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Chapter I

INTRODUCTION

Global construction materials database and stock analysis of residential

buildings between 1970-2050, discusses the creation of a comprehensive material

intensities database for different types of buildings on a global scale. The study

focuses on the period from 1 9 7 0 to 2 0 5 0 and includes six construction

materials across four different dwelling types in both urban and rural areas,

Deetman (2019),. It is also extremely important in civil and construction

engineering. According to Freewan (2020), acrylic panels are extensively used

as day lighting devices in buildings. They utilize the total internal reflection

phenomenon to transmit natural light into inner spaces, significantly enhancing

daylight utilization. Studies have shown that acrylic panels can transmit light

up to 8 times greater than glass sheets, making them highly effective for day

lighting purposes. Many people use Acrylic Sheets to maintain its aesthetic

design and other purposes such as UV protection due to the high heat temperature

nowadays.

According to Laitila (2023), i n f l a t i o n directly affects the pricing

of decorative materials, as suppliers adjust costs to reflect economic conditions.

Because of the fast inflation of the society, the cost of construction materials

increasing time to time that can cause to many people find an eco-friendly and

alternative materials. Another thing is people would like to find materials as

durable as the original one. In terms of fiber, t h e r e ’ s have a lot of fiber that

use in construction because of its strengths and components. According to Elfaleh

(2023), The incorporation of bio composites made from natural fibers and bio
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polymers presents a sustainable alternative to traditional materials, promoting eco-

friendly practices in the industry.

According to Susilo (2024), extremely loud noises need to be managed

since they can negatively affect the environment and people's quality of life.

Permeable materials called absorbers can be used to regulate noise and lessen

sounds in indoor environments. Their capacity to absorb sound waves and

transform them into thermal energy gives them this ability. Rockwool, glass wool,

and foam materials are examples of synthetic fibers and natural minerals that are

commonly used to make absorbers. Studies on the long-term adverse effects of

rockwool are still being carried out regularly, according to the Agency for Toxic

Substances and Disease Registry, which also noted that exposure to rockwool and

synthetic materials can cause acute irritation of the skin, eyes, and respiratory

tract.Their need for quality and environmentally friendly sound absorption is

influenced by the sustainability and eco-friendliness of natural fibers. The

application of natural fibers as materials that absorb sound has been the subject of

extensive research. One type of natural fibre is abaca fibre, which has excellent

mechanical qualities. The use of abaca fibre in acoustics is a relatively recent area

of study, examining this natural fibre as an eco-friendly and sustainable substitute

for acoustic materials.The stem of the plant is used to make the distinctive natural

fibre known as abaca. Only in tropical regions, such as the Philippines, is this plant

grown.Only tropical regions, such as the Philippines, Ecuador, and some Southeast

Asian nations like Indonesia, are suitable for growing this plant. With a tensile

strength of 400–980 MPa, an elasticity modulus of 6.2–20 GPa, and an elongation

of 1%–10%, abaca fibers have remarkable mechanical qualities. Among these

components, cellulose, a naturally occurring organic polymer, has the most

crystalline structure, contributing to the improved mechanical properties of abaca

fibres.

The fiber's composition typically includes approximately 66-72%

cellulose, 8- 25% hemicellulose, and 8- 14% lignin, which together enhance its

durability and resistance to environmental factors Indrawati ( 2 0 2 4 ) . This unique

composition allows abaca fiber to be utilized in industries ranging from textiles

to construction. One of the strongest fiber in the world is Abaca Fiber that can

be suitable for reinforcing it to Acrylic Sheets because of its own content,

components, and strengths.

This study aims to offer Abaca Fiber as an Aggregate Materials

for Acrylic Decorative Sheets: Processing, Testing and Acceptability, which

is very light weight, durable, flexible, does not swell or lose strength in water,

eco-friendly materials and water resistant.

Background of the Study

Price variations for acrylic sheets can be influenced by shifts in the market's

supply and demand. Factors such as supply chain limitations or increased production

costs often contribute to these price fluctuations. Acrylic sheets, also known as

Plexiglass or Acrylic glass, are transparent or colored thermoplastic sheets made from

synthetic polymers. In contrast, Abaca fiber—sometimes referred to as Manila hemp

or Musa textiles—is a natural fiber derived from a banana leaf species cultivated as a

commercial crop in various regions.

In today’s society, the rising costs of construction materials, coupled with

inflation, have led many individuals to seek affordable alternatives for building

houses and structures. Glass is a common choice for its aesthetic appeal and UV
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resistance; however, Acrylic Sheets and Polycarbonate Sheets, frequently used as

substitutes, can be expensive depending on their sizes. This has prompted industries

and individuals to explore low-cost alternatives that offer greater durability while

maintaining functionality.

Abaca fibers are considered among the strongest natural fibers available in

the market. In fact, they are widely used as components in paper, pulp, twines, ropes,

textiles, fabric crafts, insulators, furnishings, and household construction items.

Moreover, abaca demonstrates great potential as a renewable fiber source for

industrial applications due to its high mechanical strength, durability, flexibility,

buoyancy, and long fiber length (Barba, et al., 2020). Consequently, these

characteristics make it an excellent choice for sustainable and innovative material

solutions.

More than 700 abaca accessions are preserve in ex-situ gene banks across

the country, excluding those naturally occurring in the wild. In addition, abaca is

highly location-specific, meaning that a particular variety may thrive in one site but

may not perform well in another. Over time, a few exceptional cultivars have

emerged, uniquely adapted to specific regions such as Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.

