Study of Rn-222 emanations from fabricated composite bricks based on banana stem fibre

The objective of this research is to fabricate composite brick with based on three different ratio of banana stem fibre, to measure the radon gas concentration in a fabricated composite brick with three different ratios of raw material and banana stem fibre and to investigate the mechanical and physical strength of fabricated composite brick using compression test of UTM machine. 3 different ratio of raw material (sand, stone, cement, banana stem fibre, foam and water) for each bricks in which the first brick is 1300:500:1000:10:25:500, second brick is 1500:300:1000:10:25:500 and the third brick is 1500:500:800:10:25:500 was made and the radon concentration reading was taken for 3 days for each brick and 144 data was collected. The brick was put in perspex box with radon sentinel model 1030. Controlled brick which is made using ratio 1500:500:1000:0:500 has the lowest average which is 0.99pCi/1 compared to brick 1, brick 2 and brick 3 which is 4.38 pCi/l, 4.12 pCi/1 and 3.09 pCi/1 respectively. This is because natural fibre has ability to absorb water. When it is mixed with the brick mixture, it absorbs water and keep the brick humid. Humidity effect the radon concentration. Mechanical properties of the bricks were tested using compression machine. The result shows that brick 2 has the highest Young modulus which is 1212.323 N/mm2 compared to brick 1 which is 1183.342 N/mm2, 3 is 817.700 N/mm2 and controlled brick is 503.278 N/mm2. This shows that brick 2 is stiffer than other brick.