SMART & INTELLIGENT MATERIALS

PRESENTED BY: B.SENTHIL KUMAR S.SETHUPATHY KONGU ENGINEERING COLLEGE ERODE

ABS TRA C T

N ow a day there is many techniques are introdu ced to make us e of the w as te in cons truction mater ials . P las tic, fly as h, rice hus k, glas s even paper als o recy cled in cons truct ion mater ials . There are a number of ways to m ake cons truction m ateri al from pape r. The gener ic term for the method des crib ed here is "papercr ete". The bas ic cons tituen ts of papercre te are w ater and nearly any kind of pape r. When dry, papercrete is lightw eight, an excellen t ins ulator, holds its s hape w ell, and is remarkably s trong. It is res is tant to being crus hed (compres s ive s trength) and to being pulled apart (tens ile s trength). (Regular concrete, on the other hand, has high compres s ive s trength but no tens ile s trength to speak of, which is w hy it us ually has to be reinforced w ith s teel bars .) F ibrous cement is highly fire- res is tant. S ince the individual paper fibers are s aturated w ith cement, oxygen does n' t have a chance to penetrate, and combus tion cannot be s us tained. The ins ulating value of fibrous cement is cons iderable- its "R " value is 2 per inch. This means that a 12" w all has an "R" value of up to 24, w hich is impres s ive by any s tandard. M any types of paper are tr eated w ith dyes and ble ach th at can conta minat e s oil and plant- life. They are extre mely pers is ten t in soil and cannot be broken dow n by bacter ia. It makes s ens e to encas e the m in P ortl and cement, keep th em out of the landf ill, and do s ometh ing us eful w ith them.

INT RO DU C T ION T h ere are man y wa y s to b u i ld an i nex p en s iv e s h el te r , d e p en di n g o n wh er e y ou liv e , and wh a t kin d s o f mater ial s y o u ha v e av ail abl e- th e m o st co mmo n a lte r nat ive b u ild i n g mat eri al s in cl u de so m e co m b ina ti o n o f r oc ks , d ir t , co n cre te, lo g s , s tr a w b ales , ol d tir es , an d . . . Pape r . F ig u r i ng co n se r vat ive l y, it t a kes ab o u t fif te en t r ees to mak e a to n o f p ape r . T hat m ean s that 7 2 0 mi lli o n tr ee s are u s ed o n ce an d the n b u ri ed in a la n df ill a s a w aste per y ea r . A wa y s to t u rn t his pr o d i g io u s a mo u n t o f w aste in t o l o w- c o st, h i g h-va lu e su st ai nab le h o u si n g an d it i s the new t ec h n iq ue calle d p a p er c r et e. P ap e rcr e te , i s a remar k a ble b u i ldi n g mat eri al made w it h r ecy cle d p a per , san d , an d Po r tl an d ce men t. Pa p erc r et e ma y b e m i xed in ma n y wa y s. D if f e ren t ty p e s o f pap e rcr e te c o nta in 5 0- 8 0 per cen t wa ste p ap e r! U p to n o w, th er e be n o h a r d an d f a st r ul e s, b ut r eco mme n d ed stan d a r d s is 6 0 % of pa p er s lu r r y , 3 0% sc ree ned dir t or san d , 10 % Po r tl a nd ce men t . B u t t h e b asic co ns ti tue n ts are wa ter an d n ear ly an y k in d o f p ape r . C ar d b oa rd , g l o ssy m aga zi ne s to c k , ad ve r ti sin g b r o ch u re s, j u n k m ai l o r ju st ab o u t an y oth e r t y p e o f ( lo we r ) g r a de" pap er i s acce p ta b le . " mi xed S ome t y pes o f p a p er wo r k be tter th a n