The current study identified the various abaca (Musa textilis Nee) cultivars grown in

the 34 abaca-producing barangays of Madalag and Libacao in Aklan, Philippines.

Notably, in 2016, the province of Aklan accounted for 82% of abaca production in

Western Visayas and is known for producing high-quality fiber (Señeris, 2022).

The use of natural fibers as reinforcing material has experienced a

progressive replacement of synthetic fibers in various applications in construction

industries. This transition is largely due to the intense research carried out in

recent years to develop more biodegradable and environmentally friendly

materials that offer improve characteristics and attractive physical and industrial

properties. These improvements include lower density, higher strength, processing

flexibility, and higher stiffness while reducing the associated costs. Composites

made from natural fibers, compared to those made from glass fibers, exhibit a

notable advantage in terms of light weight due to their respective densities.

According to Asyraf (2024), the versatility, strength, and e c o -

f r i e n d l y of abaca fiber-reinforced composites position them as viable alternatives

to synthetic materials in numerous industrial and technological applications.

Price variations for acrylic sheets can be cause by shifts in the

market's supply and demand. Due to limitations in the supply chain or increase

production costs, prices may rise during times of high demand or limited supply.

On the other hand, lesser demand or more supply can lead to discounts or sales.

The researcher will be propose to develop Abaca fiber as an Aggregate

Materials for Acrylic Decorative Sheets: Processing, Testing and Acceptability,

which will benefit and can be used by industry and individuals as a low-cost

material with high durability. Abaca fiber can be used as an aggregate material in

conjunction with synthetic polymers.

Objectives of the study

The primary aim of the study is to design and develop Abaca Fiber

as an Aggregate Materials for Acrylic Decorative Sheets: Processing, Testing, and

Acceptability.

Specifically, this study will seek to attain the following objectives:

1. To develop Abaca Fiber as an aggregate material for Acrylic Decorative

Sheets.

2. To test the performance and durability of the Abaca Fiber in Acrylic

Decorative Sheets in terms of :

2.1 compression

2.2 durability

2.3 bending.

3. To evaluate the acceptability of the Abaca Fiber in terms of the following

parameters:

3.1 cost-effectiveness

3.2 originality

3 .3 water and heat resistant

3.4 aesthetics

Significance of the study

The researchers will be developing Abaca Fiber as an Aggregate

Materials for Acrylic Decorative Sheets: Processing, Testing, and Acceptability.

This study would be significant primarily to the civil industry and within the inner

pace of decorative materials that would make things more attractive and visualized

properly;

To the construction industry professionals, for the people who is part

of the construction industry, they will simply use the purpose of this product in

most productive ways;

To the community, this study will improve the economic growth and

sustainable of community and give people understanding of using aggregate

materials for its alternative purposes;

To the consumers, this study will help consumer to choose alternative

products for a low cost but efficient and durable as the original one;

For the researchers, the product would increase the popularity of the

usage of abaca fiber that is being waste every single day, they would try to

come up with more usage of abaca;

For the future researchers, to succeed in both their academic and

research endeavors, the product would produce more opportunities for our

future researchers to tackle about the decorative ideas they could be using as an

alternative to the main things we are using today.

Scope and limitation

The main goal of this study is to develop abaca fiber as an aggregate material

in acrylic decorative sheets lies primarily in its testing the durability of original

acrylic sheets into abaca fiber using aggregate material for acrylic, processing,

acceptability, and sustainability, aesthetic appeal, and potential for improving the

environmental footprint of acrylic products. The materials needed only for this

product is the abaca pseudo stem and synthetic polymers.

However, the limitations in terms of elements such as abaca leaves and

its other features not included in the study. Hence, the processing complexity,

moisture sensitivity, variability in fiber properties, and the challenges of ensuring

long-term durability should be carefully addressed through appropriate treatment,

product design, and quality control.

Definition of terms

The following terms are defined conceptually and operationally to make

this study more comprehensive to those who might come across it.

Abaca Fiber i s a n a t u r a l l y o c c u r r i n g b a n a n a l e a f s p e c i e s t h a t i s

farmed in the nation as a commercial crop.

Acrylic Sheets are transparent or colored thermoplastic sheets constructed of

synthetic polymers, sometimes referred to as Acrylic Sheets.

Aesthetics use for better appearance and modern design that suitable for
decorative walls.
Aggregate is a term for reinforcing the abaca f iber and s ynthetic p olymers into

acrylic sheets.

Construction Materials are any substances used to build structures, such as

houses, factories, roads, and bridges. They can be naturally occurring,

like stone, wood, and clay, or man-made, like plastic and glass.

Synthetic Polymers is a component use in Acrylic Sheets. It is derived from

petroleum oil, and made by scientists and engineers. Natural Polymers

occur in nature and can be extracted.

Water Resistant is one the classification and function of the product, it could

withstand any form of water inside and outside of the Abaca Fiber.
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Pseudo Stem is a part of the abaca plant that resembles a trunk and is made up of

tightly wrapped up to 25 leaf sheaths and a soft core.

Acceptability relates to the suitability of employing Abaca Fiber as an aggregate

materials for Acrylic Sheets.

Processing is the process of creating and manufacturing Arylic Sheets from Abaca

Fiber aggregate resources.

Durability it relates to the strength of Abaca fiber as an aggregate materials for

Acrylic Sheets which indicates its properties.

Bending is the process of heating sheets so they soften and become flexible, and

then bending them into the desired shape.

Compression it refers to the ability of Acrylic Sheets to sustain compressive

forces before deforming or breaking.