Reinforcement of Plaster of Paris (POP) for Suspended Ceilings Applications Using Kenaf Bast Fibre

Natural fibers as Green-Engineering materials have been used since the dawn of civilization by mankind for various engineering applications and material reinforcement. It has also been extensively used in packaging, building and construction industries (hard board, partition boards, particle board, pulp and paper, textile and geotextile applications). This research and development paper demonstrated and domesticated the applicability of kenaf bast fibre for Plaster of Paris (Pop) Reinforcement. Plaster of Paris is a brittle material with a low capacity for deformation under mechanical load (as a result of tensile stresses and chemical reactions in the material, which leads to cracking and instability). Kenaf plant as a natural fiber was naturally retted and modified using Control System Tank Retting (CSTR) method and modified with 10% Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) for 30 minutes. Extracted fibers were chopped and randomly distributed for Plaster of Paris (POP) Reinforcement. The properties of the modified material showed a significant increase in tensile strength and purity. The reinforced material was stable and the field trials of material indicated a good potential reinforcement for Plaster of Paris for suspended ceiling application at a reduced cost.