Assessment of the properties of recycled oil palm leaflets and groundnut shells based composite panels

This study was designed to examine the feasibility of recycling groundnut shells and oil palm leaflets into materials suitable for structural applications. Groundnut shell particles (GSP) and oil palm leaflet particles (OLP) were prepared and mixed at varying proportions (0, 25, 50, 75, and 100 %) on dry weight basis to fabricate composite panels. The ratio by weight of the binder (topbond) to composite mix was 1:1. Three samples were fabricated per formulation, dried completely, and then subjected to various tests to determine their suitability for structural applications. The results showed that increase in the content of the OLP from 0 % to 100 % yielded average water absorption (61.85 - 86.83) %, thickness swelling (3.33 - 6.17) %, void fraction (4.51 - 9.22) %, bulk density (598.9 - 502.8) kgm-3, thermal conductivity (0.2129 - 0.2004) Wm-1K-1, specific heat capacity (1475 – 1886) Jkg-1K-1, thermal diffusivity (2.410 - 2.113) 10-7 m2s-1, heat penetration time (4.426 - 5.048) mins, flexural strength (1.454 - 1.312) N/mm2, and modulus of elasticity (218.8 - 196.5) N/mm2. Screwability and nailability were 100 % without alternation. It was revealed that the GSP-OLP panels developed in this study could be used as promising alternatives to plywood, asbestos, plaster of Paris which are known conventional ceilings applied for thermal insulation in building design. They could as well be applied internally as wall partition materials. Relying on used wastes for such undertaking could enhance low-cost building construction and at the same time mitigate the adverse effects associated with their disposal.