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Chapter One
Introduction
1.1 Background of the Study
The environmental responsiveness has changed the customs of materials designing as
designers become considerate on the environmental specifications of their products. Among the
engineering sector, this movement nowadays was realized by the renewable resources utilization.
The use of environment-friendly alternative building materials has remarkably

gained its

importance in the construction industry. Such materials that offer unique strength, stability and
versatility in its applications have significantly become a necessity in product selection.
Bamboo is primarily a type of giant grass with woody stems. The stems are called
shoots when the plant is young and culms when the plant is mature. The bamboo is an
orthotropic material with high strength along and low strength transverse to its fibers. These
fibers are more concentrated in the outer skin, as shown in Figure 1.1, which is the strongest part.

Outer part of bamboo

split

Figure 1.1 Bamboo Fiber

Although bamboo grows very tall and stout, bamboo is not a tree. It is a giant grass. It is
the fastest growing woody plant in the world and grows at a rate of 1.5-2 inches/hour (37.5 50
mm/hour).

In fact, it is known to be the first green plant growing after the bombing in

Hiroshima, a city in South-western Honshu in Japan which was devastated by the atomic bomb
used in war of 1945. These species of perennial, woody, usually shrubby or treelike plants has
about 70 genera divided into about 1000 species of family Poacea. The plants range from stiff
reeds about 1 meter tall to giants reaching 50 meters in height and 300 millimeters in diameter.
Bamboo is an ideal substitute for wood because it is fast growing and easily propagating
with a short regeneration period. Numerous bamboo-based products have been developed. Most
of the new products are in the form of composites and reconstituted panels such as floor tiles or
parquet owing to bamboos thin-walled, round and hollowed body which is small in diameter.
The natural durability of bamboo is generally low. Once exposed to the natural agents of
deterioration, it is prone to attack by wood-destroying organisms. Hence, proper preventive and
control measures should be used to produce high quality bamboo products.
Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) is a clear, tough and shatterproof material. It provides a
barrier to oxygen, water, and carbon dioxide. PET's ability to contain carbon dioxide
(carbonation) makes it ideal for use in carbonated soft drink bottles. It is usually identified by
number 1 located at the bottom of most soft drink bottles. PET is also used to make bottles for
water, juice, sports drinks, beer, mouthwash, catsup, and salad dressing. It can also be found on
food jars for peanut butter, jam, jelly, and pickles as well as in microwavable food trays.
In the Philippines, a natural fiber named abaca fiber is abundant. In fact, the country is
the world's leading abaca producer. It is cultivated around its land area of 130,000 hectare by

some 90,000 small farmers. This abundance opens opportunities for explorations on its
uses in more value added engineering properties (FAO, 2009).
Abaca fiber, valued for its strength, flexibility, buoyancy, and resistance to
damage in saltwater, is chiefly employed for potentials in boat/ship building industries,
aeronautics as well as in construction business, especially for high -rise buildings. A good
ecological balance combined with its excellent technical properties cited by ChryslerDaimler paved way to the use of abaca as underbody protection for cars. The development
of this new end-use for abaca fiber in composite applications for the automotive industry
contributed to the increasing demand for fiber.
This research addresses the different problems encountered on resilient bamboo tiles by
studying its behavior. The success of this study aims to provide baseline information on the
development of proper connections to eventually create new and various designs for tile
products. Additionally, knowledge obtained from this study will help in the quest for sustainable
solutions on environmental issues. The result of the study can boost the development of resilient
tiles for fine-looking homes as a replacement for the decreasing number of natural resources. In
the long run, it may find a niche in the commercial world as more developed markets continue to
campaign for greener construction systems and products.

1.2 Statement of the Problem

In spite of being highly renewable, bamboo has no official recognition as a structural
material. The bamboo has approximately 10,000 species which makes standardization
unattainable in the International Conference of Building Officials (ICBO) and International Code
Council (ICC).
In the Philippines, different bamboos and bamboo based products researches have been
conducted to standardize its usage to replace commercially available raw materials in the market.
Thus, several applications of different construction species of bamboo were studied as a beam,
girder and flooring in the country. However, studies on resilient tile using bamboo and its
different mode characteristics were not given much attention through the recent years.
In this study, the investigation of the different properties of resilient bamboo tiles using
Kauayan Tinik, also called as Philippine Bamboo, with recycled plastic caps as substrate is being
undertaken.

1.3 Objective of the Study

1.3.1

General Objective
The general objective of the study is to develop resilient bamboo tiles with

recycled polyethylene terephthalate as substrate.

