Development of fiberboard using areca palm leaf sheath as raw material and polyester resin as binder/ Janine P. Aquino, Evita Mae C. Mancenido, Reynan A. Morales, Daisy May C. Olanda and Hersheys A. Rodriguez

Bachelor's thesis

College of Industrial Technology.-- Bachelor of Engineering Technology major in Construction Technology: Technological University of the Philippines, Manila. 2025

Includes bibliographic references and index.

This study aimed to develop a medium-density fiberboard (MDF) utilizing Areca palm leaf
sheath fibers combined with polyester resin as a binding agent. The aim is to develop a
sustainable alternative material. To achieve this, we experimented with five different
proportions of Areca palm leaf sheath to polyester resin: 30:70, 35:65, 40:60, 45:55, and
50:50. The fiberboards were manufactured through a hot compression process and
evaluated for various properties, including parameters like modulus of rupture, internal
bond strength, face screw holding capacity, thickness swelling, and water absorption, in
accordance with the standards outlined in ASTM D1037-12. The 40:60 and 45:55 ratios
showed the best mechanical and physical qualities, making them ideal for indoor
applicationslike furniture and wall partitions. At the same time, the results of the conducted
project prototype were evaluated by 30 respondents in terms of functionality with an
average mean of 4.72, 4.75 for durability, 4.68 for workability, 4.68 for safety, 4.73 for
aesthetics, 4.62 for economy, and the overall average mean of 4.70 with the descriptive
rating of excellent or highly acceptable. The study indicates that the areca palm leaf sheath
area is a feasible, sustainable alternative for producing medium-density fiberboards, with
the potential for further optimization in eco-friendly applications.
Keywords: areca palm, polyester resin, fiberboard, sustainable alternative material