Preface

Every year, the student in Mara Junior Science College

must have a project that called thesis for School wide

Enrichment Model (SEM). This project can be done by

personal or group that have the same interest. So, Azraai,

Afiq, Azeef and I decide to do it by group because we can

find the chemistry between us.

First of all, we want to thank ourselves because of our

commitment in doing this project. Then, our mentor that is

Nurazila bt. Mohd Esmam, my cousin who is the 3rd years

student of Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) Selangor. She is

the one who generate our idea for our project.

Abstract

a) Purpose of the experiment:

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To determine whether aloe vera as a soap to be

used in daily life.

b) Procedures used:

Melting the soap base and put the aloe vera

extract into it.

Let it for a moment for it to hard.

c) Data:

The result of making soap contain aloe vera is

positive.

d) Conclusions:

So, the hypothesis can be accepted. The soap

containing aloe vera can be used.

Topic Selection

This is one the most difficult things about doing a thesis

project. So, we spent about 2 weeks to think about the topic

that we interest in it and easy to solve the problem in this

project. We decide to try making a soft board from coconut

husk fiber/coir. We named it ‘From Husk to Board’. We don’t

know if this kind of project has been done before, so we take

a risk for doing this project. Then, we imagine all the

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obstacles will come up and found that only an obstacle that

is how to bond the husk fiber and we found the way to bond

it. We use chemical substances but they give no result and

the experiment failed about five times. So, after a few

researches on internet, we found that we can use natural

latex as the alternative to bond the husk fiber so board will

produce.

Scientific Research

Problem Statement

The next step is to turn our topic into a problem

statement for the project. The problem statement is a

sentence or question that identifies the independent

(manipulative) variable and the dependent (responding)

variable.

Independent variable: the variable of factor that we decide

to change: the cause

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Dependent variable: the effect as a result of the independent

variable.

This is our problem statement:

1. To see the advantages of aloe vera in the soap.

2. To study the chemical contain in a soap.

3. Time taken to make a soap.

4. To investigate the method on how to make soap.

From the list of the problem statement we made, we

find that the number 4 is the most interesting, ‘to investigate

the method on how to make soap’ So we work together to

solve this problem.

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Scientific Research

Objective

1. To show and tell other people how to make soap.

2. Produce new soap

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Scientific Research

Hypothesis

After learning about the independent and dependent

variables, we will make an educated guess about how the

experiment will turn out. The hypothesis is one sentence

that states what we think the answer to the problem

statement will be based on what we learned in the research.

The sentence is what we expect the dependent variable

(effect) to be as a result of changing the independent

variable (cause).

1. It is hypothesized that the fiber from the coconut

husk/coir will result in making board.

2. It is hypothesized that there is a relationship between

the fiber from the coconut husk/coir and board.

Scientific Research

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Variables

Independent variable is the variable of factor that we

decide to change the cause. While, dependent variable is the

effect as a result of the independent variable.

We just think about our topic and imagine a few

possible independent and dependent variables that we could

use.

Independent Variables Dependent Variables

Husk from rubber tree Quality board

Fiber from the coconut

husk/coir

Board

Paddy husk Board

Now we choose one from each list that will work

together and that we find most interesting. It is the fiber

from the coconut husk/coir to make board.

Scientific Research

Apparatus

1. Latex glove

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2. Piece of glass

3. Knife/cutter

4. Dropper

Materials

1. Fiber (from the coconut husk)

2. Natural latex

3. 1.0 mol dm Ammonium chloride, NH Cl

4. 1.0 mol dm Urea-formaldehyde,

Scientific Research

Technique

This is the part where we determine what kind of

technique that suitable in making board. It is also the small

conclusion from the methodology/procedure.

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We determine from the experiment that we made. And

this is our technique in making board;

1. Bond the fibers from the coconut husk/coir with natural

latex, ammonium chloride and urea-formaldehyde.

Then, compress with glass. Let it cool.

Scientific Research

Methodology & Procedure

1. First, separate the fiber from the coconut husk and put

it on a piece of glass.

2. Then, prepare the solution of natural latex, 1.0 mol dm

of Ammonium chloride, NH Cl and 1.0 mol dm Urea-

formaldehyde,

3. Pour the solution onto the fiber.

4. Wear latex glove and mix it so all part of fiber will

receive the same amount of solution.

