Search

Synthetic plastic is a material that is difficult to decompose in the environment and causes serious problems in long term such as an increase in the volume of waste. To reduce plastic waste, biodegradable composite (biocomposite) is expected to overcome this problem. Natural cellulose fiber can be used as a filler in biopolymer matrix based biocomposite. This study aims to determine the tensile properties, fracture morphology, and biodegradation rate of biocomposite from Polyvinyl Alcohol (PVA) and sugarcane bagasse fiber. The test of biocomposite samples was carried out with a tensile test, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and soil burial test. The results show that the highest tensile strength and modulus elasticity was in PVA pure film for 2.15 MPa and 3.468 MPa, respectively. The addition of cellulose fiber from sugarcane bagasse in the PVA matrix does not have a strengthening effect on the tensile strength of the biocomposite. This is due to the presence of porosity, agglomeration, and poor bonding between the matrix and fiber according to the SEM observation. The biodegradation rate showed that all biocomposite samples were degraded in the soil and had weight loss above 40% after 15 days of burial in the soil.

Owing to the increasing global pollution due to the use of conventional plastic materials, biodegradable films and sheets have been given prominent importance owing to their efficiency in replacing traditional plastic materials. In the recent times, due to globalization and industrialization, the minimization of the use of synthetic petroleum-based materials has been in practice by the global community, and increase in the use of natural materials like biomass waste in place of traditional materials promoting the green and sustainable technology development. Such production of alternative biomaterials development from the lignocellulosic fiber-reinforced composite films and laminates has been seriously investigated by engineers, technologists, and materialists owing to their sustainability, renewability, low toxicity, and abundantly available. Banana is one among the largely consumed tropical crop globally which is due to the quantity of cultivation and the availability of calorific values in the fruit. It is also a fruit which is potentially rich in starch content with more than 65 % of starch. This banana starch can be considered as a potential material for the manufacturing of coating material, edible sheet, food preservation and packaging owing to its innocuous, less cost, and biodegradability. The application of banana starch is dictated by the functional, structural and physicochemical properties of the developed material. But an unmodified native banana starch may not be characterized with all the necessary properties for any customized application. In order to widen the application band of the banana starch, it has to be modified by using enzymes, chemical, and physical methods. This review comprehensively deals with the extraction and synthesis of banana starch from various sources, their modification, properties of the banana starch and its characterization. Some aspects regarding the hybridization of the banana starch with nanoparticles has also been given.

In the past few decades, there has been increased interest in the use of natural fibers as reinforcement in bioplastic polymer composites because it is biodegradable. This is a result of the drawbacks of biodegradable polymer-based materials, which are brittle, intractable, and poorly water-sensitive. Natural fibers are chosen because they may be obtained organically, can be collected safely, and can be less expensive. In this work, cinnamon essential oil (CEO)/sugar palm nanocellulose/starch biopolymer composites were casted to investigate the morphological, water barrier and biodegradable properties. From the research, it shows water absorption increased regarding the plasticizer concentration. Besides, water vapor permeability (WVP) and solubility of the different concentration plasticizer used in the biopolymer shows an increasing trend due to high water content. All films degrade completely after the 12th day indicating the biodegradability of the film. Furthermore, seal strength for the lower concentrations of plasticizer shows the higher strength, while GS4.5 cannot be sealed due to high water contents. The images show the compatible films with slightly yellowish and transparent films. The variation of plasticizers did not affect the antibacterial activity of CEO inside the film forming solution. Overall, cinnamon essential oil (CEO)/sugar palm nanocellulose/starch biopolymer composites are good potential to enhance their suitability for food packaging applications.

