Nigerite Limited manufactures fibre cement roofing and ceiling sheets, compressed sandcrete roofing tiles, and vinyl floor tiles. It tests various properties of its raw materials and products. These include particle size distribution to determine suitable sizes for production, Blaine test to measure fineness, loss on ignition to measure weight loss upon heating, thermography to determine hydration rate, and strength tests to measure the durability of the final products. Understanding these tests helps ensure Nigerite produces high quality building materials.

1. ADAMS, TAIWO
DAVIDS
110804003
SIWES Presentation

2. NIGERITE: Overview
 Nigerite Limited was incorporated in Nigeria on the
29th of April 1959 as a joint venture between Etex
Group of Belgium and O’dua Investment Corporation
Limited of Nigeria.
 Nigerite is engaged in the manufacturing, marketing
and installation of New Technology fibre cement
roofing and ceiling sheets, compressed sandcrete
roofing tiles (Crete Tile French and Crete Tile Mission)
and vinyl floor tiles (Luxe).

3. NIGERITE: Products
 Nigerite’s New Technology fibre cement products are
made from Portland cement, cellulose and polyvinyl
alcohol (a derivative of crude oil) only.
 The compressed sandcrete roofing tiles are made
from coarse and soft aggregates mixed with Portland
cement and iron-oxide pigments only.

5. Sampling
 This is done to get a fraction, usually randomly, to
represent the whole.
 The sample is taken using a sampler, and samples
are taken from bags or production silos.

6. Particle Size Distribution
 This is a granulometry test.
To determine the particle size
distribution of cement, sand and
stone (CaCO3).
 The implication of this test is to
know how much of the material
would be retained in the product
as to how much of it would go to
waste.

7. Blaine Test
 This is an air permeability test.
 To determine the fineness or
surface area per gram of cement
and stone (CaCO3).
 The implication of this test is to
know if the fineness of the
material is suitable for production
as very high blaine could lead to
waste, and low blaine would
require blending if it must be
taken by the roller belt with other
composites during production.

8. Loss on ignition
 This is a thermogravimetry method.
 To determine the weight loss of the cement and sand
on heating.
 On blasting in the furnace, water and carbon-dioxide
are given off.

9. Thermography
 To determine the peak of heat
evolution during the hydration of
cement.
 If the peak of evolution falls
within the range of 6hours, then it
is passed.
The implication of this test to
know how long before the
products are depiled, in readying
the moulders for the next batch.

10. Free-Lime Test
 To determine the percentage of
uncombined lime contained in
the cement.
 The implication of this test is to
tell whether the amount of free
lime would cause cracks in the
product overtime. Free lime
combines with atmospheric air
and water to form CaCO3, which
causes cracks in the product.

11. Setting Time
 To determine the cure time of
the cement.
 This method determines the
time of setting by means of
penetration resistance
measurements on the cement
mixture.
 The implication of this test to
know what time the product
starts to dry.

12. Strength Test
 To determine the flexural
strength and the compressive
strength.
 The strength of the products is
reliant on the strength of the
cement. The implication of this
test is to know how strong the
product would eventually be in
relation to the strength of the
cement used.

13. Purity Test
 To determine the percentage purity of the calcium
carbonate, i.e, the percentage composition of CaCO3.
 This test tells us how impurity free the sample is,
perhaps it is has been mixed with some other products.

14. Relevance to chemistry
 CHM 303 : This course is applicable in the sample
preparation and gravimetric analysis.
 CHM 312 : was useful in helping us understand the
industrial processes and terms used in an industrial
environment.