Article
Materials Science, Paper & Wood
Prodyut Dhar, Kazuki Sugimura, Mariko Yoshioka, Arata Yoshinaga, Hiroshi Kamitakahara
Summary: This paper presents a microbial approach to fabricate biomimetic composites that mimic natural wood. The researchers focused on the chemical composition of woody biomass and used bacterial cellulose imbued in modified cationic lignin for in situ bioprocessing. The resulting composites exhibited enhanced thermal stability and crystallinity, as well as comparable tensile properties and specific strength to heavy wood species under hydrated conditions.
Article
Engineering, Multidisciplinary
Maoping Lyu, Yingchun Liu, Xiangyu Yang, Dunsheng Liang, Yuanyuan Wang, Xiaofan Liang, Yijie Hu, Liyan Liang, Chaoqun Zhang
Summary: In this study, novel polyimine networks were prepared by curing a trifunctional aldehydes monomer with two kinds of diamine. The polyimine networks cured with 4,4'-diaminodiphenyl methane showed liquid crystalline properties with high Tg, high tensile strength, and excellent thermal stability. The incorporation of graphene nanoplatelets into these bio-based thermosets resulted in nanocomposites with remarkable thermal conductivity. Both the polyimine networks and their composites demonstrated complete recyclability due to the presence of dynamical Schiff-base structures.
COMPOSITES PART B-ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Shennan Wang, Lengwan Li, Li Zha, Salla Koskela, Lars A. Berglund, Qi Zhou
Summary: Researchers have developed a method to fabricate strong transparent wood composites by using wood xerogel that allows solvent-free infiltration of resin monomers into the wood cell wall under ambient conditions. The wood xerogel has a high mesopore volume and can provide precise control of the microstructure, wood volume fraction, and mechanical properties for the transparent wood composites without compromising the optical transmittance. This approach shows potential scalability and can be used to prepare large-sized transparent wood composites with high wood volume fraction.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Materials Science, Composites
Zhen-xing Wang, Xiao-shuai Han, Zi-jing Zhou, Wan-yao Meng, Xue-wen Han, Si-jie Wang, Jun-wen Pu
Summary: This study developed a high-performance and multifunctional wearable flexible material inspired by the structure of natural wood. The composite material exhibited excellent mechanical properties, electromagnetic interference shielding performance, and sensor capabilities, suitable for various commercial applications, with improved durability for daily use through the use of a PDMS protective layer.
COMPOSITES SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Tamara L. Church, Konstantin Kriechbaum, S. Noushin Emami, Raimondas Mozuraitis, Lennart Bergstrom
Summary: Wood-foam hierarchical composites were produced by shear-forced infiltration of shear-thinning nanocellulose-based foams or gels into the tracheids of Picea abies. The functional foams showed reversible CO2 adsorption and release of mosquito-repellent compounds, demonstrating the potential application of this simple route for hierarchically porous composites based on renewable materials.
ACS SUSTAINABLE CHEMISTRY & ENGINEERING
(2021)
Editorial Material
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Guido Panzarasa, Ingo Burgert
Summary: Sustainable recycling is crucial for wood to maintain CO2 storage capacity and facilitate the transition towards a circular economy. An innovative approach now offers promising opportunities for second- and third-life applications of "waste" wood.
NATURE SUSTAINABILITY
(2022)
Article
Polymer Science
Hui Li, Zhangmei Sun, Chunxia Zhao, Yuntao Li, Dong Xiang, Yuanpeng Wu, Jixuan Wei, Yusheng Que
Summary: Phosphated cellulose (PCF) was successfully synthesized and applied in the preparation of polybenzoxazine (PBa) composites, increasing the char residue, reducing the peak heat release rate and total heat release, decreasing the smoke released, and enhancing the flame retardancy of the composites.