The growing consciousness about global environmental concerns, particularly landfills, in conjunction with the rapid use of petroleum-based plastics, is a key factor behind the use of natural and biodegradable polymers in short-life applications like food packaging, container, and tray. Sugar palm stem is a biomass that has proven the potential to produce biodegradable polymers such as sugar palm starch. Nevertheless, their applications were limited due to their low tensile strength and excessive hydrophilicity. Plasticization using polyols, reinforcement with sugar palm fiber, cellulose, microcrystalline cellulose, or nanocellulose, blending with thermoplastic polymer, and addition of essential oils has been used to maximize the functional qualities of the starch biopolymer. As the content of plasticizers grew, the glass transition temperature and water absorption ability decreased. Furthermore, the addition of sugar palm nanocellulose to sugar palm starch improves the performances of sugar palm starch-based films as a packaging material. Addition of essential oil contributes to antibacterial properties and slightly improved tensile strength of the film. A comprehensive understanding on the interaction of starch-based biodegradable polymer and nanocellulose constituents for enhancing the physico-chemical properties of starch-based films is prerequisite for researchers in the design of industrial products with enhanced functional attributes. To address the knowledge gap, more studies including the reinforcement of new types of biodegradable polymer and nanocellulose derived from natural sources should be conducted in order to continually populate the database for research purposes.

Nanocellulose is a product of cellulose, a sustainable and plentiful resource. It’s distinctive nanoscale structure makes it a versatile, green and interesting material for a variety of applications. This article describes in detail the biosources of nanocellulose, the types and characteristics of nanocellulose, and the techniques used to produce nanocellulose fibers. The mechanical properties and morphologies of nanocellulose fibers are addressed in depth, along with their prospective applications in sectors, including paper packaging, building materials, composites, biomedicine, energy storage and filtration. In addition, the current state of nanocellulose research, including the opportunities in the field, as well as the future prospects of nanocellulose as a viable and sustainable material for a vast array of applications, are discussed.

Araucaria Araucana starch is a raw material with proven potential in obtaining biodegradable polymers. Plasticization improves the flexibility characteristics of starch-based films, however, they still tend to have low tensile strength and high hydrophilicity. The addition of nanocellulose is a technique to improve these characteristics. In this paper, the effects of adding different sources and concentrations of nanocellulose (NC) on the properties of thermoplastic Araucaria Araucana films are addressed. One can highlight, the main effects are the increase of tensile strength and transparency of the films along with the reduction of water vapor permeability and water solubility. Further studies involving the reinforcement of Araucaria Araucana starch and nanocellulose should be conducted to overcome the lack of information.

The title of this research is "Intercourse Conducted by Siblings (Persuasion) in Criminal Perspectives" based on normative juridical research through legislation and conceptual approaches. Then do a search and analysis to answer the legal issues faced and draw conclusions in the end. Intercourse with siblings (incest) is rife in social life. This is due to several factors, both internally and externally. This action does not yet have concrete qualifications related to criminal acts and there is no formulation in material criminal law, either in the Criminal Code or special laws. The incest has negative impacts both biologically and sociologically, so it is necessary to conduct a study of the Qualifications of Sexual Relationships with Siblings (with blood) that have implications for criminal acts and criminal liability for perpetrators of crimes related to incest as legal issues faced. The results of this study are in the form of qualifications for incestuous relations on the basis of the legal conception of incestuous relations and criminal liability based on several legal rules (laws). Keywords: Intercourse; Siblings; Incest; Criminal Acts. AbstrakJudul penelitian ini “Persetubuhan dengan Kekerasan yang dilakukan dengan Saudara Sekandung (Sedarah) dalam Kualifikasi Tindak Pidana” yang berlandaskan penelitian yuridis normatif melalui pendekatan perundang-undangan dan pendekatan konseptual. Kemudian dilakukan penelusuran dan analisis untuk menjawab isu hukum yang dihadapi dan menarik kesimpulan pada akhirnya. Persetubuhan dengan saudara sekandung (incest) marak terjadi dalam kehidupan bermasyarakat. Hal ini dikarenakan beberapa faktor, baik secara internal maupun eksternal. Tindakan ini belum memiliki kualifikasi yang konkret terkait dengan tindak pidana dan belum adanya perumusan dalam hukum pidana materiil, baik dalam KUHP maupun undang-undang khusus. Incest notabenenya memiliki dampak-dampak negatif secara biologis maupun sosiologis, sehingga perlu dilakukan penelitian terhadap Kualifikasi Hubungan Seksual Dengan Saudara Sekandung (Sedarah) yang Berimplikasi Tindak Pidana dan Pertanggungjawaban Pidana Terhadap Pelaku Tindak Pidana Terkait Incest sebagai isu hukum yang dihadapi. Hasil dari penelitian ini berupa kualifikasi tindak pidana hubungan incest atas dasar konsepsi hukum hubungan incest serta pertanggungjawaban pidananya berdasarkan beberapa aturan hukum (undang-undang). Kata Kunci: Persetubuhan; Saudara Kandung; Inses; Tindak Pidana.

