UTILIZATION OF TEXTILE WASTE CUTTINGS AS BUILDING MATERIAL

Textile waste cuttings are mixed with cement as binder to produce a unique kind of composite material that looks like concrete but can be cut or nailed like wood. It exhibits certain physical and mechanical properties indicating its potential for low-cost lightweight construction. The composite material is produced from a mixture of textile waste cuttings, cement and water. Textile cuttings are taken from disposed trimmings of a garments producer and a textile manufacturer. These are cut into average lengths of 2 cm. and 6 cm., and mixed with portland cement in textile-cement ratios of 1:3, 1:4, and 1:5 by weight. Water is added in amounts corresponding to water-cement ratios ranging from 0.53 to 0.85. The mix combinations produce 18 mixtures and, with 3 specimens per mixture, a total of 54 samples. Experimental blocks with dimensions of 9.5 cm. x 14.5 cm. with a thickness ranging from 1.3 to 2.0 cm. are fabricated and tested for flexure, 1.5 cm. x 5.5 cm. x 22.5 cm. blocks for tension, while cubes of 5 cm. x 5 cm. x 5 cm. are used for compression tests. Samples are cured by submersion in water for 8 days, then tested at the age of 28 to 30 days. The tests are conducted in accordance with standard ASTM procedures for testing concrete products. Test data show that the effect of water-cement ratio and fiber-cement ratio on the strength developed follows the behavior of concrete. However, unlike concrete, the samples tested for compression do not exhibit a sudden brittle fracture even beyond the failure load, indicating its high energy-absorbing capacity. Inspite of high flammability of the textile waste cuttings, the composite material shows no evidence of burning when subjected to open flame for 30 minutes. The result of the laboratory test indicate a sturdy lighter-than-concrete building material with various potential uses - for ceilings, walls, wooden board substitute, or as an economical alternative concrete block.