The efficacy of wood dust fibre treatment on the property of wood dust reinforced recycled polypropylene composite (r-WoPPC) filament was investigated. The wood dust fibre was treated using alkali, silane, and NaOH-silane. The treated wood fibre was incorporated with r-PP using a twin-screw extruder to produce filament. The silane treatment on wood dust fibre enhances interfacial bonding between wood fibre and recycled PP; hence, a filament has the highest wire pull strength, which is 35.2% higher compared to untreated and alkaline-treated wood dust filament. It is because silanol in silane forms a siloxane bond that acts as a coupling agent that improves interfacial bonding between wood dust fibre and recycled PP. The SEM micrograph of the fracture structure reveals that treated silane has strong interfacial bonding between wood dust fibre and recycled PP, having minimal void, gap, and good fibre adhesion. The water absorption test results indicate that filament with treated wood dust absorbs less water than filament with untreated wood because the treatment minimizes the gap between wood fibres and recycled PP. The FTIR analysis identified the presence of silane on the wood dust surface for silane-treated wood dust. The DSC studies suggest that the temperature range 167-170 °C be used in the extrusion machine to produce r-WoPPC filament. As a result, r-WoPPc filaments containing silane-treated wood dust have better mechanical properties and have a greater potential for usage in FDM applications.
The hydrogels responding to pH synthesized by graft copolymerization only and then concurrent grafting and crosslinking of monomer N-isopropyl acrylamide (NIPAAM) and binary comonomers acrylamide, acrylic acid and acrylonitrile (AAm, AA and AN) onto chitosan support were explored for the percent upload and release study for anti-inflammatory diclofenac sodium drug (DS), w.r.t. time and pH. Diclofenac sodium DS was seized in polymeric matrices by the equilibration process. The crosslinked-graft copolymers showed the highest percent uptake than graft copolymers (without crosslinker) and chitosan itself. The sustainable release of the loaded drug was studied with respect to time at pH 2.2, 7.0, 7.4 and 9.4. Among graft copolymers (without crosslinking), Chit-g-polymer (NIPAAM-co-AA) and Chit-g-polymer (NIPAAM-co-AN) exhibited worthy results for sustainable drug deliverance, whereas Crosslink-Chit-g-polymer (NIPAAM-co-AA) and Crosslink-Chit-g-polymer (NIPAAM-co-AAm) presented the best results for controlled/sustained release of diclofenac sodium DS with 93.86 % and 96.30 % percent release, respectively, in 6 h contact time. Therefore, the grafted and the crosslinked graft copolymers of the chitosan showed excellent delivery devices for the DS with sustainable/prolonged release in response to pH. Drug release kinetics was studied using Fick’s law. The kinetic study revealed that polymeric matrices showed the value of n as n > 1.0, hence drug release took place by non-Fickian diffusion. Hence, the present novel findings showed the multidirectional drug release rate. The morphological changes due to interwoven network structure of the crosslinked are evident by the Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis.
Escalating petroleum depletion and environmental crises linked to conventional plastics have fueled interest in eco-friendly alternatives. Natural fibres and biopolymers are garnering increasing attention due to their sustainability. The sago palm (Metroxylon sagu), a tropical tree, holds potential for such materials, with cellulose-rich fibres (42.4-44.12 %) showcasing strong mechanics. Extracted sago palm starch can be blended, reinforced, or plasticised for improved traits. However, a comprehensive review of sago palm fibres, starch, and biocomposites is notably absent. This paper fills this void, meticulously assessing recent advancements in sago palm fibre, cellulose and starch properties, and their eco-friendly composite fabrication. Moreover, it uncovers the latent prospects of sago palm fibres and biopolymers across industries like automotive, packaging, and bioenergy. This review presents a crucial resource for envisaging and realising sustainable materials.
