A study of potential use of Kenaf powder as fine aggregates in concrete mixture

Abstract

Today many researchers and investigators take a new alternative, trying to make innovation for concrete. Therefore, to create and produce a new idea for concrete, some of them has changed some percentages of concrete or add a new material in concrete mixture. In Malaysia, kenaf has been identified as one of the potential raw fiber to replace tobacco. The scientific name for kenaf is Hibiscus Cannabinus L. So, in this research kenaf will be an alternative to replace some proportion of sand in concrete mixture. The aims of this study are to determine the strength and the water absorption of kenaf concrete compared to the conventional concrete. In the other hand, this study is also want to identify the effectiveness percentages between 1.5%, 2.5% and 3.5% of kenaf as sand replacement in concrete mixture. The entire tests that have been made are referring to British Standard (BS). Types of tests carried out include slump test, compressive strength test and water absorption tests. The size of the concrete used is 150 mm x 150 mm x 150 mm. From the result obtained, concrete that contain kenaf has an ability to reduce the water absorption. The compressive strength result for kenaf concrete 1.5% is 58 MPa, it is the highest strength when compared to the conventional concrete and other percentages. Thus, concrete that contain kenaf absolutely can be used in the construction industry.