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Mark Schubert, Guido Panzarasa, Ingo Burgert
Summary: Wood, as a renewable resource, has excellent qualities and has the potential to play a key role in the future bioeconomy. The increasing environmental awareness and drive for sustainability are leading to a resurgence of research on wood materials. However, global climate change will soon pose challenges to the wood-value chains in different regions. This review addresses the natural diversity of wood and discusses the need for new wood processing techniques and green chemistry protocols to manage a more diverse wood provision in the future.
Review
Chemistry, Applied
Tiina Nypelo, Barbara Berke, Stefan Spirk, Juho Antti Sirvio
Summary: The periodate oxidation of polysaccharides has evolved from structural analysis to a modification method for engineered materials, with potential applications in crosslinking and functional group generation. This process leads to changes in the structural hierarchies and physical properties of materials derived from forests, providing opportunities for further modifications and enhanced functionalities.
CARBOHYDRATE POLYMERS
(2021)
Article
Polymer Science
Bianca Dal Pont, Vito Gigante, Luca Panariello, Ilaria Canesi, Laura Aliotta, Andrea Lazzeri
Summary: This study aims to investigate lightweight thermoset fiber-reinforced composites with extremely high biobased content. The most promising formulations were used to produce flax fiber reinforced composites, and the properties of the new biocomposites were assessed. The results are very encouraging, as the stiffness-to-weight ratio is comparable to typical epoxy-glass composites.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Yi Shen, Qianqian Jia, Shijian Xu, Juan Yu, Caoxing Huang, Chunpeng Wang, Chuanwei Lu, Qiang Yong, Jifu Wang, Fuxiang Chu
Summary: This study presents a novel construction strategy combining hindered urea bonds and radical polymerization to prepare fast-curing cellulose-based malleable bio-thermosets. The resulting materials exhibit excellent mechanical properties, malleability, and reprocessing ability, and can be used in various electronic devices.
ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS
(2023)
Review
Chemistry, Applied
Bricard Mbituyimana, Li Liu, Weiliang Ye, Biaou O. Ode Boni, Kai Zhang, Jiachuan Chen, Sabu Thomas, Revin Victor Vasilievich, Zhijun Shi, Guang Yang
Summary: Bacterial cellulose is a promising material for various biomedical and cosmetic applications. Research has focused on manufacturing BC-based composites with other materials for high-performance products in biomedical fields. Additionally, improving the properties of BC through different reinforcement substances and organized arrangement of fibers has shown positive results.
CARBOHYDRATE POLYMERS
(2021)
Article
Thermodynamics
Robert H. R. Carne, Adefemi A. Alade, Berlinda O. Orji, Ahmed Ibrahim, Armando G. McDonald, Michael R. Maughan
Summary: The aims of this study were to investigate the printability of high-fraction wood and sodium-silicate composites (WSSC) for additive manufacturing and to develop a screw extrusion-based process for building construction applications. The printability of different formulations was determined by observing their viscosity, extrudability, print-bed and layer adhesion, and curing characteristics. The mechanical properties of printed and cured WSSC were found to be comparable to other materials reported in the literature.
ADVANCES IN MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Caitlyn M. Clarkson, Sami M. El Awad Azrak, Endrina S. Forti, Gregory T. Schueneman, Robert J. Moon, Jeffrey P. Youngblood
Summary: Cellulose nanomaterials are strong, stiff, nontoxic, biodegradable, and sustainable, but face challenges in compatibility with man-made materials and commercialization efforts. Current research aims to address these challenges and improve properties to compete with existing materials.
ADVANCED MATERIALS
(2021)
Review
Materials Science, Composites
Ben Seers, Rachel Tomlinson, Patrick Fairclough
Summary: Residual stress is inherent in fiber reinforced composites and requires specific techniques at different scales for investigation; there is still a significant challenge in developing a universal method applicable to all cases.