o th er s, bu t all t y pes w o r k. Ne ws pr i n t i s bes t. Water p r o o fe d pa p er a n d car d b oa r d , su c h a s bu tch e r p ap e r , b eer cart o n s, e tc . ar e h ar de r to b rea k d o wn in wa te r . C at al o g s, m aga zi nes a n d o the r p ubl i ca ti o n s a re f ine in an d o f th ems el ves, b ut so me h a ve a st rin g y , r u b b er y , sti ck y sp i n e, w hic h is al so wate r re sis ta n t. B r ea k in g d o wn t h is k i n d o f m ater ial in t he mi x in g p r o ce ss can 't be d o n e v e r y we ll . Smal l f rag men t s a n d str i n g s o f t hes e m ater ials ar e almo s t al way s p res en t i n t h e fi na l mi x . Wh e n u si n g pa p erc r et e co n tai n in g the u nw an ted mate r ial in a f i nis h , su ch as i n stu cc o o r p la ste r , th e u n wa nte d f ra gm en t s s o me ti mes sh o w u p o n th e s ur f a ce , b ut thi s i s n ot a se rio u s p ro b lem .

NE E DS TO S E L ECT PAP E RCR ET E . E v en t h ou g h ab o ut a p erc ent ag e of d i sca r ded pap e r is re cyc le d a n n ual ly, to n s of p ape r is th r o wn a wa y or goes in to th e l an d f i ll s. F ig u r i ng co n se r vat ive ly, i t takes abo u t f ift een t r ee s t o m ak e a to n o f p a per. pape r cre te is t h e be st meth o d to mak e u se of t h e pa p er wh ich i s r eje ct ed a s a w as te . To S av e s la n df ill s pac e a nd Ke ep s pap e r p r o ces sin g & p r int in g

che mica l s o u t o f th e wate r tab le an d t o make t h e pap e r re cyc l ed , pa p erc r ete i s o ne o f th e b est me t hod . G iv e n t he sk y r o ck eti n g co st s o f b ui ld i n g mater ia ls & c o n st r uct io n , an d th e pr ess in g n e ed for h o me s, it is j u st a ma tt er o f ti me b ef o re wa ste pa pe r wil l be gi n t o tak e it s place a s an acce pt a ble an d e ve n d es ira b le res id e n ti al co n st r uct io n mater ial. B ASIC OF P AP E R AN D PAP E RCR E TE P ap e r i s pri n ci pal l y wo od ce ll u lo s e, wh ic h i s co n si d ere d a fib r o u s mate ria l . Cel lu l o se is th e s ec o n d mo st abu n d a nt mate r ial o n e ar t h af te r r oc k . I t i s the m ai n c omp on e nt of pl a nt c ell wal ls, an d t he b as ic b u i ldi n g b lo c k f o r ma n y t ex t il e s an d f or p ape r . Ce ll ulo se is a n a tu ra l p o ly mer , a lon g ch a in o f li n ked su g a r m ol ec ule s mad e b y t he l in ki n g o f sm all er mo le cu le s.

Ce ll ul ose h y dro g e n bo nd s.

T h e li n k s i n t he cell ulo s e cha in are a typ e o f s u g ar: - D- glu c o se . The cell ulo s e ch a in br i stle s wit h p o lar -O H g r o u p s. Th e se g r o u ps f o rm ma n y h yd r o g e n b o n d s w it h OH g r o u ps o n ad jac ent ch ai n s, b u n dli n g t h e cha in s to g eth e r . T he cha ins als o pa ck r eg u lar l y i n p l ac es to f o rm ha r d , sta bl e cr y stal lin e r eg i on s th at g i ve th e b u n d le d cha in s ev e n mo r e sta bil ity an d str e n gth . T h is h y d r og en b o n din g f o r ms the ba si s o f p ape r cre te' s st ren g t h.

Micr o sc o pic Fi bril s

vi ew

of Micr os co pi c v ie w of Fibr ils

co a t ed w it h Po rtl a nd c em e nt

Vie we d u n der a micr o sco pe , i t' s p o ss ib le t o see a n et wo r k o f cel lu l ose fi b er s an d smal ler o f f sh o o ts f r o m the fi be rs ca ll ed fi b r il s. Wh en th e se net wo r k s o r mat rice s o f fi b ers an d fi b r il s d r y , th ey i nte r twi n e a n d c lin g to g eth e r wit h th e p o we r o f th e h ydr og e n b o n d . C oat i ng t hese fib e r s wit h Po r tl an d ce men t cre ates a cem ent mat r ix , wh ic h enc as es th e fi be r s fo r ex t r a s tr e n g th . Of co u r se p a per has m ore in it tha n cellu l o se . R a w ce ll u lo s e h as a co mp a rativ e ly r ou g h te x tu re . Ka oli n it e o r C hi na cl ay i s u sed to ad d smo o t h ness a n d se mi -

