Waste Chicken Feather as Reinforcement in Cement-Bonded Composites

This study investigated the use of waste chicken feather (barbs and rachis) as reinforcement in cement-bonded composites. A series of composite boards consisting of various proportions of waste feather, cement, sand, and chemical admixtures were prepared. Mix workability decreased significantly as the proportion by weight of feathers or ground feathers increased from 5% to 20%. Boards containing 5% to 10% fiber and/or ground feather by weight showed comparable strength and dimensional stability to commercial wood fiber-cement composites of similar thickness and density. Stiffness, flexural strength, and dimensional stability of the feather-cement boards decreased as the proportion of feathers was increased above 10%. Higher proportions of feather, however, showed significant reduction in modulus of elasticity (MOE) and modulus of rupture (MOR), and increased water absorption and thickness swelling after 24 hours of soaking in water.