power Burn (2T)

C. Procedure

1. Preparation of materials to be used as a structural board

The materials the will be used will be prepared. The molders will be

constructed and the corncob will be pulverized with a grinding mill.

2. Preparation of sealer solution

There will be only one-group treatment with those sets of solutions. Each

of the solution had three trials with three replicates on every trial. All the solutions will

be placed in a beaker with same amount of corncob particles but vary in the amount of

wood glue.

3. Molders will be prepared

Before the prepared solution be poured into the molders, the power burn

will be applied first acting as the separator. Each of the solution of the prepared solution

will be labeled according to the sample being poured. Then all of the treatments will be

kept in a cabinet for about two-three weeks to let it harden.

4. Testing of the prepared solutions

When the mixtures harden, tensile strength will be applied to each product

to evaluate their bonding strength together with the commercially structural boards.

5. Tensile strength test

The strength of the boards will be tested by constant pouring of sand onto

the cellophane bag until the structural board is destroyed and not in view of the weight at

which the block is broken or cracked. After that, the weight of the sand in the cellophane

bag will be measured and will be recorded. Similar procedures will be applied on the

second and third trials with three replicates in every solution.

D. Statistical Tools and Data-Analysis

The data gathered will be analyzed using the mean and standard deviation to

determine the properties of each procedure structural boards together with the

commercial board. To find out the significant difference of all the treatment One-way

analysis of variance (ANOVA) will be used. Then it will be followed by Post Hoc Test

Multiple Comparisons to determine which means differ.

Chapter IV

ANALYSIS, PRESENTATION, AND INTERPRETATION

This chapter shows the table data that has been collected. A statement analysis is

prearranged for each table. Furthermore statistical test results were presented together

with the interpretation and analysis for each.

TABLE 1EXPERIMENTAL CONTROL

TRIALS REPLICATES A (Kilogram)

B (Kilogram)

C (Kilogram)

COMMERCIAL PRODUCT (Kilogram)

1ST

TRIAL

1st Replicate 1.40 2.60 5.70 11.32 2nd Replicate 1.36 2.42 5.45 11.24 3rd Replicate 1.54 2.50 5.29 11.00

2ND

TRIAL


3RD

TRIAL


MEAN (Weight of the sand)

1.37 2.33 5.51 11.13

Legend:

A – 100ml of corncob particles and 25ml wood glue.

B – 100ml of corncob particles and 30ml wood glue.

C – 100ml of corncob particles and 35ml wood glue.

The data gathered from the experiment and the tensile strength for different

treatments is shown in this table. In this table, it shows that the commercially-available

structural board is still better than the experimental boards by looking at the table. Next to

the commercially-available structural board is the treatment C with an average of 5.51kg,

then next to the treatment C is the treatment B with an average of 2.33kg. Therefore, the

last rank is treatment A with an average of 1.37kg.

TABLE 2: One-way Analysis of VarianceDescriptives

N Mean Std. Deviati

on

Std. Error

95% Confidence interval for

Mean

Minimum

Maximum

Lower Bound

Upper Bound

100ml of corncob particles and 25ml

wood glue

9 1.3656 .13220 .04407 1.2639 1.4672 1.16 1.54


wood glue

9 2.3278 .19084 .06361 2.1811 2.4745 2.13 2.60


wood glue

9 5.5056 .30435 .10145 5.2716 5.7395 5.11 5.96

Commercial Product 9 11.1300 .12450 .4150 11.0334

11.2257

11.00

11.32

Total 36 5.0822 3.87186 .64531 3.7722 6.3923 1.16 11.32

ANOVASum of Squares

df Mean Squares F Sig.

Between Groups 523.399 3 174.4664307.143 .000Within Groups 1.296 32 0.41

Total 524.695 35

The Analysis of Variance shows that the tensile strength of the different

treatments in the experiment is highly significant at 0.05 level of significance. In this

table, the value of Sig. is .000 so it is greater than 0.05. Thus, there is significant

difference in tensile strength between the structural board made from the corncob

particles mixed with wood glue and the commercially-available structural board.

TABLE 3: Post Hoc Test

Multiple ComparisonsDependent Variable: dataLSD(I)Structural Board

(J) Structural Board

Mean Difference

(I-J)

Std. Error

Sig. 95%Confidence Interval for

MeanLower Bound

Upper Bound

100ml of corncob particles and 25ml wood glue


-.96222* .09488 .000 -1.1555 -.7960


-4.14000* .09488 .000 -4.3333 -3.9467

COMMERCIAL PRODUCT

-9.76444* .09488 .000 -9.9577 -9.5715



.96222* .09488 .000 .7690 1.1555


-3.17778* .09488 .000 -3.3710 -2.9845

COMMERCIAL PRODUCT

-8.80222* .09488 .000 -8.9955 -8.6090



4.14000* .09488 .000 3.9467 4.3333


3.17778* .09488 .000 2.9845 3.3710

COMMERCIAL PRODUCT

-5.62444* .09488 .000 -5.8177 -5.4312

COMMERCIAL PRODUCT


9.76444* .09488 .000 9.5712 9.9577


8.80222* .09488 .000 8.6090 8.9955


5.62444* .09488 .000 5.4312 5.8177

*. The mean difference is significant at the .05 level.

The Post Hoc Test Multiple Comparisons was used to determine which means

differ. Treatment A was significantly different from other treatments. Treatments B and C

were also significantly different from other treatments together with the control which is

the commercially-available structural board. Therefore, the structural board made from

corncob particles mixed with wood glue cannot be used as a substitute with the materials

used in making commercially-available structural board.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Wales, J. (2009, November 09). Maize. Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corncob

Wales, J. (2009, November 09). Wood glue. Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wood_glue

Wales, J. (2009, November 17). Adhesive. Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adhesive

Cultivation of corn. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.experiencefestival.com/a/Maize_-_Cultivation/id/4948976

Uses of maize. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.experiencefestival.com/a/Maize_Uses_for_maize/id/4948977

Wales, J. (2009, November 13). Particle board. Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Particle_board

Wales, J. (2009, November 05). Corncob. Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corn_cob

Unpublished book:

Comaradang, A. (2004). Utilization of Corncob Particles as Structural board. Marawi City

utilization of corncob particles as structural board

Documents