Design of Cement Fiber Board (CFB) using Powdered Corn Cob (PCC) as Partial Replacement for Fine Aggregates and Waste Chicken Feathers (WCF) as Fibers

Rapid urbanization led to increased construction projects and demands for newer construction materials such as cement fiber boards inceased. Riverside communities in Barangay 7, Lucena City, struggle to adapt to modernization, relying on traditional, water-vulnerable materials like plywood for wall partitions. To address this problem, the researchers proposed a study that utilized agricultural and waste chicken feathers as fibers in the design and development of CFB. The cement-fine aggregates ratio of 3:1, with 10% WCF combined with varying percentages of PCC in four mixture designs: 0%, 10%, 20% and 30%. A total of sixteen samples underwent three different tests: flexural strength, water absorption, and density, with two curing periods: 7 days and 28 days. In accordance with ASTM C1185-08, the computed flexural strength with a 28-day curing period was 18.33 MPa, 20.31 MPa, 19.76 MPa, and 19.31 MPa; water absorption measured at 20.48%, 17.74%, 18.09, and 18.86; and density recorded at 1531 kg/m3, 1430 kg/m3, 1253 kg/m3, and 1210 kg/m3.The researchers finished all necessary work from the preparation of materials to the testing and evaluation of the CFB within forty-two days. The study revealed that the mixture of 10% PCC as partial replacement for fine aggregates with 10% WCF as fibers yielded the highest flexural strength compared to other mixtures and the standard CFB. Furthermore, it was the most cost-efficient, with the cost-benefit analysis showing the designed CFB costs PHP 546.85, approximately 46% cheaper than that standard. These values met the criteria states in ASTM C1186-22 classified as flat-fiber cement sheets.