This paper documents the thermal and biodegradation behaviour of kenaf/cornhusk fiber reinforced corn starch-based hybrid composites film (CS/K-CH) produced by solution casting method. To develop both components as biodegradable hybrid composite, this research used corn starch as matrix, kenaf fiber and cornhusk fibre as a filler. Changes in physical structure and weight from the soil burial test were measured using Mettler Toledo digital balance ME. Films produced from physically blended corn starch reinforced kenaf biocomposites films (CS/K) biocomposite film had faster biodegradation and lost 96.18% of weight within 10 days compared with corn starch hybrid composites that only lost 83.82% of total weight. It was observed that the control film, CS/K biocomposite film was completely degraded after 10 days, meanwhile it took 12 days for hybrid composite films to be fully degrade. The thermal properties such as TGA and DTG were also measured. Addition of corn husk fiber significantly improve the film's thermal properties. Glass transition temperatures of corn starch hybrid films were significantly lowered when cornhusk compositions were increased from 0.2% wt to 0.8% wt. Importantly, the current work has demonstrated that hybrid films made of corn starch can be a suitable biodegradable material for substitute synthetic plastic.
Membrane separation processes are prevalent in industrial wastewater treatment because they are more effective than conventional methods at addressing global water issues. Consequently, the ideal membranes with high mechanical strength, thermal characteristics, flux, permeability, porosity, and solute removal capacity must be prepared to aid in the separation process for wastewater treatment. Rubber-based membranes have shown the potential for high mechanical properties in water separation processes to date. In addition, the excellent sustainable practice of natural fibers has attracted great attention from industrial players and researchers for the exploitation of polymer composite membranes to improve the balance between the environment and social and economic concerns. The incorporation of natural fiber in thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) as filler and pore former agent enhances the mechanical properties, and high separation efficiency characteristics of membrane composites are discussed. Furthermore, recent advancements in the fabrication technique of porous membranes affected the membrane's structure, and the performance of wastewater treatment applications is reviewed.
Cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) are typically extracted from plants and present a range of opto-mechanical properties that warrant their use for the fabrication of sustainable materials. While their commercialization is ongoing, their sustainable extraction at large scale is still being optimized. Ultrasonication is a well-established and routinely used technology for (re-) dispersing and/or isolating plant-based CNCs without the need for additional reagents or chemical processes. Several critical ultrasonication parameters, such as time, amplitude, and energy input, play dominant roles in reducing the particle size and altering the morphology of CNCs. Interestingly, this technology can be coupled with other methods to generate moderate and high yields of CNCs. Besides, the ultrasonics treatment also has a significant impact on the dispersion state and the surface chemistry of CNCs. Accordingly, their ability to self-assemble into liquid crystals and subsequent superstructures can, for example, imbue materials with finely tuned structural colors. This article gives an overview of the primary functions arising from the ultrasonication parameters for stabilizing CNCs, producing CNCs in combination with other promising methods, and highlighting examples where the design of photonic materials using nanocrystal-based celluloses is substantially impacted.
In recent years, most boat fabrication companies use 100% synthetic fiber-reinforced composite materials, due to their high performance of mechanical properties. In the new trend of research on the fabrication of boat structure using natural fiber hybrid with kevlar/fiberglass-reinforced composite, the result of tensile, bending, and impact strength showed that glass fiber-reinforced polyester composite gave high strength with increasing glass fiber contents. At some point, realizing the cost of synthetic fiber is getting higher, researchers today have started to use natural fibers that are seen as a more cost-effective option. Natural fibers, however, have some disadvantages, such as high moisture absorption, due to repelling nature; low wettability; low thermal stability; and quality variation, which lead to the degradation of composite properties. In recent times, hybridization is recommended by most researchers as a solution to natural fiber's weaknesses and to reduce the use of synthetic fibers that are not environmentally friendly. In addition, hybrid composite has its own special advantages, i.e., balanced strength and stiffness, reduced weight and cost, improved fatigue resistance and fracture toughness, and improved impact resistance. The synthetic-nature fiber hybrid composites are used in a variety of applications as a modern material that has attracted most manufacturing industries' attention to shift to using the hybrid composite. Some of the previous studies stated that delamination and manufacturing had influenced the performance of the hybrid composites. In order to expand the use of natural fiber as a successful reinforcement in hybrid composite, the factor that affects the manufacturing defects needs to be investigated. In this review paper, a compilation of the reviews on the delamination and a few common manufacturing defect types illustrating the overview of the impact on the mechanical properties encountered by most of the composite manufacturing industries are presented.