g lo ss to p a per . Va rni sh is a d ded f o r t he g lo ss y lo o k . T h en th e re a re var i o us in k s an d o the r chemical s ad d ed . M an y ty pe s o f p a per ar e tr eate d wit h d y es an d b le ach th at c an c o n ta mi nate s o il a n d pla n t- l ife . Th e y ar e ex tre mel y p er si sten t i n so il and ca n n o t be b ro k e n d o wn b y b ac t eri a. It ma kes se n se t o enc as e th em i n P ort lan d ce me n t, k ee p the m o u t o f the la nd f ill , an d d o so me thi n g u sef u l with t hem . PRO P ER T Y OF PORT L AN D CE ME N T I N PAPE RC RE T E . P o r tl an d ce men t i s an i n teg r al co m p o nen t of pa p erc r ete. I t i s u su all y no t u sed in fid o b e or p ado be . A si mp le pap e r a nd wa te r m ix ta k es a g reat d ea l o f time t o dr y a n d i t shr in k s ab o u t 1 5 - 25 per cen t . Ad d i n g Po r t la n d c em ent i n a n am o u nt eq ua l in wei gh t t o th e pa p er cut s dr y in g time by ab ou t hal f a n d r ed uc es sh r in ka g e to ab o u t 3- 5 per cen t . If n o thi n g we re ad d e d t o p ap e r a nd wate r , it wo u l d b e less st r on g , hi g hly f la mm ab le , an d le ss re si stan t to b u g s an d mol d . N o matte r w h at mi x y ou se tt le o n , th e g r ea t th in g a b o u t g e ner i c p ape r cre te i s h o w it t r ap s ai r . W hen the wa te r dr a in s o u t an d e vap o r a te s, it leav e s t h ou s an d s o f tin y a ir p o c ket s. Th i s i s wh a t mak e s t he m at e ria l lig h t an d a g o o d i n su l at or . A dd i n g s o li d ma te r ial t o t he m ix ( sa n d , e tc . ) a f fect s wei g h t a nd i ns u la ti ng q u ali ty . Th e be st m ix i s th e o n e w hi c h b e st f it s th e ap p licat io n .

Pap e rcr e te is mix ed with Po r tla n d ceme n t to o b t ai n a v er y g o o d R - v a lue ( 2 - 3 p er i nch ) , an exc e ll en t so u n d a b so r pti o n q u ali ty , to be f la m e/ f u ng u s r eta r dan t , an d b u g/r o d e nt res ist a nt. Si n ce it is rel ati v el y l ig ht an d mo r e f lex i ble t han ear t h, ro ck or co nc ret e, it is p ot en tia ll y an id e al mat eri al f or ea rth q u a ke- p r o n e ar ea s. It ca n be S am p le s m a de in a co f fee u se d i n ma n y wa ys - - a s b l ock s, pa ne l s, p ou re d in a u g u red , p um pe d , sp ra y ed , h u r l ed, can sho w ing shri nka g e . p lac e, F rom c em e nt le f t to to rig ht : P o rt l a nd ce m en t, p a per, No tr o w el ed o n , u s ed li ke i glo o blo c k s to mak e a 5 0 - 5 0 se lf - sta nd i n g d o me o r app l ied o ve r a f ra me wo rk 6 0 - 4 0 to ma ke a r o o f o r d om e. P ap e rcr e te i s a ve ry f o r g ivi n g m at er ial , b ut l ike an y o t her mix t ur e, v ar yi n g t he mix , ad mix t u r es and cu r ing

c em e nt t o pa pe r.

