Sawdust as an Alternative Resource Material in Producing Wooden Ceiling Panels for Thermal Insulation

The Philippines has been experiencing an extreme increase in temperature for the last 60 years. This then caused an increase in diseases such as dengue, cholera, and typhoid fever. Filipinos use wooden ceiling panels such as plywood in their homes to protect themselves from extremely high temperatures and prevent themselves from getting the said diseases. Sawdust is the residue from woodworking operations. It is a poor conductor of heat as it can resist heat flow. Several studies showed that sawdust tends to have low thermal conductivity. This research study focused on using sawdust as an alternative resource material in producing wooden ceiling panels for thermal insulation. Furthermore, it aimed to determine (1) the effectiveness of the different treatments of sawdust as an alternative resource material in producing wooden ceiling panels for thermal insulation and commercial wooden ceiling panels in terms of durability and thermal resistivity, and (2) the differences in the treatments and the commercial product in terms of durability and thermal resistivity. In making the said composite, the researchers used an organic resin to bind the sawdust together. The research used the drop test method to determine the durability of alternative wooden ceiling panels and commercial wooden ceiling panels. Also, it used the melting test method to determine their thermal resistivity. The results of the study showed that the three treatments of alternative wooden ceiling panels are as effective as the commercial wooden ceiling panels in terms of durability and thermal resistivity