Oil palm empty fruit bunches (OPEFB) fiber is a natural fiber that possesses many advantages, such as biodegradability, eco-friendly, and renewable nature. The effect of the OPEFB fiber loading reinforced fire retardant epoxy composites on flammability and tensile properties of the polymer biocomposites were investigated. The tests were carried out with four parameters, which were specimen A (constant), specimen B (20% of fiber), specimen C (35% of fiber), and specimen D (50% of fiber). The PET yarn and magnesium hydroxide were used as the reinforcement material and fire retardant agent, respectively. The results were obtained from several tests, which were the horizontal burning test, tensile test, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The result for the burning test showed that specimen B exhibited better flammability properties, which had the lowest average burning rate (11.47 mm/min). From the tensile strength, specimen A revealed the highest value of 10.79 N/mm2. For the SEM morphological test, increasing defects on the surface ruptured were observed that resulted in decreased tensile properties of the composites. It can be summarized that the flammability and tensile properties of OPEFB fiber reinforced fire retardant epoxy composites were reduced when the fiber volume contents were increased at the optimal loading of 20%, with the values of 11.47 mm/min and 4.29 KPa, respectively.
This study is focused on developing and enhancing the properties of durian peel fiber (DPF) reinforced thermoplastic cassava starch (TPCS) composites. The proposed DPF was extracted from agro-waste and incorporated into TPCS with various contents of DPF (10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 wt%) via compression molding. The mechanical and thermal characteristics of the fabricated composites were studied. The thermal properties of the biocomposite were improved with the addition of DPF, as evidenced by an increase in the material's thermal stability and indicated by a higher onset decomposition temperature. The integration of DPF into TPCS improved the biodegradation rate process of the composites. Besides, the results indicated that incorporating DPF in TPCS composites enhanced tensile and flexural properties, with a 40 wt% DPF content exhibited the highest modulus and strength. The tensile and flexural strengths of TPCS/DPF composites were raised significantly from 2.96 to 21.89 MPa and 2.5 to 35.0 MPa, respectively, compared to the control TPCS sample, as DPF increased from 0 to 40 wt%. This finding was consistent with Fourier-Transform Infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy and scanning electron micrograph (SEM), which showed good interaction between DPF and TPCS matrix. The analysis revealed that DPF at a 40 wt% ratio was the best composition compared to the other ratio. Finally, based on improved results, DPF was identified as a potential resource of green reinforcement for the biodegradable TPCS matrix.
The interest in using natural fiber reinforced composites is now at its highest. Numerous studies have been conducted due to their positive benefits related to environmental issues. Even though they have limitations for some load requirements, this drawback has been countered through fiber treatment and hybridization. Sandwich structure, on the other hand, is a combination of two or more individual components with different properties, which when joined together can result in better performance. Sandwich structures have been used in a wide range of industrial material applications. They are known to be lightweight and good at absorbing energy, providing superior strength and stiffness-to-weight ratios, and offering opportunities, through design integration, to remove some components from the core element. Today, many industries use composite sandwich structures in a range of components. Through good design of the core structure, one can maximize the strength properties, with a low density. However, the application of natural fiber composites in sandwich structures is still minimal. Therefore, this paper reviewed the possibility of using a natural fiber composite in sandwich structure applications. It addressed the mechanical properties and energy-absorbing characteristics of natural fiber-based sandwich structures tested under various compression loads. The results and potential areas of improvement to fit into a wide range of engineering applications were discussed.
