Coconut fiber and resins of vegetable origin for the production of components of furniture and civil construction

Author(s)

Guilherme Alexandre Wiedman

• Document type: Doctoral Thesis
• Press: São Paulo.
• Institution: Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Faculdade de Arquitetura e Urbanismo (FAU/SBI)
• Defense date: 2002-12-05

Examining board members

Carlos Roberto Zibel Costa; Osny Pellegrino Ferreira; Jose Mangolini Neves; Marcelo de Andrade Roméro; Reginaldo Luiz Nunes Ronconi

• Advisor: Carlos Roberto Zibel Costa

Abstract

The following doctorate thesis describes an experimental development of native technology for the utilization of plant fibers in the manufacture of environmentally sound composite materials suitable to replace wood fiberboard, particleboard and MDF. Coir fiber extracted from the common coconut tree (Cocos nucifera) combined with plant resins obtained from black wattle (Acacia mearnsii) and castor plant (Ricinus communis) were used to produce molded components and flat sheets in experimental process. Prototypes of school chairs and corrugated roof tiles were manufactured and a complete set of tests were done to verify technical feasibility and potential applications. Coir fiber as well as other suitable plant fibers are an abundant resource in the poorest regions of Brazil and in several other developing countries in Asia and Africa. The use of such technology by the communities living off fiber extraction could aggregate value to their production and be an important factor to promote sustainable development. (AU)