Bio-based materials must be studied to replace polymers from petrochemical sources in packaging applications. However, using polymers from petrochemical sources has caused consumer and environmental concerns. Therefore, synthetic and non-synthetic materials that can be used for packaging applications, scale-up methods, industrial uses, sustainability assessments, and end-of-life alternatives will all be included in this study. Synthetic polymers, e.g., polylactic acid (PLA), polyethylene furanoate (PEF), polybutylene succinate (PBS), and non-synthetic polymers, including waxes, lipids, proteins, starch, cellulose, and polyhydrodialkanoate (PHAs), are some of the bio-based compounds that will be covered in this work. Besides that, more attention is paid to surface modification techniques and coatings, multilayers, biocomposites, and additives used to modify material characteristics, particularly gas and moisture barriers and biodegradability. In sum, this research offers a comprehensive analysis of bio-based packaging materials, including processing, and an assessment of sustainability and available alternatives.

Biocomposite materials are essential for environmental protection, as they have the ability of substituting synthetic plastic with natural materials. This work investigated how different plasticizers (Glycerol (G), Fructose (F), Sorbitol (S), and Urea (U)) affect the morphological, mechanical, thermal, and physical characteristics of films made of wheat starch at various concentrations (0%, 15%, 25%, and 35%). Plasticizers were added to improve the flexibility and homogeneity of the wheat starch-based bioplastic. Control film exhibited high tensile strength (38.7 MPa) with low elongation (1.9%). However, films plasticized with 35% sorbitol showed the highest elongation, which was 60.7% at break. At 35% of all plasticizers, fructose showed the highest tensile strength, with 7.6 MPa. The addition of different plasticizers shows improvement in water resistance; films plasticized with glycerol had the lowest water absorption at 35% fructose (187.4%) and also showed coherent surfaces. Glycerol, sorbitol, and urea films showed a higher mass loss compared to fructose films. Fructose showed the highest performance after the analysis of the results, with low water absorption, water content, and mass loss and with high mechanical performance at 35% of fructose. SEM images show that the addition of fructose and glycerol improves the surface homogenate, while sorbitol and urea have a less compact structure with large pores.

The rapid use of petroleum resources coupled with increased awareness of global environmental problems associated with the use of petroleum-based plastics is a major driving force in the acceptance of natural fibers and biopolymers as green materials. Because of their environmentally friendly and sustainable nature, natural fibers and biopolymers have gained significant attention from scientists and industries. Cassava (

The development of environmentally benign silicone composites from sugar palm fibre and silicone rubber was carried out in this study. The mechanical, physical, and morphological properties of the composites with sugar palm (SP) filler contents ranging from 0% to 16% by weight (wt%) were investigated. Based on the uniaxial tensile tests, it was found that the increment in filler content led to higher stiffness. Via dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), the viscoelastic properties of the silicone biocomposite showed that the storage modulus and loss modulus increased with the increment in filler content. The physical properties also revealed that the density and moisture absorption rate increased as the filler content increased. Inversely, the swelling effect of the highest filler content (16 wt%) revealed that its swelling ratio possessed the lowest rate as compared to the lower filler addition and pure silicone rubber. The morphological analysis via scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed that the sugar palm filler was evenly dispersed and no agglomeration could be seen. Thus, it can be concluded that the addition of sugar palm filler enhanced the stiffness property of silicone rubber. These new findings could contribute positively to the employment of natural fibres as reinforcements for greener biocomposite materials.