POLYMER COMPOSITES
(2021)
Article
Forestry
Andrey Pereira Acosta, Kelvin Techera Barbosa, Amanda Albertin Xavier da Silva, Darci Alberto Gatto, Rafael de Avila Delucis, Sandro Campos Amico
Summary: This study proposes a novel method, vacuum infusion process, to measure the longitudinal permeability of wood. By evaluating different woods and fluids, it is found that the permeability difference of woods is attributed to their morphological characteristics, especially the presence of axial vessels.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF WOOD AND WOOD PRODUCTS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Mohammad Rezasefat, Alessio Beligni, Claudio Sbarufatti, Sandro Campos Amico, Andrea Manes
Summary: This study investigates the impact of pre-existing damage on the low-velocity impact response of CFRP through experiments and numerical simulations. A material model based on continuum damage mechanics is developed in Abaqus/Explicit. The model is validated through finite element simulations at the single-element level and more complex models are used to simulate different specimens subjected to low-velocity impacts. The presence of pre-existing damage near the impact region results in severe changes in mechanical response, while impacts farther away from the region show similar results as those on pristine specimens.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Eduardo Fischer Kerche, Agne Kairyte, Sylwia Czlonka, Amanda Albertin Xavier da Silva, Maikson Luiz Passaia Tonatto, Francisco Luiz Bresolin, Rafael de Avila Delucis, Sandro Campos Amico
Summary: Sandwich panels reinforced with Z-pins were manufactured using an optimized design strategy, which showed an increase in flexural stiffness compared to non-optimized designs. Numerical and experimental approaches were used to investigate the influence of optimal pin position and angle. The results demonstrated the significant contribution of optimal pin position and angle to the maximum load and flexural stiffness of the composites.
Article
Polymer Science
Eduardo Fischer Kerche, Agne Kairyte, Sylwia Czlonka, Vinicius Demetrio da Silva, Nicholas Alves Salles, Henri Stephan Schrekker, Sandro Campos Amico
Summary: In this study, four imidazolium-based ionic liquids were tested as compatibilizers for microcrystalline cellulose. The modified microcrystalline cellulose was used as reinforcements in epoxy resin to prepare biobased composites with enhanced performances. The imidazolium-based ionic liquids did not significantly modify the morphological and structural characteristics of the reinforcements, but improved the thermal stability, mechanical responses, and viscoelastic response of the composites.
Article
Materials Science, Composites
F. Fulginiti, M. Rezasefat, A. Xavier da Silva, S. C. Amico, M. Giglio, A. Manes
Summary: This paper investigates the repeated low-velocity impact response of woven S2-glass/epoxy composites. Impact tests were conducted using a drop-tower apparatus with energies ranging from 18.4 to 59.2 J. Post-mortem analysis was performed after each impact to evaluate the impact response. A damage index was used to quantify the changes in impact response due to repeated impacts. Finite element simulations considering both interlaminar and intralaminar failure modes were carried out. The results reveal a decrease in impact force and bending stiffness with the number of impacts, while impact duration and maximum central displacement increased. The shape of the damaged area was also found to be affected. The numerical results indicate that interlaminar damage primarily initiated at the interfaces during the first impact and propagated in-plane in subsequent impacts. Intralaminar damage initiated at the backside of the laminate and then propagated in-plane and through-thickness until penetration occurred.
ADVANCED COMPOSITE MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Mechanics
Mohammad Rezasefat, Dayou Ma, Amanda A. X. da Silva, Chiara Colombo, Sandro C. Amico, Marco Giglio, Andrea Manes
Summary: This paper investigates the performance of asymmetric inter-ply hybrids of plain-weave aramid and satin-weave S2-glass fabrics/epoxy laminates subjected to low-velocity impact. A multi-criteria decision-making analysis and numerical simulation were conducted to determine the best laminate design, considering factors such as fibre ratios, impact sides, and impact energies. The results show that hybrid laminates with aramid on the impact side perform the best.