This paper presents the thermal and flammability properties of woven kenaf/polyester-reinforced polylactic acid hybrid laminated composites. The effects of the fiber content and stacking sequences of hybrid composites were examined. The hybrid composites were fabricated using the hot press method. Thermogravimetric analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, dynamic mechanical analysis, and flammability properties of woven kenaf/polyester-reinforced polylactic hybrid composites were reported. The thermal results have demonstrated the effect of the hybridization of the composites on the thermal stability and viscoelastic properties of the laminates. The work also measured the burning rate of the hybrid composites during the flammability test. The S7 sample that consisted of all woven kenaf layers in composite recorded the highest char residue of 10%, and the S8 sample displayed the highest decomposition temperature among all samples. However, as for hybrid composites, the S5 sample shows the optimum result with a high char yield and exhibited the lowest burning rate at 29 mm/min. The S5 sample also shows the optimum viscoelastic properties such as storage and loss modulus among hybrid composites.
Coated silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) are currently receiving interest because of their numerous uses in various fields of electronics, antimicrobials, manufacturing sectors, optical science, and pharmaceuticals. Among others, it gained significant attention in the power electronic system. The goal of the proposed study is to use a cost-effective coating material for solar panels; to accomplish this, silver nanoparticles were synthesized from the leaves of the Rosy Periwinkle plants. Green synthesis and characterization, such as Ultraviolet Visible Spectrometer (UV-Vis) analysis, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDX), and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), were carried out after the silver nanoparticles have been collected prior coating. As a consequence, the effectiveness is determined based on the conductivity test, and the resulting Ag NPs are then applied to the c-si layer of the solar panel. Additionally, a modelling and experimental analysis are performed in this study to ascertain the suggested framework's ability to measure energy before and after coating panels with Ag NPs. Specifically, the Voltage Current (VI) and Power Voltage (PV) characteristics were validated in this study for analyzing the effectiveness and the obtained results revealed that the coating of green synthesized Ag NPs generated 2 % more power than the reference solar panel under the same conditions. Further, hardware testing and simulation were both used to confirm the outcomes and effectiveness of the suggested method. The open circuit voltage (Voc), short circuit current (Isc), maximum peak voltage (Vmp), maximum peak current (Imp), and efficiency are taken into account when assessing how well the suggested system performs at tracking. Moreover, the current density characteristics were evaluated with respect to various irradiation conditions for both the typical solar as well as Ag NPs coated panels. From the observation, it is noted that the efficiency level of coated panel was improved up to 19.20 %, 18 %, and 17.20 % for the irradiations of 200 W/m2, 500 W/m2, and 1000 W/m2 respectively.
Material is an inseparable entity for humans to serve different purposes. However, synthetic polymers represent a major category of anthropogenic pollutants with detrimental impacts on natural ecosystems. This escalating environmental issue is characterized by the accumulation of non-biodegradable plastic materials, which pose serious threats to the health of our planet's ecosystem. Cellulose is becoming a focal point for many researchers due to its high availability. It has been used to serve various purposes. Recent scientific advancements have unveiled innovative prospects for the utilization of nanocellulose within the area of advanced science. This comprehensive review investigates deeply into the field of nanocellulose, explaining the methodologies employed in separating nanocellulose from cellulose. It also explains upon two intricately examined applications that emphasize the pivotal role of nanocellulose in nanocomposites. The initial instance pertains to the automotive sector, encompassing cutting-edge applications in electric vehicle (EV) batteries, while the second exemplifies the use of nanocellulose in the field of biomedical applications like otorhinolaryngology, ophthalmology, and wound dressing. This review aims to provide comprehensive information starting from the definitions, identifying the sources of the nanocellulose and its extraction, and ending with the recent applications in the emerging field such as energy storage and biomedical applications.
The potential for the transformation of lignocellulosic biomass into valuable commodities is rapidly growing through an environmentally sustainable approach to harness its abundance, cost-effectiveness, biodegradability, and environmentally friendly nature. Ionic liquids (ILs) have received considerable and widespread attention as a promising solution for efficiently dissolving lignocellulosic biomass. The fact that ILs can act as solvents and reagents contributes to their widespread recognition. In particular, ILs are desirable because they are inert, non-toxic, non-flammable, miscible in water, recyclable, thermally and chemically stable, and have low melting points and outstanding ionic conductivity. With these characteristics, ILs can serve as a reliable replacement for traditional biomass conversion methods in various applications. Thus, this comprehensive analysis explores the conversion of lignocellulosic biomass using ILs, focusing on main components such as cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin. In addition, the effect of multiple parameters on the separation of lignocellulosic biomass using ILs is discussed to emphasize their potential to produce high-value products from this abundant and renewable resource. This work contributes to the advancement of green technologies, offering a promising avenue for the future of biomass conversion and sustainable resource management.
