Laguna State Polytechnic University

Sta. Cruz Campus

Sta. Cruz, Laguna
COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING










UTILIZATION OF COCONUT MEAT AS BRICK
MATERIAL










Introduction
Due to the high production cost, people have seemingly been finding ways
to sustain these developments in an economical ways without risking the
infrastructures durability and strength. This paved way to using the resources
available locally, resulting to environmentally friendly or "green" building
materials to arise. By using green building materials, men take upon the
responsibility of using earths resources in a sustainable manner, thus improving
resource management.
One of most abundant local product of the country is coconuts. Of
approximately 12 million hectares of farmland, 3.56 million hectares are for the
cultivation and production of coconut. The coconut palm is one of the most useful
trees in existence; every part of it can be useful in different ways. The products
vary from foods, health supplements, accessories, beauty products, specially to
industrial products such as furniture, construction works, making large population
of Filipinos livelihood dependent to the coconut industry.
The coconut palm is one of the most useful trees in existence, every part
of it having some value. Throughout the Philippines, the coconut is consumed
and utilized in a variety of ways. The products vary from construction works,
furniture, accessories, beauty products, up to products that can be consumed
internally like foods, health supplements, and many more, making large
population of Filipinos livelihood dependent to the coconut industry. One of the
raw materials that coconut produces is the coconut meat.
Using natural or organic materials to produce an environmental and eco-
friendly bricks has been long accepted. The use of coconut meat as clay cement
brick material is one option that could help Filipinos to produce more significant
product such as construction materials out of coconut.
One of the common materials used in building construction is bricks,
which serves numerous functions. Bricks are significantly used for temperature
control, fireproof and aesthetic enhancement. It is a block or a solo unit of
ceramic material used in masonry construction and production. Naturally bricks
are stacked jointly or laid as stonework using different kinds of mortar to hold the
bricks together and make a stable structure. Bricks are typically produced in
common or standard sizes in bulk quantities. They have been classified as one of
the longest building materials used throughout history. In general sense, a brick
is a standard sized weight bearing building unit. When the term is used in this
sense, the brick might be made from clay, lime and sand concrete or shaped
stone.

Background of the Study
The origin of the coconut plant is vague. Many researchers suggest
Malaysia to be the likeliest place; others consider the north-west of South
America. Now it is grown in more than 70 countries throughout the world. The
major countries are India, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Philippines and Maldives.
Botanically, a coconut is known as a fibrous drupe. The husk, or
mesocarp, is composed of fibers called coir and there is an inner stone. The hard
endocarp of the stone has three germination pores. It is through one of these that
the radicle emerges when the embryo germinates. Adhering to the inside wall of
the endocarp is the testa, with a thick albuminous endosperm the coconut meat,
the white and fleshy edible part of the seed. (newworldencyclopedia.org)
It was understood, at least as early as 1978 in Indonesia that coconut has
potential for use in structural components. For the next twenty years, very little
was done outside of India to realize the value of this agricultural waste product
until the late 1990s. In July 1997, Dr. Jan E.G. van Dam presented a paper
tackling the usage and significant of coconut technology in construction, in which
the meeting takes place in the Philippines. (Stanton Greer, 2008)
The term brick refers to small units of building material, often made from
fired clay and secured with mortar, a bonding agent comprising of cement, sand,
and water. Long a popular material, brick retains heat, with-stands corrosion, and
resists fire brick is an ideal material for structures in confined spaces, as well as
for curved designs. Moreover, with minimal upkeep, brick buildings generally last
a long time. It is also an aesthetically pleasing medium; brick has been used as a
building material for at least 5,000 years. Brickmaking improvements have
continued into the twentieth century.
This study seeks to produce low cost and nature-friendly clay bricks with
coconut meat used as an organic raw material.



Conceptual Frameworks
The conceptual model of the study is presented in form of paradigm
below.
Independent Variables Dependent Variables














Figure 1. Research Paradigm of the Study
Frame 1. The independent variables is consists of the materials (Coconut meat,
clay, plain cement, colored cement, water), tools and equipment (molder,
measuring cup, container, trowel, coconut meat grater), man power and cost
Frame 2. The dependent variable is the Utilization of Coconut Meat as Brick
Material


Materials
(Coconut meat, clay,
plain cement,
colored cement, water)
Tools and Equipment
(molder, measuring cup
container, trowel
coconut meat grater)
Man Power
Cost





Utilization of Coconut Meat as
Brick Material
Frame 1 Frame 2
Objectives of the Study
The study Utilization of Coconut Meat as Brick Material aims to attain the
following objectives:
1. To compare common brick available in the market in the coconut meat clay
cement bricks in terms of durability
2. To determine if coconut meat is a suitable material for making clay cement
brick
3. To produce an environmental and economic friendly construction material
4. To formulate the right proportion of water, clay, cement and coconut meat that
will attain the working property of bricks that are made with cement and
clay only.

Significance of the Study
The research study bears significance to the following:
University
This research will contribute to the universitys research and development
program

Future Researchers/ Students
This will serve as reference to the incoming researchers that will have a
study with relation to the utilization of bricks with the use of organic materials
such as coconut meat.

Community
The product will give the community an idea on how to make construction
materials using organic substance such as the coconut meat which is commonly
thrown away
Environment
This will lessen the problem for disposal of residual waste in with relation
to this study the coconut meat
Consumers
Coconut meat clay cement brick that will be an outcome in this research
study will serve the consumers a durable and low-cost construction material.
Coconut farmers
This will be an ideal investment for coconut farmers. The product will
serve as an additional income.

Scope and Limitations
This study is limited only on the utilization of clay cement brick with
coconut meat as an additive material. It is highly recommended to indoor use but
can also be used in cladding, fencing wall, partition and aesthetic enhancement.
The product to be produced in this study is strictly not for pavements. The
product shape is rectangular solid. The size is limited only to 3 5/8 x 2 x 8 (D
x H x L). The color may vary depending on the used color cement.
The level of acceptability are measured by the used of questionnaire that
will be answered by the respondents. It is then analyzed and interpreted by a five
point scale interpreted as Strongly Agree, Agree, Neutral, Disagree and Strongly
Disagree

Definition of Terms
Brick a block that is made out of cement and clay then air dried. Usually used
in masonry construction.
Clay a fine-grained soil, firm earthy material that is plastic when wet and
hardens when heated or air dried.
Coconut fruit of the coconut palm.
Coconut meat the white part of the seed of the coconut; an organic material
that is used to add volume to the bricks and enhance it working property
Colored cement an additive material that is use as coloring agent of the bricks
Material - the substance out of which a thing is or can be made
Plain cement used as the bonding agent for the bricks and enhances the
bricks working property.
Utilization to put, to use, especially to find a profitable or practical use for