Wood-cement composites using suitable mix of sawdust and fibres from veins of palm tree leaves

Some tropical wood species are currently used in wood work and generating an important quantity of wood waste in Benin, Western Africa. Recycling these wastes through building material is a way to solve environmental challenges, but the wood resources are not inexhaustible and vegetable fibers such as Eleais guineensis fibers, obtained from veins of palm tree leaves are available in nature. The main concern of this study is to determine the most suitable mixes of E. guineensis fibers and five West African hardwood species namely Diospyros mespiliformis, Khaya grandifoliola, Tectona grandis, Pterocarpus erinaceus and Isoberlina doka for wood-cement composites. The compatibility with cement of mixes of fibers and sawdust is studied based on measurements of cement heat hydration and compatibility indices. The tensile and compressive strengths of the composites were determined to evaluate the potential of the mixes. The results show that the woody residues inhibit the hydration reactions of cement and greatly more when containing E. guineensis fibers. Hydration tests indicated that all the mixes could be rated as having moderate to good compatibility with cement after hot water treatment. Mechanical tests showed that the mixes containing Isoberlina doka, Tectona grandis and Khaya grandifoliola sawdust provided the highest mechanical strengths.    Key words: Vegetable fibers, sawdust, compatibility, wood-cement composites, mechanical strengths.