p ro ce du r e s res ul t s in tr a d eo ff s in i ts p r o per tie s. Fo r ex amp l e, a ddi n g m o re san d or g la ss t o th e mi x r es u lt s in a d en ser , st r o n g er , m or e f la me r e ta r d ant mate ria l , b ut a d d s we ig ht a n d r e d uce s R - v al u e. Heav y mi xe s w it h ad de d sa n d , g la ss, et c. inc r ea se mass a nd st r en gt h to a p o in t , b u t r ed uc e wo r k ab i li ty . I n o th er wo r d s, a " li g ht" mi x wi th ju st P or tl an d c eme nt is ea sier to cu t wit h a cha in s aw an d d r i ve r e bar t h r o u gh th a n a mi x wi th lar ge r a mo u n ts o f sa n d , clay , etc. Ad d i ng more t ha n t he mi n im u m am o u n t o f P or tl an d c emen t to th e mi x in cre ase s str e n gth an d re si st an ce to ab r as io n , b u t als o r ed uc es f le x ib il it y so me wh at, a d d s w eig h t an d m ay r e d u ce R - v alu e . So t h e tr ick i s fi n d in g th e b est mi x f o r th e ap plicat io n . Ma k in g wal l s call s f o r a l ig h te r m ix t han stuc c o. R oo f p a nel s wi ll p r obab ly b e a d i f fer e nt m ix tha n su b - f lo o r s. T h ere ar e a n u m ber o f v a ria ti o n s o f pa pe rc ret e, such as f i b r o us co n cre te o r fi b erc r ete, fi br o us ceme nt , pad o b e a n d f i d o be. Fi bro us c on cret e is th e mix o f fib r o u s mater ial ( u su all y pa pe r ) , Po r t la n d ceme n t an d w at er. P a do be ( pa pe r a d o be) h as no Po r t la n d ce me n t. It i s a mi x o f p ape r, wat er, an d e ar th wit h c la y. F i do be (fi b r o u s a d o be) i s l ik e pa d o b e, b u t m ay co nt ai n o the r f ib r o u s ma te r ial s. Pape r cre te ad di ti ves c an be: Po r tl a nd c em ent , s an d , d ir t , clay, gla ss, o r e ve n "f ly a sh "

MIX ING FO RM ULA FOR F IB E RCR E TE . T h e mo st c omm o n mix er in u se i s Mi ke McC ai n' s to w mi xer . I t has a cap acit y o f ab o u t 2 00 g all o n s ( 9 00 l it er s ). T he f o ll o wi n g i s a st art i ng f o rmu l a f or a 2 0 0 - gal lo n b atch o f bl o ck s. A 2 00 - ga ll o n b at c h wi ll mak e 25- 3 0 b l ock s in f o r m s o ne f o ot (3 0 c ent ime te r s) wi d e x tw o f ee t ( 6 1 ce n ti met er s) lo n g x f ive in c hes ( 1 3 ce nt imet er s ) th ic k . A s ta r ti n g f or m u la is j u st tha t, a p l ac e to b eg i n ex p eri me nt in g . So me p eo p le p re fe r " lig ht er " f or m u la s wi th o u t sa n d . I f yo u pla n to c u t o ut win d o ws , d o o r s o r ot h er o p en i n g s in th e w al ls a f te r th e y a re er ecte d , y o u will wan t to av o id u si n g san d . It w il l d ul l y o u r ch a in sa w b lad e s v er y q ui ck l y . B u t a typ i cal s ta rti n g f or mu la f or a 20 0 - g all o n ba tch is 1 6 0 g al lo n s ( 7 2 7 lite r s) of wa te r , 6 0 p o u n d s ( 2 7 k il o g ram s) of pa pe r, 1 b a g o r 9 4 po u n d s ( 4 3 k il o gra m s) of Po r tlan d cemen t a n d 1 5 sh o v el f u ls o r 65 p o u n d s ( 2 9 k il o g r am s) o f sa n d . T he sa nd add s t her m al m as s, r e d uce s f la mma b ilit y a n d sh ri n k ag e , an d p ac k s d o w n t he sl ur r y f o r a de n ser , st r on ge r bl o ck . Se e ab o v e f o r ca veat s r ega r di n g sa nd . H al f a b ag o f Po r t la n d ceme nt wi ll w o rk to o, b u t t he sl ur r y wi ll dr y mo re slo w ly a n d will sh r in k mo r e. T h e b l ock s w o n' t be a s h a r d o r fl ame r et ar d a nt wh e n d r y . So me peo p l e u s e t wo b ag s o f Po r tl an d ceme n t i n are as wh er e stre n g th is mo st im p ort a nt - f or b lo c k s at th e b ot to m of w al ls, r o o f p ane ls, a n d fo r fl o o rs. T h e r ec ent fo rm u la f o r o ne yar d (a b o ut 2 0 0 gal lo n s) o f pa pe rc re te in c or po r a te s 2 5 % r eg r o u n d Sty r o f o am . Hi s f o rmu l a c al ls fo r th r ee sac k s o f Po r tl an d cemen t ad de d to 7 5 p o u n ds o f ham mer - m il le d cell ulo s e in s u lati o n an d 2 5% reg r o u n d Sty r o f oam . Th i s cu ts th e a mo u nt o f Po r tlan d ce men t he n or ma ll y u se s b y o ne f ul l sa ck an d sig n i f ic an tl y re du ce s s h r in k age . H e mak e s h is i n te r io r pla st er s u s in g si x s ac k s o f P or tl an d ce men t pe r y ar d , wh ich ma kes