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5. Put another piece of glass on it to compress, so all the

fiber will bond together.

6. Let it cool for a moment.

7. After that, lift up the upper piece of glass.

8. Separate the product produced carefully to make sure it

will not break.

9. Then, cut it into square shaped and other useless parts

and the product is ready to use.

Scientific Research

Record & Analyze Data

The result showed that that the fiber from the coconut

husk/coir can make board by using solution of natural latex,

1.0 mol dm Ammonium chloride, NH Cl and 1.0 mol dm

Urea-formaldehyde,

The result is positive. Solution of natural latex,

ammonium chloride, and urea-formaldehyde can use to bond

up the fiber.

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Scientific Research

Conclusion

So, from this experiment we conclude there is nothing

impossible for this project. We find that the fiber from the

coconut husk/coir can be used to make board. The urea-

formaldehyde and ammonium chloride can use as the glue

for making board. Now, the hypothesis can be accepted. And

the problem statement has been solved. So, the experiment

is successful.

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What Is Fiber of Coconut Husk/Coir?

Coir fibers are found between the husk and the outer

shell of a coconut. The individual fiber cells are narrow and

hollow, with thick walls made of cellulose. They are pale

when immature but later become hardened and yellowed as

a layer of lignin is deposited on their walls. There are two

varieties of coir. Brown coir is harvested from fully ripened

coconuts. It is thick, strong and has high abrasion resistance.

It is typically used in mats, brushes and sacking. Mature

brown coir fibers contain more lignin and less cellulose than

fibers such as flax and cotton and so are stronger but less

flexible. They are made up of small threads, each about 1

mm long and 10 to 20 micrometres in diameter. Coconut

husks are made of bristle fiber (10%), mattress fiber (20%)

and coir dust and shorts or

wastes (70%).  

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What Is Natural Latex ?

Latex refers generically to a stable dispersion

(emulsion) of polymer micro particles in an aqueous

medium. Latexes may be natural or synthetic. Latex as

found in nature is the milky sap of many plants that

coagulates on exposure to air. It is a complex emulsion in

which proteins, alkaloids, starches, sugars, oils, tannins,

resins and gums are found. In most plants, latex is white, but

some have yellow, orange, or scarlet latex.

The word is also used to refer to natural latex rubber;

particularly for non-vulcanized rubber.

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What is Ammonium chloride ( N H 4Cl ) ?

Ammonium chloride (N H 4Cl) (also Sal Ammoniac,

salmiac, nushadir salt, zalmiak, sal armagnac, sal

armoniac, salmiakki, salmiak and salt armoniack) is, in

its pure form, a clear white water-soluble crystalline salt of

ammonia. The aqueous ammonium chloride solution is

mildly acidic.

Ammonium chloride is sold in blocks at hardware stores for

use in cleaning the tip of a soldering iron and can also be

included in solder as flux.

Other uses include a feed supplement for cattle, in hair

shampoo, in textile printing, in the glue that bonds

plywood, as an ingredient in nutritive media for yeast, in

cleaning products, and as cough medicine

What is Urea-formaldehyde ?

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Urea-formaldehyde, also known as urea-methanal,

named so for its common synthesis pathway and overall

structure, is a transparent thermosetting resin or plastic,

made from urea and formaldehyde heated in the presence of

a mild base such as ammonia or pyridine. These resins are

used in adhesives, finishes, MDF, and molded objects. Urea-

formaldehyde resin's attributes include high tensile strength,

flexural modulus and heat distortion temperature, low water

absorption, mould, high surface hardness, elongation at

break, and volume resistance.

Urea formaldehyde was commonly used when

producing electrical appliances casing i.e. desk lamps. It is

now mostly replaced by melamine resins. Urea-

formaldehyde foam insulation started being used in the

1950s. In the 1980s, concerns began to develop about the

toxic formaldehyde vapor emitted in the curing process, as

well as from the breakdown of old foam. Consequently, its

use was discontinued.

Source – Internet

Internet source

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Title of article: Coir

Author(s): Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. (free encyclopedia)

http:// address: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coir

Date of document or date downloaded: 25 January 2008 at

06.08

Two things learned from this source:

1. What fiber of coconut husk made of

2. The structure of coir fiber.

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