1.3.2

Specific Objectives
Specifically, the study aims to achieve the following:
a. To determine the physical and mechanical properties of raw materials
required in the assembly of composite tile.

b. To determine the property of the plastic matting with different

percentage of abaca fiber and the best mix design of the abaca
reinforced plastic matting for production of the resilient bamboo tiles.
c. To determine the physical properties of resilient bamboo tile such as
thickness swelling, water absorption, and delamination.
d. To determine the mechanical properties of resilient bamboo tile such
as flexural loading, hardness, abrasion resistance and falling ball
indentation.
e. To make a comparison with the existing commercial product which is
polyvinyl tile in terms of cost, properties and characteristics.

1.4 Significance of the study

This section provides a brief description of the various significance of the study in these
three categories: technological, economical, and environmental aspects. For the field of industry,
the proposed study promotes the possibility to create a composite resilient bamboo tile from the
combination of bamboo and recycled plastic caps reinforced by abaca fiber and also to further
develop the capability of the tile in aesthetic purposes in construction industry.
For the community, the composite tiles had been made from bamboo and plastic caps.
The bamboo is known to be an abundant resource and a rapidly renewable material while the
polyethylene terephthalate could be recycled from disposed products like bottles caps. These
materials are always available and are at a low-cost. The possibility to produce a low-cost
resilient tile may become a more feasible alternative for the community if proven to be so
through comparison with existing commercial products. Being able to produce a composite
resilient tile from waste material is beneficial to environment by producing a wider possible
output from recycling polyethylene terephthalate.

Moreover, the success of this study can provide baseline information on the development
of proper use of waste material, and eventually develop new and various designs for a tile
assembly.
Knowledge obtained from this study will help provide for sustainable solutions to various
environmental issues. Once established, fewer forests would be cut down for human
consumption. This will create more and more bamboo plantations which will generate
employment opportunities. In the long run these plantations will contribute to the sequestration
of carbon dioxide and the mitigation of greenhouse gases and climate change which give adverse
impacts on earth.

1.5 Scope and Delimitation

This study focuses on the property characterization and production of the resilient
bamboo tile with recycled Polyethylene Terephthalate as substrate. The binder that has been used
was assumed to have bonding effects between a wood and plastic.
This study limits the use of Kauayan Tinik (Bambusa Blumeana) as top surface of the
composite tile with approximately three years of maturity harvested and processed by the
Cottage Industry Technology Center (CITC) in Marikina, Rizal and recycled Polyethylene
Terephthalate reinforced abaca fiber as substrate. The substrate shall have the average thickness
of 1.5 mm with tolerance of 0.10 mm, reinforced with 40 mm length, S2 grade abaca fiber. The
thickness of the bamboo layer shall be 2 mm, while the resilient tile shall be produced in
dimensions of 200 x 200 x 3 mm.
This study also limits the usage to only one coating that will serve its waterproof and tile
guard. To protect the product from powder-post beetle and termite infestation, a mixture of

Borax and Boric acid was used. Furthermore, the bamboo slats were treated by sun-drying
method.

1.6 Conceptual Framework

Input

Process

Output

I.
I. Problem
Problem

concern on
Increasing
Increasing concern
on
environment
environment protection
protection
and
and preservation
preservation

produce a
a much
To
To produce
much
cheaper
variation of
of tile
tile
cheaper variation
products
products

utilize the
of
To
To utilize
the potential
potential of
Abaca
fiber as
Abaca fiber
as
reinforcement
simpler
reinforcement on
on simpler
products
products
II.
Knowledge
II. Knowledge

Variation
Variation on
on tile
tile structure
structure
III.
III. Resource
Resource
Requirements
Requirements