th e pl as te r f i re r esi sta nt a n d f o rm s a f la me/v a p o r ba r r ie r e q u iva le n t to hal f in c h dr y w al l. MIX ING FO RM ULA FOR F IDO B E AND P ADO B E . W he n us in g o f Po r t la n d ce men t is op p o se d , so me e x per i me n ts wi th p ape r a n d cl ay an d w it h o t her b i nde r s sh o u ld tr y W ha t i s the n ee d fo r f i do b e ( an y f ib r o u s mate rial a n d ea rth with cla y ) o r pad o b e ( p a per an d ea r th wi th clay ) i s a fi br o u s mate ria l o r pap e r , an d ear th wi th hi g h c la y co n ten t . Th e clay co n ten t o f the ear t h s ho u l d be at lea st 3 0 p e rce n t. Wit h r eg u lar ad o b e , i f th e cl ay co n ten t is t o o hi g h t he a d ob e ma y cr a ck whe n d r y i ng , b u t ad d in g p ape r fi b er to the ad o b e m ix st ren g t h en s t h e d r y in g b lo c k a n d g i ves i t so m e f le x ib ili ty , wh ic h h elp s p rev e n t cr ac ki n g . T he ear th ( wi th cl ay ) to p a per r at io can be v ari ed f o r dif f e ren t ap p lic atio n s. Si nce ea r th i s dif f e ren t in ev e r y lo catio n , d o so m e ba se li n e e x p eri men t s wi th 4 - t o- 1 r at io - ear t h to p a per , b y wei g h t. Th i s i s a go o d pl a ce t o star t i n o r der to fi n d a mix f or a str o n g , li g htwe i gh t blo c k . I f P o rt lan d c em ent in s mal l a mo u n t s i s acc ept ab le, t hen t h e fol l ow in g r at io s li k e 6 :3 : 1 o r 7: 2 :1 p a p er , e art h , c em ent u nd e r te n p erc ent . I n th e a b o v e r at io s, it s ho u ld be mi n d t hat t h e p ape r sh o u l d b e p u lp e d wit h wa te r b ef or e t he o t h er i n g re di en t s ar e ad de d . B e f o re m ixi n g th e ab o v e in g r e die n ts, s cr een t he r o c ks an d sma ll sto ne s o ut o f the eart h . Agai n , the ea rt h s h o ul d h av e 3 0 per ce nt c la y o r b et te r . I f it is di ff i cul t t o de te r mi ne th e am o u nt o f c la y in ea r th , the r e are t wo ea sy wa ys . Fir s t o f a ll, ma ke sur e t h at th e t e sti n g ea r th wi th n o o r ga n ic m ater ials i n i t . Usu a ll y t hat i s f o und bel o w th e ro o t s o f p la nts an d g r as s a f oo t or tw o u nd e r g r o un d . Sec o nd t o te st a l ar g e v olu me o f ear th f or cl a y co n ten t , m ake su r e to get a few h an dfu l s f rom di ff er e nt p oin t s in the sam p le are a an d mi x th em to g e the r bef o re sc r ee n in g . I f th e re i s an y c lay p re se n t, a n d i t is th e ca n t r y. B asic ally , th e mo r e clay in the ea rth , th e mo r e p ape r s h ou l d b e us e, b ut the bi n d er sh o u ld n o t f al l

sli g h te st bit mo i st, (s pr a y so me wate r on it if neces sar y ) i t wi ll stic k an d ca ke u p o n sh o v e l mak i n g th e s h o ve l q ui te hea v y .

