The Fabrication of Tiles from Sawdust to Achieve Environmental Sustainability

Abstract Currently, tiles are manufactured pieces of hardwearing materials such as ceramic, stone, metal, baked clay, or even glass, and tiles are generally used for covering roofs, floors, walls, or other objects such as tabletops. Sawdust is a byproduct of cutting, grinding, drilling, sanding, or pulverizing wood with a saw or other specialized tools. It is composed of fine particles of wood. Sawdust is available in large quantities from wood crusher units. Research has revealed that, unless sawdust is reprocessed into a particle board, wood briquettes can be used to produce heat for milling operations. Sawdust can collect in piles on landsites and can drain into water and poison aquatic life, thus becoming an environmental hazard. Sawdust can also cause dust explosions, and exposure to sawdust increases the chance of nasal cancer. This research study showed that the use of sawdust in tile fabrication has a positive impact on the environment. This shows how using sawdust to fabricate tiles can promote environmental sustainability. The study also explored how utilizing sawdust in the manufacturing of tiles can positively affect climate change and increase the use of construction materials. Sawdust can play a role in fine aggregates, such as the sand used in making tiles. The sand in the percentage portions of the sawdust was partially replaced. There was a total of four mix designs aimed at investigating the effect of partial replacement of sand with sawdust. The replacements ranged from 0 to 15%. The compressive strength, impact strength, tensile strength, and water and fire resistance were tested. The test results showed that with increasing sawdust content, the compressive and tensile strengths slightly increased. This also resulted in a reduction in the heat transfer of the sawdust tiles. The tiles were determined to be fire resistant and impermeable. The overall physical and mechanical properties of sawdust tiles analyzed for use in construction technology. This project tends to create employment because people in villages are being paid for collecting sawdust and working in sawdust tile production sites and for mass production in the region where factories are being constructed to make sawdust tiles, and many jobs should be provided. This study therefore recommends that the use of sawdust in tile fabrication should be explored and encouraged for positive environmental impacts. This will help to conserve trees and the ecosystem as a whole and reduce the cost of tiles on the growing market.