Technology and market opportunities in fiber cement composites for small scale enterprises in Nigeria

Abstract

Solving problems of unemployment and developing new materials for buildings requires moving beyond the traditional approaches to more economical, environmentally benign performance models and design properties. New approaches should develop models based on the literature and a full understanding of the root causes of failure, derived from careful failure analysis. One of the main drivers of the development efforts in fibre based composites is the trend towards greater environmental awareness and the health hazards associated with the utilization of asbestos fibres. The key to effectively developing marketable fibre cement composites for use as building materials that can be used for construction of safe and affordable structures is to identify the research and  development and market needs for such products. This paper looks into the empirical production and market opportunities in terms of product performance accruable to locally manufactured fibre cement ceiling boards.

KEY WORDS: Fibre Cement Boards, Production, Market Needs, Product Performance