In recent years, there has been an increase in research devoted to the advancement of cellulose and nanocellulose-based materials, which are advantageous due to their renewable nature, strength, rigidity, and environmental friendliness. This exploration complies with the fundamental tenets of environmental stewardship and sustainability. An area of industrial biotechnology where cellulosic agricultural residues have the potential to be economically utilized is through the conversion of such residues; sugarcane bagasse is currently leading this charge. SCB, a plentiful fibrous byproduct produced during the sugarcane industry's operations, has historically been utilized in various sectors, including producing paper, animal feed, enzymes, biofuel conversion, and biomedical applications. Significantly, SCB comprises a considerable amount of cellulose, approximately 40 % to 50 %, rendering it a valuable source of cellulose fibre for fabricating cellulose nanocrystals. This review sheds light on the significant advances in surface modification techniques, encompassing physical, chemical, and biological treatments, that enhance sugarcane bagasse fibres' adsorption capacity and selectivity. Furthermore, the paper investigates the specific advancements related to the augmentation of sugarcane bagasse fibres' efficacy in adsorbing a wide range of pollutants. These pollutants span a spectrum that includes heavy metals, dyes, organic pollutants, and emerging contaminants. The discussion provides a comprehensive overview of the targeted removal processes facilitated by applying modified fibres. The unique structural and chemical properties inherent in sugarcane bagasse fibres and their widespread availability position them as highly suitable adsorbents for various pollutants. This convergence of attributes underscores the potential of sugarcane bagasse fibres in addressing environmental challenges and promoting sustainable solutions across multiple industries.
The research interest in sustainable and eco-friendly materials based on natural sources has increased dramatically due to their recyclability, biodegradability, compatibility, and nontoxic behavior. Recently, nanocellulose-based green composites are under extensive exploration and have gained popularity among researchers owing to their lightweight, lost cost, low density, excellent mechanical and physical characteristics. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the recent advancements in the extraction, modification, and application of bamboo nanocellulose as a high-performance bioadsorbent. Bamboo, a rapidly renewable resource, offers an eco-friendly alternative to traditional materials due to its abundant availability and unique structural properties. Significantly, bamboo comprises a considerable amount of cellulose, approximately 40 % to 50%, rendering it a valuable source of cellulose fiber for the fabrication of cellulose nanocrystals. The review highlights different various modification techniques which enhance the adsorption capacities and selectivity of bamboo nanocellulose. Furthermore, the integration of bamboo nanocellulose into novel composite materials and its performance in removing contaminants such as heavy metals, dyes, and organic pollutants from wastewater are critically analyzed. Emphasis is placed on the mechanisms of adsorption, regeneration potential, and the economic and environmental benefits of using bamboo-based bioadsorbents. The findings underscore the potential of bamboo nanocellulose to play a pivotal role in developing sustainable wastewater treatment technologies, offering a promising pathway towards cleaner water and a greener future.