The present study investigates the preference index of natural fibers such as sisal, coir, and rice straw fibers in stone matrix asphalt mixtures (SMA), using waste marble as filler. Waste marble was used as the filler in asphalt mixtures and was crushed by abrasion machine and sieved according to SMA filler requirements. The SEM topography and EDS analysis of sisal, coir, and rice straw fibers were also carried out. The Marshall test was conducted, which is the most acceptable, cost-effective, and widely adopted method to estimate the optimum bitumen and to examine several Marshall Measures, such as flow value, voids filled with bitumen (VFB), stability, voids in mineral aggregate (VMA), and air voids (VA). Furthermore, tests were performed on the specimen with the optimum amount of bitumen, different percentages of fibers, and waste marble as filler to calculate drain down, moister sensitivity, and Marshall Stability. Multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) techniques were implemented to obtain subjective and objective weights, which were further used to compute the values of the preference index of natural fiber contents. The outcomes revealed favorable results for the usage of marble dust as filler in Stone Matrix Asphalt (SMA). In addition, the preference index upshots are inclined toward the usage of rice straw over coir followed by sisal fiber. It was observed that the value of the preference index in rice straw at 0.3 varied from 0.918, 0.925, and 0.931 in rice straw using equal, objective, and subjective weights, respectively. The maximum drain down value observed is 0.335 based on ASTM-D 6390 and IRC-SP-79 are against 0.3 percent natural fiber. Moreover, as per the prescribed limit of MoRTH, because of the thin film around aggregates, moisture susceptibility characteristics, i.e., better resistance to moisture, were enhanced by more than 80%.

Oil palm nanocellulose has been demonstrated to display a wide range of unique properties for many fields. They are suitable for biomedical applications and have been used in this domain for decades. The current variety of nanocellulose fibers allows the development of new nanocomposites. This work fabricated oil palm nanocellulose with variations of fiber loading (1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 wt%) and thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) polymer matrix by using a mechanical stirring followed by hot pressing methods. The physical characters of nanocellulose oil palm reinforced TPU nanocomposites, such as water absorption, thickness swelling, and density were characterized. The fiber loading of oil palm nanocellulose content at 5 wt% shows the highest water uptake, thickness swelling, and the lowest density properties of oil palm nanocellulose reinforced TPU nanocomposites.

Advances in Sustainable Nanocomposites is a newly opened Special Issue of Sustainability, that aims to publish original and review papers on the new scientific development of sustainable nanocomposite materials that are accelerated by zero-carbon policy goals [...]

This research is driven by stringent environmental legislation requiring the consumption and use of environmentally friendly materials. In this context, this paper is concerned with the development and characterization of thermoplastic arrowroot starch (TPAS) based biocomposite films by incorporating arrowroot fiber (AF) (0-10%) into a glycerol plasticized matrix by using the solution casting method. Developed TPAS/AF composite films were investigated, such as physical, morphological (FESEM), tensile, and tear strength characteristics. The tensile and tear strengths of TPAS/AF composites were increased significantly from 4.77 to 15.22 MPa and 0.87 to 1.28 MPa, respectively, as compared to the control TPAS films, which were 2.42 MPa and 0.83 MPa, respectively, while elongation was significantly decreased from 25.57 to 6.21% compared to control TPAS film, which was 46.62%. The findings revealed that after the fiber was reinforced, the mechanical properties were enhanced, and the optimum filler content was 10%. Regardless of fiber loadings, the results of water absorption testing revealed that the composite films immersed in seawater and rainwater absorbed more water than distilled water. Overall, the results of this research focus on providing information on biopolymer composite film and revealing the great potential it has for the food packaging industry.