Slats
Bamboo
Bamboo Slats

Veneer
Bamboo
Bamboo Veneer

Matting
Plastic
Plastic Matting

Fiber
Abaca
Abaca Fiber

Urethane
Poly
Poly Urethane
IV.
IV. Hardware
Hardware

Machine
Planar
Planar Machine

Two
Two Roll
Roll mill
mill

Compression
Compression Moulding
Moulding
Machine
Machine

Tile
Tile Mold
Mold

Press
Mechanical
Mechanical Press

Veneer Lathe
Bamboo
Bamboo Veneer
Lathe

Cutter
Cutter

Saw
Electric
Electric Saw

Measure
Tape
Tape Measure

Hammer
Hammer

Scraper
Scraper

Rip Saw
Saw
Twin
Twin Rip

1.7 Theoretical Framework

I.
Preparation
I. Preparation

caps
Bottle
Bottle caps

of Dirt
Removal
Removal of
Dirt

on plastic
Sorting
Sorting based
based on
plastic
type
type

bits
Cutting
Cutting to
to bits

Bamboo
Bamboo

Harvested
Harvested from
from
Marikina
Marikina

Stripping
Stripping and
and treatment
treatment

Woodwork
Woodwork process
process to
to
slats
slats

Fiber
Abaca
Abaca Fiber

Harvested
Harvested and
and prepreprocessed
from Bicol
processed from
Bicol

in
Cutting
Cutting into
into 40
40 mm
mm in
length
length
II.
Construction
II. Construction
Bamboo
Bamboo Sheet
Sheet

Stripping
Stripping and
and planing
planing
into
1.3
into 1
1
1.3 mm
mm thick
thick
sheet
sheet

Matting
Plastic
Plastic Matting

of bottle
bottle caps
caps
Mixture
Mixture of
and
and Abaca
Abaca fiber
fiber

into 1
1.3
1.3 mm
Remold
Remold into
1
mm
200
200 mm
mm square
square mats
mats

Tile
Composite
Composite Tile

bamboo
Joining
Joining bamboo
sheet/slats
sheet/slats and
and matting
matting
with
with the
the use
use of
of
adhesive
adhesive
III.
Physical Property
III. Physical
Property
Test
Test

Swelling
Thickness
Thickness Swelling

Absorption
Water
Water Absorption

Delamination
Delamination
IV.
Mechanical Property
IV. Mechanical
Property
Test
Test

Ball Indention
Indention
Falling
Falling Ball

Flexural
Flexural

Resistance
Abrasion
Abrasion Resistance

Hardness
Hardness

I.
I. Physical
Physical Property
Property Test
Test
Results
Results

Thickness
Thickness Swelling
Swelling

Water
Water Absorption
Absorption

Delamination
Delamination
II.
II. Mechanical
Mechanical Property
Property
Test
Test

Ball Indention
Falling
Falling Ball
Indention

Flexural
Flexural

Abrasion
Abrasion Resistance
Resistance

Hardness
Hardness
III.
Selection of
III. Selection
of the
the most
most
effective
effective design
design

of the
Refabrication
Refabrication of
the most
most
effective
effective design
design
IV.
IV. Presentation
Presentation of
of
Product
Product

Research

Gathering
and Selection
of Material

Preparation of
Bottle Caps

Preparation of
Abaca

Production of
Plastic
Matting

Assembly of
Resilient
Composite
Tile

Testing of
Resilient Tile

Selection of
Most Effective
Design

Assembly of
Tile using the
most effective
design

Preparation
and
Treatment of
Bamboo

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1.8 Definition of Terms

Abaca fiber is known worldwide as Manila hemp and the Philippiness premier fiber which
is originally used for making ropes.

ASTM American Society for Testing and Materials

Bamboo any various woody of tropical and temperate regions having hollow stems thick
rhizomes and shoots that are used especially for building, furniture, and utensils.

Borax also known as sodium borate, sodium tetra borate, or disodium tetra borate, is an
important boron compound, a mineral, and a salt of boric acid. Powdered borax is white,
consisting of soft colorless crystals that dissolve easily in water.

Clump composed of many culms

Culm stem of a bamboo when it is mature

Delamination separation into constituent layers.

Internodes - hollow portion of the bamboo

Modulus of Elasticity for any material, the ratio of stress (force per unit area) to strain
(deformation per unit length) within the elastic range, generally expressed in GigaPascals (GPa).

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Modulus of Rupture the measure of the force necessary to break a given substance across, as
a beam, expressed by eighteen times the load which is required to break a bar of one inch square,
supported flat wise at two points one foot apart, and loaded in the middle between the points of
support.

Moisture Content is the amount of water contained in the material.

Node mass of bamboo fiber in between culms

Resilience is the ability of a material to recover to its original size and shape after being
deformed by an impact load.

Shoots stem of a bamboo when it is young

Tensile Strength is the maximum stress that a material can withstand while being stretched or
pulled before failing or breaking. Tensile strength is the opposite of compressive strength and the
values can be quite different.

Treated Wood is the wood with an approved preserved under treating and quality control
procedures.

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Universal Testing Machine (UTM) is a universal type of testing machine for compression,
tension and bending test of metallic materials, concrete and others.

Water Absorption the amount of moisture, a unit or material that will be absorbed when
immersed in water at a specified temperature for a stated period of time; generally expressed as a
percentage for dry weight.