Alternative Low Cost Roofing Material Candidates Based On Bagasse Filled Composites

Abstract

Four composite material systems useful for roofing in the tropics were developed which utilize major percentages of bagasse (sugar cane residue) filler, and minor amounts of phenolic or other resin binders. The various materials were actually manufactured in small quantities in three developing countries and trial exposure roofs installed.

Bagasse-Fiber-Reinforced Composites

“…Previous work on oriented board was done by us using Monsanto's PF-588 and Reichhold's R-7248 phenolic resins [1]. Typical results of such work are presented in Table 9.…”

“…It is made by acid precipitating phenol/formaldehyde onto the surface of bagasse fibers contained in a water slurry [1][2][3] . The water slurry is then filtered or centrifuged to form a mat that is subsequently compression molded and cured into a strong, dense sheet (corrugated or flat) for roofing.…”

“…The resin content of the molded panels made by the orientation process has not always been known due to the nature of the resin additions and undetermined losses in the mat-forming and molding steps. In the earlier work [1,2], even though up to 10 percent resin was added to the initial slurries and precipitated, it was speculated that not all of this resin actually precipitated onto the fibers to be carried through into the molded panel. The remainder would have precipitated as fine particles that would pass through the mat-forming screen to be flushed down the drain with the water.…”

Applications of Usmani Modified Kepner-Tregoe Analysis

“…In this paper we describe the methodology of the analysis as applied to the country selection for demonstrating roofing research [3]. Utilization of the analysis method in polymer related research is also described.…”

Development of Clay Filled Roofing Materials

“…In prior work [ 1 ] , we described four of the composite panel roofing material systems that were developed utilizing major percentages of bagasse (sugar cane residue) filler and minor amounts of phenolic or other resin binders. Thus, use of bagasse was maximized in combination with minimum quantities of resin binders to form a strong composite roofing product.…”