Thermophysical properties plaster of Paris ceilings reinforced with oil palm mesocarp fiber for building design

This research focused on how to solve disposal problem associated with oil palm mesocarp fiber by using it to modify plaster of Paris (POP) ceiling. Untreated oil palm mesocarp fiber (UOPMF) and treated oil palm mesocarp fiber (TOPMF) were separately utilized at various weight fractions to fabricate ceiling samples with the POP. The samples were developed in triplicates, dried completely and then tested for their thermophysical propertiess. Samples with varied thicknesses were also prepared for investigation of heat flow time. The results showed changes in mean values of water absorption (12.22 – 25.75) %, bulk density (1.768 – 1.407) 103 kgm-3, thermal conductivity (0.2245 – 0.1465) Wm-1K-1, specific heat capacity (1.498 – 1.825) 103 Jkg-1K-1, thermal diffusivity (8.477 – 5.705) 10-8 m2s-1, and solar radiation absorptivity (20.71 – 25.25) m-1 as the fraction of the UOPMF increased from 0 % to 40 %. In the case of utilizing the TOPMF, the respective changes were found to be (12.22 – 31.33) %, (1.768 – 1.477) kgm-3, (0.2245 – 0.1627) Wm-1K-1, (1.498 – 1.789) 103 Jkg-1K-1, (8.477 – 6.164) 10-8 m2s-1, and (20.71 – 24.20) m-1. Heat flow time related positively with the thickness of the samples. Though it was revealed that all the samples could perform better than conventional ceilings like asbestos and polyvinyl chloride, the UOPMF exhibited a greater potential than the TOPMF for improving thermal insulation performance of the samples. Hence, recycling the mesocarp fiber in the described manner could ensure availability of cost-effective and more thermally-efficient POP ceilings for building design.