Ta ke a han d f u l o f thi s d am p eart h a nd sq u eez e it . I f it sta y s int act in a lu m p , it h as so me cla y in it. I f i t can be r oll ed o u t i nt o a " wo r m" w it h o ut b rea k in g u p , it h as mo re clay i n it . I f the wo r m c an b e d r ape d o v er th e ed g e o f y o u r h an d ab o ut thre e in ch e s an d s ta y int act, i t ha s q u ite a b it o f clay i n it . In fidobe and padobe there may have chance of termites around it. But it is protected by adding little amount of Portland cement.

TESTS RESULTS ON PAPERCRETE.

S o me o f t he te st s wh ich n ee d t o b e r u n , afte r a stan d a r d mi x i s esta b li sh ed , ar e a s f oll o ws: C o m p r ess ive st r en g t h, te n si le st r en gt h , sh ea r st ren g t h , lo n g term

d ef o rma tio n ( c ree p ), wate r per m ea b ili ty , fi r e re si st an ce, h eat a n d so u n d in su l at i on , l o n g te rm b eh a vio r ( d e gra d ati o n) . Co m pr ess iv e st re ngt h T h e co m p ress iv e str e n gth o f p a per c ret e has be en me asu re d a nu m ber o f time s a n d is var i o usly re p o r te d to b e in th e 14 0 - 1 6 0 lb . /sq . i n ch ra n g e - - b ut co m pr ess iv e st ren gt h is p ro b a bly n o t t he m o st ac c ura te w ay t o ju d ge l o ad a t th e ins ta nt of p ape r cre te . C o mpr e ssi v e s tr e n g th i s a measu re o f

f ai lu r e . Th is w or k s f o r co n cr ete be cau se wh en co n cr ete' s lo a d i s ex cee d ed , it lite ral l y ex pl o d es . Wh en tha t p o int i s r ea ch e d , th e co m p r es sive s tr e n g th is k no w n . B u t p ap er crete n eve r fai ls ca ta st r op h ical ly , it j u st c o mpr e sse s l ik e sq u eezi n g ru b b e r . So a m o r e a cc u rat e m ea su r e o f pap e rcr e te ' s s tre n g th is its sti f f nes s - i n ot h er wo r d s, h o w mu c h d o e s it com p r ess u n de r w h at lo ad ? We h ave f o u n d t h at t h is v al ue is le ss t han th e co mp re ssi v e st re n g th of c o n cre te , b ut ma n y t im es g reat er th a n wo u l d be ne ede d t o su p p o r t an y kin d o f r o o f co m bin e d w it h j u st ab o u t a n y r o o f lo a d . So wit h p ap er cr ete , y o u d o n 't hav e th e su d d en cat ast r o phic fr ag men tat io n , wh i ch i s ch a r ac ter i stic o f c o ncr ete or ear th , ju st a sl o wer sq u i sh . W h en the loa d i s r em o v ed , pap e r cr e te actu all y r eb o u n d s a bi t i n an a tt em p t t o ret u r n t o it s p r i or s ha pe . W hat d o e s thi s all re ally mean ? It mea ns th at p a p erc r et e has n o

p ro b lem wi th st ren gt h . A st ru ct ur e se ver a l st o rie s h i gh ca n b e b uil t wit h i t .

T en s ile and S h ear s tren gth .

The tens ile s trength of papercrete als o s eems sufficient to the tas k. J us t try to pull a s ingle s heet of paper apart by pulling laterally on the edges .

It has great s trength. Ripping a piece of paper is much eas ier than pulling it apart. S o the shear s trength of paper is not as great as its tens ile s trength. B ut a papercrete block is the equivalen t of hundred of pages of paper - almos t like a catalog. P apercrete has very good s heer s trength as a block. Lateral load involves s idew ays force - the w ind load on the entire area of an outs ide w all for example. B ecaus e papercrete walls are us ually a minimum of tw elve inches thick, and us ually pinned w ith rebar, they are very s trong laterally. N o extreme ly long lengths of flat w all built w ith any kind of material s hould lack reinforcemen t. The reinforcement might be internal - us ing mes h or rebar, or external by curving the w all or connecting the w all to perpendicular w alls at reas onable intervals . S tructural tes ting w ill tell us the bes t w ay to des ign for papercrete cons truction.

