Browsing by Author "Anonaba, Armstrong Udochukwu"

Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
  • Thumbnail Image
    ItemOpen Access
    Comparative study of the thermo-physical properties of Raphia palm, oil palm and pineapple leaves as alternative ceiling sheets
    (Federal University of Technology, Owerri, 2019-11) Anonaba, Armstrong Udochukwu
    An investigation of the thermal properties of some selected leaves, some of which have been used traditionally as roofing sheets in different forms have been carried out. We prepared sample sheets from oil palm, pineapple and raffia palm leaves specific heat capacities and thermal diffusivities were then determined. All samples were prepared by drying and grinding of the leaves and then forming into compact sheets for measurements. The major parameter, the thermal conductivity, К was measured with the Lee’s disc apparatus. The measurement showed that К is 0.072Wm-1K-1 for pineapple leaves, 0.126Wm1K-1 for raffia palm leaves and 0.118 for oil palm leaves. To check how good our method (Lee’s disc) is, we measured К for commercial asbestos ceiling sheet and found it to be 0.195Wm-1K-1 . This value is about 85% in agreement with the known (textbook) value of 0.17Wm-1K-1 . Other parameters determined here – the specific heat capacities, the thermal diffusivity, etc. confirmed that investigated materials can be engineered to good materials for passive “cool roof” building designs.