Science Buddies: "Ask an Expert"

hi!

I'm doing a project somehow related to pykrete... I wanted to use coconut fiber and alum... With Coconut fiber to act as material for the alum solution to crystallize on and grow into a brick like shape... but then my adviser told me that alum crystals won't do... So can someone tell me if this project is even possible? If it is can someone give me another substance to use to bind to coconut fiber?

Thanks,

SJ

Hi,

I am guessing you are trying to make a composite material with wood and some other material that does not melt at room temperature. One possibility is to look at concrete wood composites:

http://www.fpl.fs.fed.us/documnts/pdf1997/wolfe97a.pdf

Another idea would be to try to develop a plaster of paris - wood composite. In either case the use of coconut fiber as the “wood” should work. I have no idea how well plaster of paris would work it just occurred to me as an idea. Another approach might be to use an epoxy - wood composite..

You might be interested in these handbooks on composites:

http://www.fao.org/es/esc/common/ecg/55 ... tes_vF.pdf

http://snebulos.mit.edu/projects/refere ... K-17-5.pdf

I hope these resources help you brainstorm a solution to your question.

Best regards,

Barrett Tomlinson

Thanks for the suggestions!!

I narrowed down my choices on plaster of paris and epoxy resin.... I'm still working on my methodology though...what types of molds are to be used for this project?

thanks

SJ