This project “The Production of Ceiling Board from Local Raw Materials” was carried out basically using raw materials which was sourced locally. These raw materials are found to be very much in abundance. Some are materials sourced from the ground and others are from agricultural wastes.
Three different types of ceiling boards were produced, their difference being in the type of fibre that was used. The fibres used for this different type includes; cellulose fibre obtained from pulped carton, saw dust and rice husk.
The raw materials used for the production of the different ceiling boards includes, cement, calcium carbonate (CaCo3), Kaolin, starch and water.
The first type produced is from pulped carton. First, the cartons were collected, size reduce, soaked in a large quantity of water for 24hours, strained to remove the water and the milled by grinding using a motar and pestle. The quantity to be used was weighed out. The other raw materials which include starch, powdered kaolin, calcium carbonate and water were all measured. The pulped carton was poured and thoroughly mixed. The CaCo3, kaolin and starch and water were all measured. The pulped Carton was poured into the reactor; next cement was poured and thoroughly mixed. The CaCo3, kaolin and starch was added one after the other while stirring continued. Finally, water was added sparingly and gradually until a very smooth slurry was obtained. This was then poured into a mould and smoothened out using a roller and was left to dry. It took 7days for it to get dry.
The next produced was ceiling board from sawdust. The sawdust was first sieved, soaked for a day and then strained to remove the water. The quantity used was measured as well as all the other raw materials that was used. The same procedure was repeated as that of the first method and it was allowed to dry. It took three days to dry.
Finally, ceiling board using rice husk was produced. The rice husk was sieved, materials to be used weighed out and procedure repeated again in this case and allowed to dry. It took 5 days for it to dry. Drying was done with solar energy for all cases.
The three different types were subjected to different test. This includes; moisture content test percentage humidity, bursting strength. The weight of the wet samples and dry samples was obtained as well as the density and volume.
Finally, the different ceiling boards were coasted. Ceiling board from cellulose fibre (Sample A) costs N186 for the production, that of sawdust costs N184 while that of rice husk costs N185.