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COMPARATIVE STUDY OF PERFORMANCE OF PLASTER OF PARIS CEILING

BOARDS REINFORCED WITH IMPORTED SISAL FIBRE AND LOCALLY
SOURCED OKRA FIBRE

Article · August 2020

DOI: 10.21884/IJMTER.2020.7039.CGNEY

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 COMPARATIVE STUDY OF PERFORMANCE OF PLASTER OF
PARIS CEILING BOARDS REINFORCED WITH IMPORTED
SISAL FIBRE AND LOCALLY SOURCED OKRA FIBRE
Anowai, S.I.1, Tok, D.Y.2, Sunday, A.J.3
1,2,3
Department of Building, University of Jos

Abstract— This study was undertaken with the aim of accessing the suitability of locally
sourced okra fibre as reinforcement in plaster of Paris (POP) ceiling board production.
Presently the fibres used in POP ceiling production are mostly imported at high cost. “Molda 3
Normal” brand of POP cement was used in this study. The specific gravity and bulk density of
the POP cement were determined and found to be 2.44 and 839 kg/m3 respectively. Two sets of
POP ceiling boards were produced with imported sisal fibres and locally sourced okra fibre
respectively. The ceiling boards were produced using water/binder (POP cement) ratio of 0.55
and absolute volume method was used for batching computations. The ceiling boards were
produced using the standard laboratory procedure and reinforced with fibres evenly scattered
over the surface of the board. The cast ceiling boards were cured under shade and tested after
3 days and 7 days curing periods. The flexural strength and water absorption of the boards
were determined. It was found that the minimum flexural strengths of ceiling boards
reinforced with sisal fibre and okra fibre at 7 days are 0.091 N/mm2 and 0.094 N/mm2
respectively. These satisfied the minimum flexural strength requirement of 0.018 N/mm2
specified by [1] for gypsum ceiling board class ‘h’. The absorption test result show that POP
ceiling boards reinforced with both imported sisal fibre and locally sourced okra fibres
satisfied the maximum water absorption requirement of 10% following 2 hours immersion in
water specified by [2]. The results show that the performance locally sourced okra bast as
reinforcement in POP ceiling board in not inferior to that of imported sisal fibre. It is thus
concluded that okra bast fibre is suitable as reinforcement material in POP ceiling boards and
as such recommended for use in POP ceiling production to reduce cost of POP ceiling in
Nigeria.
Keywords—Plaster of Paris; ceiling; Okra fibre; Flexural Strength; Water absorption

I. INTRODUCTION

Ceiling is a horizontal non structural member covering the upper section of an internal space
of a building. Though non structural member, in most modern buildings, fittings such electric lights,
security cameras and smoke detector are attached to ceilings. As such, ceilings must be able to carry
its self weight, dust and any other fittings attached to it.

Ceiling boards were previously produced using different fibre related materials such as
asbestos, waste paper and other agricultural residues. Some of these ceiling materials have
been proscribed because of the hazards observed to be associated with their use. Asbestos for
instance was discovered to be causing asbestosis, which leads to cancer [3]. As a result of this
problem, ceiling boards are presently produced from different safer materials. Plaster of Paris

DOI:10.21884/IJMTER.2020.7039.CGNEY 40
 International Journal of Modern Trends in Engineering and Research (IJMTER)
Volume 07, Issue 06, [June-2020] ISSN (Online):2349–9745 ; ISSN (Print):2393-8161

(POP) ceiling boards are commonly used in Nigeria today due to their good thermal insulation
and aesthetic value. POP sheets are also used for making false ceiling for the purpose of
decoration or for technical reason [4].

Plaster of Paris (POP) is calcium sulphate with half molecule of water of crystallization
(CaSO4.1/2H20) and is obtained by calcinations of gypsum (CaSO4.2H20). Ezugwu, Uneke & Akpan
[5] described POP as a white cementicious powder which set to a hard solid when mixed with water.
When gypsum is heated to about 1500C it losses water and produces the powder used in making
POP. Various types of materials such as glass, steel, wood, polymers and fibre have been discovered
and used as reinforcement to improve its structural performance of POP ceiling [6].

Plaster of Paris ceiling is a fibre reinforced composite material. Fibre-reinforced composite

materials consist of fibre of high strength and modulus embedded in or bonded to a matrix with
distinct interfaces (boundary) between them in which both the fibre and matrix retain their physical
and chemical identities, yet they produce a combination of properties that cannot be achieved with
either of the constituents acting alone [7].

In plaster of Paris ceiling, fibres are the major load-carrying members, while the surrounding
matrix keeps them in the desired location and orientation, acts as a load transfer medium between
them, and protects them from environmental damages due to elevated temperatures and humidity [7].
Generally, fibres used as reinforcement in POP ceiling could be natural or synthetic. The fibres act as
crack arresters.

