Evaluating the Mechanical Performance of Eco-Fiberboards Made from Varying Ratios of Water Hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) and Laundry Lint Microfibers

Proponent/s Name/s (Last Name, First Name, Middle Initial)

Iommi M. Vacaro, Adamson UniversityFollow
Joaquin Vielle D. Palomo, Adamson UniversityFollow
Denise Rose D. Verzosa, Adamson UniversityFollow
Udelle Y. Establecida, Adamson UniversityFollow
Ma. Annie Bien M. Sumague, Adamson UniversityFollow

Document Type

Paper Presentation

Research Advisor (Last Name, First Name, Middle Initial)

Filler, June Ray O.

Abstract/Executive Summary

This study explored the viability of hybrid eco-fiberboards as an alternative to commercially available fiberboards. It aimed to evaluate the mechanical performance of water hyacinth (WH) and laundry lint (LL) microfibers, bound within a high-density polyethylene (HDPE) matrix to create a sustainable fiberboard. Three experimental groups with varying fiber ratios were tested for tensile and flexural strength. The results were then compared to medium-density commercial fiberboards (Positive Control), which served as a benchmark. The flexural test results showed that the experimental group with the highest LL content had a maximum strength of 35.13 MPa, comparable to that of the control group, indicating that the inclusion of more LL fibers may have increased stiffness. However, an analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Tukey’s Honestly Significant Difference (HSD) test revealed significant differences in tensile strength, as the experimental groups performed lower than the control group, likely due to air pockets in the specimens. Rejection of the null hypothesis for tensile strength indicates that the experimental groups did not perform equally to commercial fiberboards under tension. These findings demonstrate that hybrid composites have potential for non-load-bearing applications, while simultaneously providing a sustainable method for recycling LL and managing WH overgrowth. However, it also highlights further refinement in composite creation to enhance tensile performance and contribute to broader applications in construction and manufacturing. A posttest-only design was employed in this study to evaluate the material properties of the specimen ratios, and Tukey’s HSD was used to make pairwise comparisons between groups following a significant ANOVA result.

Keywords

composites; fiberboards; laundry lint; mechanical performance; water hyacinth