Suitability of Coconut Shell Concrete for Precast Cool Wall Panel-A Review

University Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia, 86400 Batu Pahat, Johor, Malaysia

^a Corresponding author: shahironshahidan@gmail.com

Abstract

The cost for producing concrete has been increasing steadily. Therefore, the demand for using agricultural waste as a replacement or admixture inside concrete is also increasing gradually. Many researchers are doing research on agricultural waste such as palm oil, corn cobs, rice husks and coconut shells. Agricultural waste is increasingly being utilized in cement, concrete and other construction materials and provides numerous indirect benefits such as reduction in land fill cost, saving energy and protecting the environment from possible pollution. The aim is to produce concrete with improved properties at a lower cost and to maintain environmental sustainability. In this review paper, the suitability of coconut shell for concrete cool wall panels will be the main focus. Coconut shells can be used as aggregates in concrete. The characteristic properties of coconut shell concrete such as workability, bulk density, compressive strength, flexural tensile, water absorption and thermal performance were reviewed in this paper. This paper attempts to answer whether coconut shell is suitable to be used in concrete to produce a concrete cool wall panel in order to reduce heat transfer inside a building.