Biocomposite materials have a significant function in saving the environment by replacing artificial plastic materials with natural substances. They have been enrolled in many applications, such as housing, automotive engine components, aerospace and military products, electronic and circuit board components, and oil and gas equipment. Therefore, continuous studies have been employed to improve their mechanical, thermal, physical properties. In this research, we conduct a comprehensive review about corn fiber and corn starch-based biocomposite. The results gained from previous studies were compared and discussed. Firstly, the chemical, thermal, and mechanical properties of cornstarch-based composite were discussed. Then, the effects of various types of plasticizers on the flexibility of the cornstarch-based composite were addressed. The effects of chemical treatments on the properties of biocomposite using different cross-linking agents were discussed. The corn fiber surface treatment to enhance interfacial adhesion between natural fiber and polymeric matrix also were addressed. Finally, morphological characterization, crystallinity degree, and measurement of vapor permeability, degradation, and uptake of water were discussed. The mechanical, thermal, and water resistance properties of corn starch and fibers-based biopolymers show a significant improvement through plasticizing, chemical treatment, grafting, and cross-linker agent procedures, which expands their potential applications.

Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) has been used in packaging applications due to its biocompatibility and biodegradability. However, this non-toxic synthetic material belonging to a highly hydrophilic polymer has poor resistance to wet environments, no antibacterial activity, and low tensile and thermal properties. This study aims to prepare and characterize a PVA-based biocomposite film mixed with antimicrobial white ginger nanocellulose (GCNF) and zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles. The film was processed using GCNF (0.1 g) or/and ZnO nanoparticles (0.5 g). The results confirm that the GCNF/ZnO/PVA-based film presents the strongest antimicrobial activity and the highest thermal resistance. This film also had the best value in tensile strength (19.7 MPa) and modulus (253.1 MPa); 63.9% and 117.9%, respectively higher than purce PVA. Its elongation at break was 56.6%, not statistically significantly different from the pure PVA film. Thus, this PVA-based hybrid biocomposite film reinforced by GCNF and ZnO has excellent potential for fresh food packaging in industrial applications.

The rapid use of petroleum resources coupled with increased awareness of global environmental problems associated with the use of petroleum-based plastics is a major driving force in the acceptance of natural fibers and biopolymers as green materials. Because of their environmentally friendly and sustainable nature, natural fibers and biopolymers have gained significant attention from scientists and industries. Cassava (Manihot esculenta) is a plant that has various purposes for use. It is the primary source of food in many countries and is also used in the production of biocomposites, biopolymers, and biofibers. Starch from cassava can be plasticized, reinforced with fibers, or blended with other polymers to strengthen their properties. Besides that, it is currently used as a raw material for bioethanol and renewable energy production. This comprehensive review paper explains the latest developments in bioethanol compounds from cassava and gives a detailed report on macro and nano-sized cassava fibers and starch, and their fabrication as blend polymers, biocomposites, and hybrid composites. The review also highlights the potential utilization of cassava fibers and biopolymers for industrial applications such as food, bioenergy, packaging, automotive, and others.

Great advances have been made in the preparation of bioplastics and crude oil replacements to create a better and more sustainable and eco-friendly future for all. Here, we used cassava bagasse fibers at different ratios as reinforcement material to enhance the properties of black seed w-cornstarch films using the facile solution casting technique. The reinforced films showed compact and relatively smoother structures without porosity. The crystallinity values increased from 34.6 ± 1.6% of the control to 38.8 ± 2.1% in sample CS-BS/CB 9%, which reflects the mechanical properties of the composite. A gradual increase in tensile strength and elastic modulus was observed, with an increase in loading amounts of 14.07 to 18.22 MPa and 83.65 to 118.32 MPa for the tensile strength and elastic modulus, respectively. The composite film also exhibited faster biodegradation in the soil burial test, in addition to lower water absorption capacity. Using bio-based reinforcement material could significantly enhance the properties of bio-based packaging materials. The prepared hybrid composite could have a promising potential in food packaging applications as a safe alternative for conventional packaging.

"Fibre-Reinforced Polymer Composites: Mechanical Properties and Applications" is a newly open Special Issue of Polymers, which aims to publish original and review papers on new scientific and applied research and make boundless contributions to the finding and understanding of the reinforcing effects of various synthetic and natural fibres on the performance of biopolymer composites [...]