COMPOSITE STRUCTURES
(2023)
Article
Polymer Science
Andrey Pereira Acosta, Agne Kairyte, Sylwia Czlonka, Karolina Miedzinska, Arthur Behenck Aramburu, Kelvin Techera Barbosa, Sandro Campos Amico, Rafael de Avila Delucis
Summary: This study presents the development of rigid polyurethane foams filled with pine seed shells and yerba mate. Yerba mate showed good compatibility with the polyurethane system, resulting in increased mechanical and thermal properties. However, pine seed shell did not appear to be compatible and led to a decrease in mechanical properties.
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Andrey Pereira Acosta, Amanda Albertin Xavier da Silva, Rafael de Avila Delucis, Sandro Campos Amico
Summary: This study investigates the vacuum infusion processing and characterization of wood and wood-jute laminates. The insertion of jute fabrics in the laminates improves their density and strength. However, a higher number of layers in the wood/polyester laminates leads to poorer interlaminar properties.
JOURNAL OF BUILDING ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Materials Science, Composites
Alencar Ibeiro de Oliveira, Mahbube Subhani, Arthur Behenck Aramburu, Hebert Luis Rossetto, Guilherme Hoeehr Trindade, White Jose dos Santos, Rafael de Avila Delucis
Summary: This research aims to use green liquor dregs as a partial replacement for lime in coating mortars in order to mitigate the environmental impact caused by the pulp and paper industry. The results showed that the mortars with dregs exhibited similar properties to conventional mortar in terms of flowability, air content, and specific gravity. Mechanical testing and scanning electron microscopy revealed that the introduction of dregs did not change the formational mechanism of C-S-H crystals and the material maintained its mechanical properties even after accelerated aging, reaching similar levels of strengths. Therefore, the mortar with dregs can be used in external applications.
JOURNAL OF COMPOSITES SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Andrey Pereira Acosta, Rafael de Avila Delucis, Sandro Campos Amico
Summary: This study proposes a method to overcome the limitations of unidirectional wood-jute laminates by manufacturing wood-glass and wood-jute-glass laminates using vacuum infusion processing. The results show that increasing the number of glass layers leads to higher apparent density, thinner laminates, and closer longitudinal and transverse mechanical properties. Additionally, the wood-glass interface bonding is stronger compared to the wood-jute interface bonding.
CONSTRUCTION AND BUILDING MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Dayou Ma, Mohammad Rezasefat, Joziel Aparecido da Cruz, Sandro Campos Amico, Marco Giglio, Andrea Manes
Summary: The matrix has a significant effect on the impact resistance of composite materials. Replacing a brittle polymer with a more flexible one can improve impact resistance, but it poses challenges to standard testing methods. This study designs a new fixture for testing the low-velocity impact of soft composites and investigates the effect of the fixture on the mechanical performance.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Andrey Pereira Acosta, Bruno Esteves, Joziel Aparecido da Cruz, Arthur Behenck Aramburu, Agne Kairyte, Sylwia Czlonka, Dionatan Orestes Ramos, Matheus de Paula Goularte, Rafael de Avila Delucis, Darci Alberto Gatto, Sandro Campos Amico
Summary: This study aims to develop sustainable poly(furfuryl alcohol)/wood veneer prepregs and laminate composites. The prepregs and laminates were manufactured using vacuum infusion and compression molding processes, and their properties were evaluated. The results demonstrate that the produced composites have a long shelf life, excellent hydrolysis resistance, and superior mechanical properties.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Tabata Larissa Correa Peres, Felipe Vahl Ribeiro, Arthur Behenck Aramburu, Kelvin Techera Barbosa, Andrey Pereira Acosta, Andre Luiz Missio, Mahbube Subhani, Rafael de Avila Delucis
Summary: Developing a new type of polyurethane adhesive from a mixture of castor oil and crude glycerin is crucial for addressing the shortcomings of conventional options. The resulting adhesive shows promising environmental sustainability, cost-effectiveness, and performance in wood bonding applications.
