Application of Digital Logic Method in the Selection of Suitable Polymeric Materials for Ceiling Tiles Production

Abstract

Polymeric materials are widely employed in the production of ceiling tiles due to their attractive qualities such as thermal insulation, low water absorption characteristics, light weight, availability, cost effectiveness and their good surface finishing. This study focused on the production, property characterization and the optimization of five different polymer composite material which are 20SE (20 wt.% of sisal reinforced epoxy), 20JH (20 wt.% jute fiber reinforced high density polyethylene), 20BP (20 wt.% bagasse fiber reinforced polypropylene), 6CP (20 wt.% coconut shell ash reinforced Polyvinyl chloride) and 20CL (20 wt.% cotton reinforced low density polyethylene). Selected properties considered are flexural and tensile strengths, thermal conductivity, water absorption and bulk density. The values obtained after characterization were evaluated using digital logic method so as to determine the composite material with the optimum property while putting their cost effectiveness into consideration. The result showed that 20BP (20 wt.% bagasse fiber reinforced polypropylene composite) had the highest performance index and figure of merit, making it the most preferred polymeric composite for ceiling tiles application.