The Most Suitable species of six West African Hardwood Species for Wood – Cement Composites

Some tropical wood species are currently used in wood work in Benin and generating very important quantities of wood waste. To recycle these wastes through building material, the suitability of wood species for wood - cement composites is evaluated. Wood - cement compatibility is studied based on measurements of cement heat hydration and compatibility indices. The potential for the sawdust species to be used in wood - cement composites was investigated by determining the mechanical strengths of the composites. Six hardwood species namely Afzelia africana, Diospyros mespiliformis, Khaya grandifoliola, Tectona grandis, Pterocarpus erinaceus, and Isoberlina doka are tested. In general, the woody residues inhibit the hydration reaction of cement but the hydration tests identified Isoberlina doka and Diospyros mespiliformis as compatible with cement. Tectona grandis, Khaya grandifoliola and Pterocarpus erinaceus was compatible with cement after hot water treatment. Afzelia africana was incompatible with cement. Mechanical tests showed that Tectona grandis, Pterocarpus erinaceus and Isoberlina doka provided the highest mechanical strengths.