R -valu e . "R -value" is a meas ure of a materi al' s res is tance to heat flow . The R -value of papercrete is reported to be betw een 2.0 and 3.0 per inch - the higher the number, the better. Tw o s amples us es a 1:1 mix of P ortland cement w ith F ly as h to paper, w ith about 12 s hallow s hovelfuls of s and added. The obtained R-values are of 2.24 and 2.16. From the percentage of P ortland cement and fly as h w as 65% P ortland cement and 35% fly as h, makes blocks 12 inches (30 centim eters ) thick and adds an average of about an inch (2.5 centimet ers ) of papercrete exterior s tucco and about the s ame amount for interior finis h. That means that his total R-value w ill be at betw een 30.24 (14 x 2.16) and 31.36 (14 x 2.24).That' s quite good compared to an older s tandard w ood frame w all of R- value 19. The R-value of hollow mas onry block is only 1.75.

Fire O ur block and roof panel mixes cure into a materia l which w ill not burn w ith an open flame. If an accelerant like gas oline is applied to it or it' s held over an open fire for a prolonged period ( 30 seconds or more) it w ill begin to burn s low ly

like charcoal rather than rapidly like wood. It w ill eventually be reduced to as hes , but a s ingle block w ill take s everal hours to be cons umed. M any fire retardants are expens ive and give off toxic fumes , but a mixture of boric acid and borax is environmental ly friendly and w ill protect the block from fire. 1 cup of Borax and 1 cup of Boric acid in a gallon of w ater. It' s not too expens ive and the great thing is that it s eems to w ork. This is not to s ay that papercrete w ill never burn. A ny material w ill burn or melt if enough heat is applied - even rock. But for all practical purpos es , papercrete is relatively s afe (s afe as or s afer than w ood) w ithout being treated. It's even more s afe w ith the boric acid s olution above. MI X E RS It is the mechanic al device us ed to break dow n the papers into pieces and make them into a blend by mixing it w ith w ater.the follow ing are the types of mixers : 5 G A LLO N (20 LITER) 50 G A LLO N (212 LITER) TH E TO W M IX ER - 200 GA LLO N (900LITER) BIG M IX ERS - 1000 G A LLO N (4240 LITERS ) ELECTRIC MO TO R M IX ERS

T Y PI CA L 5 GA LLON MI X ER WI TH X S HA PE MI X IN G BLA D E

T Y PI CA L 50 GA LLON MI X ER AN D TOW MIX TER B EN E FIT S O F P APE RCR E TE . F irs t advantage of w orking w ith papercrete is w e don' t have to worry too much about how much w ater to add to the mix. With regular concrete, if you add too much w ater, the final product w ill be w eaker than it s hould be. With fibrous cement, the cement is abs orbed by the paper fibers , ins uring that it is evenly dis tributed throughout the mix, and any exces s w ater s imply evaporates or oozes into the ground. The follow ing are s how the advantages of papercrete. P rovides low -cos t, sus tainable hous ing Incentivi zes the recycling of w as te paper, es pecially in communities

w ith no recycling s ervices .

S aves landfill space. K eeps paper process ing & printing chemica ls out of the w ater table. P rovide highly ins ulated building

CON CL US I ON Even though about a percen tage of dis carded paper is recy cled annua lly, tons of paper is throw n aw ay or goes in to the landfil ls . F iguring cons erva tivel y, it tak es about fif teen trees to mak e a ton of paper. papercre te is the bes t me thod to mak e us e of the paper w hich is rej ect ed as a w as te. P apercrete hous es make s ens e. O ur landfills are clogged w ith "w as te" paper and cardboard. M illions of people live in subs tandard hous ing, or have no hous ing at all. With papercrete /paper adobe, w e can solve both of thes e problems at once. R ather than throw ing "w as te" paper and cardboard into landfills , w e can turn it into a valuable building materia l. This is a golden opportunity for us to s tart managing our s olid w as te "problem" w ith a littl e common s ens e.