Durmal Board- Durian Husk as an Alternative Thermal Insulator

Summary

This presentation explores the innovative uses of durian fiber across multiple industries through various case studies. Key findings reveal that durian fiber can serve as an alternative raw material for textiles, antibacterial gel bandages, and self-healing concrete. Additionally, research indicates its potential in creating cost-effective supercapacitors. The study also examines the production of durian-based thermal boards, evaluating their properties such as durability, water absorption, fire resistance, and sound absorption. The project concludes that durian-based materials have promising applications, particularly in indoor use, but require further testing to optimize their performance.

Takeaways

• 😀 Durian fibers were found to be a viable alternative textile raw material, similar to hemp and cellulose fibers.
• 😀 Durian fruit can be used as a cheaper alternative to antibacterial hydrogel patches due to its sustainable supply and high cellulose content.
• 😀 Durian-based concrete roof tiles, reinforced with Lactobacillus durian mir, can self-heal concrete over time by filling cracks.
• 😀 Durian and jackfruit waste show great potential in creating low-cost supercapacitors, with durian’s skin offering slightly better energy storage due to higher porosity and surface area.
• 😀 Durian fibers are prepared by separating the skin, drying it (sun or oven), and grinding it into different textures (coarse, medium, fine).
• 😀 A soy-based adhesive, non-toxic and with similar strength to urea-formaldehyde, is used to bind the durian fibers into thermal boards.
• 😀 Samples of durian fiber-based thermal boards were subjected to multiple tests (drop, thermal, water absorption, fire resistance, sound absorption) to evaluate their durability and performance.
• 😀 Oven-dried samples generally performed better than sun-dried ones in terms of durability, water absorption, and fire resistance.
• 😀 The best performing samples in water absorption and fire resistance tests were those with a higher proportion of adhesive and coarser textures.
• 😀 The study recommends using the durian fiber-based thermal boards indoors due to high water absorption, as exterior use requires lower absorption levels for durability.

Q & A

What was the primary goal of Case Study 1 on durian fiber?

The primary goal of Case Study 1 was to determine if durian fiber could serve as an alternative textile raw material, with the research showing that durian fibers are similar to hemp and cellulose fibers, making them a viable alternative.

What were the findings of Case Study 2 on durian’s use in antibacterial gel bandages?

Case Study 2 concluded that durian, due to its sustainable supply and high cellulose content, can be used as a cheaper alternative to traditional antibacterial hydrogel bandages.

What was the focus of Case Study 3 related to durian concrete roof tiles?

Case Study 3 focused on testing whether lactobacillus durian could be used to self-heal concrete. The results indicated that this bacterium is heat-resistant and can help concrete repair itself over time.

What were the results of Case Study 4 regarding durian and jackfruit in creating supercapacitors?

Case Study 4 found that both durian and jackfruit can be used to create low-cost supercapacitors with excellent energy storage. Durian’s skin was slightly better due to its higher porosity and surface area.

How was durian skin processed for use in product development in the described studies?

Durian skin was separated from its meat, washed, chopped into small pieces, and then dried either through sun drying for three days or oven drying for eight hours at 80°C before being ground into different textures for use in various tests.

Why was soy-based adhesive used in the study on durian-based products?

Soy-based adhesive was used because it offers similar strength to urea formaldehyde but without its toxicity, making it a safer and environmentally friendly option for binding durian fibers.

What tests were conducted on the durian-based samples, and what were the results?

Various tests were conducted including drop, thermal, water absorption, fire resistance, and sound absorption. Results showed that oven-dried samples generally performed better than sun-dried samples, particularly in terms of durability and fire resistance.

What were the findings regarding the fire resistance of the durian-based samples?

The fire resistance test showed that finer textures burned quicker due to higher surface area, while chunkier samples burned more slowly due to larger air gaps. The samples with higher adhesive content had a slower burn rate.

What were the conclusions drawn from the water absorption test?

The water absorption test revealed that all samples exhibited a high water absorption rate, with some samples showing a 47-79% increase in weight after being submerged. These materials are unsuitable for outdoor use due to high water absorption rates.

Which durian-based samples were recommended for further tests and indoor use?

The samples recommended for further testing were the oven-dried 40-60 medium, 40-60 coarse, and 45-55 chunks. These samples performed well in various tests and were suitable for indoor use, though they should avoid exposure to water.