Properties of Cement Brick with Partial Replacement of Sand and Cement with Oil Palm Empty Fruit Bunches and Silica Fume

Abstract

Oil palm empty fruit bunches (EFB) and silica fume (SF) are the by-products of the oil palm plantation and the ferroalloy smelting industries, respectively. Improper disposal of these materials leads to negative implication to the environment. This study was carried out to investigate the potential application of EFB and SF in cement bricks. EFB fibre and SF replaced up to 25% of sand and cement in the mix, respectively, in several groups of specimens that distinguished the normal, EFB-, SF- and EFB-SF-cement bricks. The specimens were tested for the compressive strength, density and water absorption property. The results reveal that SF, at an optimum amount of 10% cement replacement, increased 10% of the strength of the cement brick. EFB fibre reduced the strength and density but increased water absorption property of the cement brick. For application in the construction industry, SF and EFB fibre contents should be kept within 10% and 20% respectively.

Effects of Adding Silica Fume and Empty Fruit Bunch to the Mix of Cement Brick

“…These phenomena were mainly due to the compressibility characteristics of EFB fibre, which was made of a bunch of ligneous-like micro-fibres that formed the cellulose structure with lots of voids, as given in Figure 2 (Ling et al, 2019).…”

“…These responses can be seen from the almoststraight curve of 0% SF in Figure 4(a), the negative gradient of which was the greatest of all. This was mainly due to the low compressive strength of EFB fibre as compared with the sand it replaced (Ling et al, 2019). EFB fibre appeared as a cellulose structure made of lots of micro-fibre that were susceptible to deformation and fracture.…”

“…However, these applications only constitute some percentage of the EFB produced, whereas the rest is left rotting (Harsono et al, 2016), which attracts pests and fouling (Ismail & Yaacob, 2011); or worst, illegally burned, which pollutes the environment (Kadir et al, 2017). 2017; Ling et al, 2019). This could further consume EFB as brick is one of the most widely used materials in the construction industry (Kumar et al, 2017), which constitute about 25% material of a typical building structure (Gawatre & Vairagade, 2012).…”

“…However, excessive EFB would affect the strength of brick (Ling et al, 2019). Its content in laterite and fired clay bricks was recommended as 3% and 5% respectively (Ismail & Yaacob, 2011;Kadir et al, 2017a;Kadir et al, 2017b).…”

“…Its content in laterite and fired clay bricks was recommended as 3% and 5% respectively (Ismail & Yaacob, 2011;Kadir et al, 2017a;Kadir et al, 2017b). EFB content in cement brick exceeding 15% was not applicable for construction (Ling et al, 2019). Presumably, the cementitious binder can strengthen the mix more effectively, allowing cement brick to accommodate more EFB than the other types of brick.…”