Over the past few decades, three-dimensional (3D) printing technologies have surpassed the conventional manufacturing techniques due to their wide applications and advantages. The applications of 3D printing in biomedical field is ever increasing due to improvement in accuracy and surface quality of products. The development of biomedical implants through patient specific data and rapid tooling techniques has revolutionized the research activities. Now-a-days, the metal printers have capability to directly create metal implants using biocompatible metallic alloys. This paper focuses on the potential applications of 3D printing in biomedical fields with specific emphasis on tissue engineering and bio-printing of organs using bio-inks. This paper also reviews various biocompatible and biodegradable materials used in recent in-vivo and in-vitro studies. It has been deduced from the study that use of natural fibers in polymers resulted in improved mechanical strength of products. Also, the implementation of additive manufacturing technologies for production of composites would lead to production of customized product.

This study describes the porosity and particle size effects of rice husk pore former on the diametral tensile strength of porous alumina (Al2O3) ceramics. Porous Al2O3 ceramics with high porosity and sufficient diametral tensile strength were successfully prepared by the pore-forming agent method using rice husk (RH) as the pore former according to the sample formulation Al2O3-xRHy (where ‘x’ denotes the particle size range in µm and ‘y’ denotes the percent weight content (wt%) of RH). The thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and X-ray diffractometer (XRD) results revealed that silica was retained as rice husk ash in the developed porous Al2O3 after the decomposition of the starting rice husk pore former. Microstructures of the as-prepared porous Al2O3 ceramics having different RH additions exhibited hierarchical pore structures with increased particle size of the pore-forming agent. Porosity increased with larger particle size range of rice husk where the Al2O3-63RH5 demonstrated the least porosity (44.2 vol%), while the highest porosity (70.9 vol%) was demonstrated by the Al2O3-125–250RH20. The diametral tensile strength of the RH-shaped porous alumina ceramics declined from 16.97 to 0.65 MPa with increased particle size of the rice husk.

Additive Manufacturing of Polymer–Fiber Composites is a newly open Special Issue of Materials, which aims to publish original and review papers on new scientific and applied research, and make great contributions to the finding and understanding of the fabrication of fiber-reinforced polymer composites using current advanced additive manufacturing techniques [...]

A thermal behavior study of lipid-extracted Nannochloropsis gaditana (LEA) was performed in a thermogravimetric analyzer. The study was performed by heating the sample under different heating rates (5, 10, and 15 °C/min) from room temperature to 1000 °C using N2 gas as the medium. This is crucial for thermal stability studies in a kinetic control regime. The following three stages of chemical decompositions were found: (1) moisture removal (2) devolatilization (3) fixed carbon decomposition; maximum decomposition was observed at the second stage. Activation energies of the LEA were studied using the Flynn–Wall–Ozawa model and Kissinger–Akahira–Sunose model. Main sample decomposition was observed from 100–700 °C during volatile matter evaporation. The thermal behavior study findings were used for the gasification of the sample with air to study the effect of varying reaction parameters on the compositions of the synthesis gas yield. Maximum H2 yield was found at 700 °C and 0.7 g, which were 51.2 mol% and 50.6 mol%, respectively. From the study, it was found that LEA is suitable to be used as feedstock in gasification for synthesis gas production.

The advancement of 3D-printing technology has ushered in a new era in the production of machine components, building materials, prototypes, and so on. In 3D-printing techniques, the infill reduces the amount of material used, thereby reducing the printing time and sustaining the aesthetics of the products. Infill patterns play a significant role in the property of the material. In this research, the mechanical properties of specimens are investigated for gyroid, rhombile, circular, truncated octahedron, and honeycomb infill structures (hexagonal). Additionally, the tensile properties of PLA 3D-printed objects concerning their infill pattern are demonstrated. The specimens were prepared with various infill patterns to determine the tensile properties. The fracture of the specimen was simulated and the maximum yield strengths for different infill structures and infill densities were determined. The results show the hexagonal pattern of infill holds remarkable mechanical properties compared with the other infill structures. Through the variation of infill density, the desired tensile strength of PLA can be obtained based on the applications and the optimal weight of the printed parts.

