Coconuts Are coconut palms an alternate source of

Coconuts Are coconut palms an alternate source of building material?

Background p Origin Found in warm regions n Asia n p Cocos nucifera n Class – Liliopsida (monocotyledons) n Family -Arecaceae (Palm family) n Genus – Cocos L. (coconut palm) p Not a “tree” but a “tree n No branches, no cambium of life”

Background p Fruit n Coconut (also the seed) p Three layers: exocarp, mesocarp, and endocarp

Structure

Structure

Structure

Usage p Named “tree of life” n Culinary Copra (Oil) p Desiccated coconut p Coconut Milk p Coconut water (highly nutritious) p Wine p n Commercial Mats and ropes from the coir fibers p Baskets and brooms (from leaves) p Rituals; cultural significance p Roots used as toothbrushes p

Usage n Commercial Buttons p Bikinis p Fragrance p World War II p n Construction p Building material

As Building Material p Trunk n Panels n Boards n Lumber p Leaves n Roofing p Thatched roofing n Insulation n Pots (water storage)

As Building Material p Coconut n Husks (cellulose and lignin) Concrete Usage of shell as coarse aggregates p Makes concrete more durable p p Coir n Fiber Corrugated slabs p Natural fiber used with wire as reinforcement

Comparison of Growth Data Planting density (plants/acre) Height at maturation (ft. ) about 20 years Total Height (ft. ) 430 -700 plants/acre 35 ft. 100 -150 ft. Eucalyptus 170 -300 plants/acre 65 ft. 80 ft. Bamboo 200 -600 plants/acre 15 ft. 50 ft. Coconut 300 -500 plants/acre 65 ft. 80 ft. Pine

Economic Viability “Tree of Life” n Lumber n 100 stems per hectare p Unviable trees (trees unable to produce copra) yield 5 million cubic meters of sawn coconut timber p In developing countries local coconut trees provide more than 14 % of domestic timber demand p n Fruiting Starts fruiting 6 -10 years after the seed germinates p Annual production of fruits – 50 -200 fruits per tree p These fruits are produced throughout the year. p

Economic Viability p Construction of houses (in developing countries) n Roofing p Advantages § Eco-friendly § Made from naturally available material § Durability § Lasts for 25 -30 years and requires less renewal § Provides insulation § Cools the house in hot summers and warms the house in winter § Lighter in weight

Economic Viability p Construction of houses n Concrete Fibers and shells are abundant p Inexpensive materials p Enhance binding abilities of concrete p

Cultural Connection p Developing countries n n p Houses Temporary Shelter Tourism n Coastal areas Resorts p Restaurants; “coconut huts” p p Manila's Coconut Palace

Conclusion p Are coconut palms an alternate to building materials? n n p Naturally available Economically efficient Relieves pressure off of tropical forests Durable for construction It is indeed a “tree of life”

Future of Coconuts Palm? p Biofuel n Generators Palm oil vs. diesel p Reduces exhaust gas emissions p n Planes Coconut and Babassu oil p Virgin Atlantic Flight (747) p

References “Airline in first biofuel flight. ” BBC News UK. February 24, 2008. September 14, 2009. http: //news. bbc. co. uk/2/hi/uk_news/7261214. stm Almeida, Silvio C. A. de, Carlos Rodrigues Belchior, Marcos V. G. Nascimento, et. Al. “Performance of a diesel generator fuelled with palm oil. ” Fuel. 81. (2002). 2097 -2102. Coir Sri Lanka. All About the Coconut Fruit. September 16, 2009. http: //www. coirsrilanka. info/Coconut. html. Durst, Patrick B. , Wulf Kilmann, Chris Brown. “Asia’s new Woods. ” Journal of Forestry Vol. 102. Issue 4 (2004). 49 -52. Paramasivan, P. , G. K. Nathan, N. C. Das Gupta. “Coconut fibre reinforced corrugated slabs. ” International Journal of Cement Composites and Lightweight Concrete. 6. (1984). 19 -27.

References Simpson, Beryl Brinthall, Molly Connor Ogorzaly. Economic Botany. New York. Mc. Graw. Hill, 2001. Sivaraja, M. S. Kandasamy. “Characterisation of natural fibres as concrete composites for structural applications. ” International Journal of Materials and Product Technology. 36. (2009). 385 -95. United States Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service. United States Department of Agriculture. September 16, 2009. http: //plants. usda. gov/java/profile? symbol=CONU Wikipedia Foundation Inc. September 14, 2009. http: //en. wikipedia. org. wiki/coconut. Wikipedia Foundation Inc. September 14,