________________
Coarse woven jute + cements: Has been used to make trays for poultry cages, (for corrosion resistance) and is now in test use. May be suitable for moulded products like WC pans, wash basins etc. perhaps with a water proofing resin finish. 4. Ferrocrete: We have made 1x 0.5 m. ferrocrete panels with XPM reinforcement, nominal 10 mm. thickness using 183 mortar. They were prepared on plastic sheet and covered with jute bagging, wet for three days and then immersed in curing tank for 1 week. They develop micro cracks, through which damp can be noticed. They have been drilled and bolted on angle iron frame and the joints plastered, for low cost housing, coated with waterprooing cement paint (1 part Assoproof; 2 parts cement) to stop seepage of water. These have been satisfactory for walls but not for ceiling. Curved panels have been tried but satisfactory shape has not been achieved. Ferrocrete water tanks have been made and used in house units. Also we have made and used WC pans, wash basins, sinks and kitchen table top, bio-gas plant, drainage channels, etc., 5. Asphalt Sheets: Made of paper pulp sheets, impregnated with asphalt, these are light, tough, and flexible. Do not heat as much as A.C. sheets are self-sealing and cost only Rs.2.5/sq. ft. If properly anchored with Jhooks they stand weather very well. They might be improved if chicken mesh reinforcement could be embedded. We now purchase these sheets but we have also made small samples for development work. 6. Plastics: We feel plastics have good potential in rural areas. We have made only a few random attempts to use urea- formaldehyde and phenol Rural Development Through Education System 246