This review includes the situation of nutrition labelling and claims in six countries in South-East Asia: Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand. With the exception of Malaysia, there is no mandatory nutrition labelling requirements for foods in these countries except for special categories of foods and when nutritional claims are made for fortified or enriched foods. Nevertheless, several food manufacturers, especially multinationals, do voluntarily label the nutritional content of a number of food products. There is, therefore, increasing interest among authorities in countries in the region to start formulating regulations for nutrition labelling for a wider variety of foods. Malaysia has proposed new regulations to make it mandatory to label a number of foodstuffs with the four core nutrients, protein, carbohydrate, fat and energy. Other countries have preferred to start with voluntary labelling by the manufacturers, but have spelt out the requirements for this voluntary labelling. The format and requirements for nutrition labelling differ widely for countries in the region. Some countries, such as Malaysia, closely follow the Codex guidelines on nutrition labelling in terms of format, components to be included and mode of expression. Other countries, such as the Philippines and Thailand, have drafted nutrition labelling regulations very similar to those of the Nutrition Labeling and Education Act (NLEA) of the United States. Nutrition and health claims are also not specifically permitted under food regulations that were enacted before 1998. However, various food products on the market have been carrying a variety of nutrition and health claims. There is concern that without proper regulations, the food industry may not be certain as to what claims can be made. Excessive and misleading claims made by irresponsible manufacturers would only serve to confuse and mislead the consumer. In recent years, there has been efforts in countries in the region to enact regulations on nutrition claims. Recently enacted regulations or amendments to existing regulations of almost all the countries reviewed have included provisions for nutrition claims. Malaysia is in the process of gazetting regulations to clearly stipulate the permitted nutrition claims and the conditions required to make these claims along the guidelines of Codex Alimentarius Commission. Only two countries in the region permit health claims to be made - Indonesia and Philippines. Other countries in the region are following developments in Codex and examining the need for allowing these claims. There are more differences than similarities in the regulations on nutrition labelling and claims among countries in the South-East Asian region as no previous efforts have been made to address these. Hopefully, through this first regional meeting, countries can initiate closer interaction, with a view to working towards greater harmonization of nutrition labelling and health claims in the region.
Nanocellulose-graphene hybrid composites for high-performance uses have been the focus of recent research. In contrast to graphene, which has great conductivity and mechanical strength, nanocellulose possesses special qualities like renewability and biocompatibility but lacks electrical conductivity. Since graphene-nanocellulose has such promising features, efforts to make flexible electronic composites employing them have accelerated. However, the environmental impacts are needed to be addressed prior to the applications of these hybrid composites. This review article explores environmental aspects for nanocellulose-graphene hybrid composites because of their sustainability, which is a major step in the right direction. The article also emphasizes how these composites have the potential to transform several industries and open the door to a more environmentally friendly future. This paper explores into the most recent developments in nanocellulose-graphene hybrid composites, highlighting its environmental benefits and adaptability. These composites offer remarkable performance by combining the strength and conductivity of graphene with the mechanical, electrical, and thermal capabilities of nanocellulose.
This work represents a study to investigate the mechanical properties of longitudinal basalt/woven-glass-fiber-reinforced unsaturated polyester-resin hybrid composites. The hybridization of basalt and glass fiber enhanced the mechanical properties of hybrid composites. The unsaturated polyester resin (UP), basalt (B) and glass fibers (GF) were fabricated using the hand lay-up method in six formulations (UP, GF, B7.5/G22.5, B15/G15, B22.5/G7.5 and B) to produce the composites, respectively. This study showed that the addition of basalt to glass-fiber-reinforced unsaturated polyester resin increased its density, tensile and flexural properties. The tensile strength of the B22.5/G7.5 hybrid composites increased by 213.92 MPa compared to neat UP, which was 8.14 MPa. Scanning electron microscopy analysis was used to observe the fracture mode and fiber pullout of the hybrid composites.
Over the last decade, the progressive application of natural fibres in polymer composites has had a major effect in alleviating environmental impacts. Recently, there is a growing interest in the development of green materials in a woven form by utilising natural fibres from lignocellulosic materials for many applications such as structural, non-structural composites, household utilities, automobile parts, aerospace components, flooring, and ballistic materials. Woven materials are one of the most promising materials for substituting or hybridising with synthetic polymeric materials in the production of natural fibre polymer composites (NFPCs). These woven materials are flexible, able to be tailored to the specific needs and have better mechanical properties due to their weaving structures. Seeing that the potential advantages of woven materials in the fabrication of NFPC, this paper presents a detailed review of studies related to woven materials. A variety of factors that influence the properties of the resultant woven NFRC such as yarn characteristics, fabric properties as well as manufacturing parameters were discussed. Past and current research efforts on the development of woven NFPCs from various polymer matrices including polypropylene, polylactic acid, epoxy and polyester and the properties of the resultant composites were also compiled. Last but not least, the applications, challenges, and prospects in the field also were highlighted.