Gesa, Atser and Aondoakaa [8] found that POP is a ceiling material used mostly by elites in
Nigeria due to its high cost. Eric and Hensley [9] also reported that POP ceiling is expensive and
hence not affordable to an average person who needs a comfortable and convenient building. This is
due to the high cost of the materials used for POP ceiling production which are imported. The major
materials used in the production of POP ceiling are POP cement (gypsum powder), fibres and water.
Presently in Nigeria, the fibres used for reinforcing POP ceiling are processed fibres imported mostly
from Kenya. This contributes to high cost of the ceiling thereby making it unaffordable for
developers. Nigeria is blessed with a lot high fibre yielding plants which could be processed and
employed as reinforcement in different building composites including POP ceiling boards. The
possibility of using locally sourced okra fibre as reinforcement in POP ceiling is investigated in this
study.

Okra, which is scientifically called “Abelmoschus esculentus” or “Hibiscus esculentus"

belongs to the family Malvaceae. Okra is a very important vegetable used to prepare different types
of meals in Nigeria. Okra is commonly grown in West Africa especially in Nigeria, mainly for its
fruit but the immature leaves are sometimes used for soup making and flavouring or may be added to
salads and stews [10]. Okra plant is used for pharmaceutical purposes [11]. The bast fibres which is
found at the outer side of the plant core are usually discarded as waste. The okra bast fibre is bright,
shiny and strong.

Alam and Khan [12] found the chemical composition of okra fibres as 67.5% cellulose, 15–
15.4% hemicellulose, 7.1% lignin, 3.4% pectic matter, 3.9% fats and waxes and 2.7% water-soluble
compounds. The chemical composition of okra fibre compare favourably with that of other natural
fibres used as reinforcement in composites. De-Rosa, Kenny, Puglia, Santulli and Sarasini [13]
studied the Morphological, thermal and mechanical characterization of okra fibres and concluded
that okra fibres show potential as reinforcement in polymer matrix composite. However, the use of
okra fibre as reinforcement is sparingly reported despite its established potentials [14].

@IJMTER-2020, All rights Reserved 41

 International Journal of Modern Trends in Engineering and Research (IJMTER)
Volume 07, Issue 06, [June-2020] ISSN (Online):2349–9745 ; ISSN (Print):2393-8161

This study therefore is aimed at investigating the suitability of okra fibre as reinforcement in
POP ceiling board by comparing the flexural strength and water absorption of POP reinforced with
locally sourced okra fibre with that reinforced with imported sisal fibre.

II. EXPERIMENTAL DETAILS

The POP cement used in this study is “Molda 3Normal” brand of POP cement purchased
from Building materials market in Bukuru, Jos South Local Government area of Plateau State,
Nigeria. The cement was kept in dry condition and was free from lumps. The bulk density and
specific gravity of the POP cement were determined and found to be 839 kg/m3 and 2.44
respectively.

Two different fibres were used in this study. These are imported sisal fibre and locally
sourced okra bast fibre. The sisal fibre was purchased from Building materials market in Bukuru, Jos
South Local Government area of Plateau State, Nigeria while the okra fibre bast fibre was purchased
from a local market in Mangu Local Government area of Plateau State, Nigeria. The okra bast fibre
was collected in bundles, washed with clean water and dried under the sun for three days before
usage. The ceiling boards were reinforced with 1% fibres by weight of cement. The water used in
this study is clean tap water satisfying the requirements of [15].

Absolute volume method was used to obtain the volume of materials used in this study. The
summary of materials computed and used in the production of each specimen of the ceiling board of
size 400mm x 250mm x 12mm thick are presented in Table 1. The POP ceiling boards were cast in
moulds. The mould consists of a glass platform with rigid metal rods round its edges to define its
boundary. The surface of the mould was adequately oiled before casting to ensure easy demoulding
of the POP ceiling board after setting. The required quantity of POP cement and water were
thoroughly mixed in a rubber bowl ensuring that no lumps were formed and then poured into mould
of size 400mm x 250mm x 12mm in two different layers. The quantity of POP cement and water
required per sample were divided in two halves and mixed in two operations. The first halve was
mixed and poured into the mould and the fibre evenly spread over the liquid mix. The second mix
was then made and poured on the fibre to make up the required level. A total of 12 POP ceiling
panels were produced using imported sisal fibre as reinforcement and another 12 POP ceiling panels
were produced using locally sourced okra bast fibre as reinforcement. After setting, the cast POP
panels were demoulded and stacked vertically in open air and tested for flexural strength and water
absorption at 3 days and 7 days curing ages.

