Investigating the Use of Pandan Leaves (Pandanus Amaryllifolius) as a Component in Producing Exterior Wall Fiber Cement Board

Civil Engineering Education, University of Mindanao, Davao City, Philippines

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Abstract

This study explores the use of Pandanus amaryllifolius leaves in an eco-friendly mixture for manufacturing fiber-cement boards intended for exterior wall construction. This study began with the tensile properties of Pandan leaves, which were found to exhibit excellent mechanical properties and resistance to deformation. The fibers were found to have suitable textures for bonding with their matrices and uniform distribution, as confirmed by scanning electron microscopy analysis. The experiment used fiber-cement boards with fiber contents of 0%, 3%, 6%, and 9%. All samples met commercial density, water absorption, and moisture content specifications. Fiber component enhancement exhibited positive flexural characteristics, with the 6% mix showing the optimal combination of strength and stability. Drill test results verified stronger structures for the samples with added fibers. The assessment indicates that pandan leaves have strong potential to serve as an effective, and even "green," component in the fabrication of long-lasting, exterior-use "fiber-cement" materials.