Assessing the Impact of Cassava Starch on the Structural Properties of Sandcete Blocks Produced from Recycled Paper
Agbi, G.G., Uguru, H.
Abstract
Environmental pollution caused by conventional building material, had given borth to treh quest for green technology. This work evaluated the impact of cassava starch on some structural properties of sandcrete blocks produced from recycling paper. The sandcrete blocks were produced by replacement of river bed sand (sharp sand) with waste paper, at the rate of 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, 50% and 60% partial replacement; while the 1% of the cement was replaced with cassava starch powder. All the sandcrete blocks were produced at a fine aggregate to cement mix ratio of 6:1. The compressive strength, bulk density and water absorption rate of the blocks produced were dome at 28th curing day. Results obtained from the compressive strength test depicted that, regardless of the paper pulp volume, the blocks produced with cassava starch had higher compressive strength, compared to the blocks produced without cassava starch. At curing day 28, the blocks produced 10% and 20% paper pulp and cassava starch, developed compressive strengths of 2.65 N/mm2 and 2.32 N/mm2, respectively. In terms of the bocks bulk density, the result portrayed that the weight of the blocks produced with paper pulp were lighter, when compared with the control unit. It was also revealed by the results that the block containing cassava starch power had lower water abortion rate, compared to block produced without cassava starch. This study results had shown that using cassava starch as admixture, paper pulp can be used to produce sandcrete blocks for building walls of a framed structure at a little quantity (1% - 20% partial replacement).