Digital double point load flexural machine was used for the determination of the flexural
strengths of the samples. The water absorption tests of the samples were conducted in accordance
with the recommendations of [2].

Table 1. Quantity of Materials Used per Sample of POP Ceiling Board

S/No. Material Quantity of Material

1 POP cement 930 g

2 1% Fibre 9.3 g

3 Water 0.88 Litres

@IJMTER-2020, All rights Reserved 42

 International Journal of Modern Trends in Engineering and Research (IJMTER)
Volume 07, Issue 06, [June-2020] ISSN (Online):2349–9745 ; ISSN (Print):2393-8161

III. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

3.1. Flexural Strength of POP Ceiling Boards

The results of the flexural strength tests on POP ceiling boards reinforced with imported sisal
fibre and those reinforced with locally sourced okra bast fibre are presented in Figures 1. The results
show that there is progressive increase in the flexural strengths of POP ceiling boards reinforced with
both sisal fibre and okra fibre. The average flexural strength of POP ceiling boards reinforced with
imported sisal fibre at 3 days and 7 days are 0.075 N/mm2 and 0.091 N/mm2 respectively. For POP
ceiling boards reinforced with locally sourced okra bast fibre, the average flexural strengths at 3 days
and 7 days are 0.072 N/mm2 and 0.094 N/mm2 respectively. This implies that the performance of
locally sourced okra bast fibre as reinforcement in POP ceiling boards compare favourably to that of
imported sisal fibre. It is also observed that the value of flexural strengths obtained is greater than the
minimum flexural strength of 0.018 N/mm2 recommended by [1] for gypsum ceiling board class ‘h’.

0.1
Flexural Strength (N/mm2)

0.09
0.08
0.07
0.06
0.05 POP Reinforced with Sisal
0.04 Fibre
0.03 POP Reinforced with Okra
0.02 Fibre
0.01
0
3 Days 7 Days
Curing Age

Figure 1. Flexural strength of POP Ceiling Boards

3.2. Water Absorption of POP Ceiling Boards

The results of water absorption tests on POP ceiling boards reinforced with imported sisal
fibre and those reinforced with locally sourced okra bast fibre at 7 days are presented in Table 2. The
results show that POP ceiling boards reinforced with imported sisal fibre have average water
absorption of 8.3% while POP ceiling boards reinforced with okra bast fibre have average water
absorption of 8.2%. These values are less than the maximum water absorption of 10% specified by
[2] for gypsum ceiling board class ‘h’.

Table 2. Water Absorption of POP Ceiling Boards Reinforced with Sisal Fibre and Okra Fibre

Specimen Water Absorption (%)

POP Ceiling Reinforced with Sisal Fibre 8.3

POP Ceiling Reinforced with okra Fibre 8.2

@IJMTER-2020, All rights Reserved 43

 International Journal of Modern Trends in Engineering and Research (IJMTER)
Volume 07, Issue 06, [June-2020] ISSN (Online):2349–9745 ; ISSN (Print):2393-8161

IV. CONCLUSION

Based on the results obtained in this research, the following conclusions can be drawn;
1. The performance of okra bast fibre as reinforcement in POP ceiling boards compared
favourably to that of imported sisal fibre.
2. The average flexural strengths of POP ceiling boards reinforced with okra bast fibres at 3
days and 7 days are 0.072 N/mm2 and 0.094 N/mm2 respectively. These values are greater
than the minimum flexural strength of 0.018 N/mm2 recommended by [1] for gypsum ceiling
board class ‘h’.
3. The water absorption of POP ceiling boards reinforced with okra bast fibre is 8.3% and this
value is less than the maximum water absorption of 10% specified by [2] for gypsum ceiling
board class ‘h’.
4. Locally sourced okra bast fibre is suitable as reinforcement in pop ceiling production.

V. RECOMMENDATION

Based on the findings of this research, it is recommended that locally sourced okra bast fibre
should be used to replace imported sisal fibre in POP ceiling production in order to reduce cost of
POP ceiling in Nigeria.

REFERENCES
[1] ASTM C1396M-11 (2004). Standard Specification for Gypsum board. ASTM International, West
Conshohocken,PA, USA.
[2] ASTM C473 (2004). Water Absorption of Gypsum Board. ASTM International, West Conshohocken, PA, USA.
[3] Ekpunobi, U. E. Ohaekenyem, E. C. Ogbuagu,. S. & Orjiako,E. N. (2015). The Mechanical Properties of Ceiling
BoardProduced from Waste. British Journal of Applied Science & Technology, 5(2); 166-172.
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BSI.

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