In this decade, all researchers and industry players compete to develop sustainable product design by exploring natural fibre composites in product design development. One of the essential methodologies in creating composite products is concurrent engineering (CE). Industrial design and production engineering should be involved in the development of ballistic helmets. This publication aims to provide a quick overview of the evolution of natural fibre composite ballistic helmet designs. This manuscript is still in its early stages, but it already includes a summary of the progress of ballistic helmet design from 1915 to the present. Renewable materials, such as natural fibre, should be highlighted as an alternative to synthetic composites in developing a sustainable ballistic helmet design. Furthermore, launching the design development process for a ballistic helmet demands a CE strategy that includes multi-disciplinary knowledge. Computational modelling aids in the development of ballistic helmet designs, reducing the time and cost of manufacturing ballistic helmets. The ergonomic component of ballistic helmet design is also crucial, as is the thermal comfort factor, which can be handled using natural fibre composites with thermal solid insulating characteristics. The development of natural fibre composite ballistic helmets can be used as a consideration in the future as a revolution to create a sustainable design. Finally, this review can be used as a guide for industrial designers. In conclusion, this review might be utilized as a reference for industrial designers due to a shortage of studies, especially in producing product-related natural fibre.

The need to develop radar absorbing materials (RAMs) that meet the structural requirement of defense applications is growing swiftly, due to the extensive use of electromagnetic waves in Radar. With the major developments and extensive use of Radar in military applications, the role of Radar absorbing, light weight and high strength structures has become a prime objective for researcher working on the development of RAMs. Various composites have been developed by using reinforcements which are dielectric, such as carbon nanotubes (CNT), magnetic materials like ferrites, that have been extensively used for reinforcement when developing RAMs. Ferromagnetic materials have a high density and can only achieve a narrow bandwidth of absorption. CNT have very good electrical, mechanical and thermal properties and can achieve high dielectric losses but their complex synthesis process is a barrier to commercial applications. Research on reinforcing multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) with ferrites and metal oxides can also be extended to the study of thermoplastic polymers like polyether ether ketone and polyaryletherketone, which are gaining prominence in aeronautical applications, owing to their superior mechanical and low moisture absorbing properties. Further research can be carried out on reinforcing metal oxides, as metal oxides, when reinforced with MWCNT enhance the dielectric properties which improve the reflection losses as reported in a few studies.

Rubber gloves, especially medical gloves, have been widely used in various fields for barrier protection because they are extremely elastic, very resilient, durable, and resistant to many chemical, gaseous, and environmental agents. The manufacturing process for medical rubber gloves is very strict and must comply with the specific requirements for gloves in order to ensure that the gloves are of the finest quality and are capable of providing full protection. Growing demand for rubber products, including rubber gloves, has a negative impact on the environment as the highly durable properties of rubber make it difficult to degrade. Hence, ideas for recycling the rubber products have been developed, and the works are evolving. Waste rubber products, rubber medical gloves included, were used as an alternative to new raw materials or to replace existing material. Additionally, waste rubber gloves are relatively inexpensive and easy to obtain, which results in low processing costs. Many studies have found that the use of the waste rubber in composites has improved the composites' properties. Rubber provides composites with better toughness, damping, and fatigue properties as well as enhanced durability and flexibility. In conclusion, the recycling of waste rubber and waste medical rubber gloves into composites has a great potential to benefit many areas while at the same time helping to save the environment.

Synthetic plastics are severely detrimental to the environment because non-biodegradable plastics do not degrade for hundreds of years. Nowadays, these plastics are very commonly used for food packaging. To overcome this problem, food packaging materials should be substituted with "green" or environmentally friendly materials, normally in the form of natural fiber reinforced biopolymer composites. Thermoplastic starch (TPS), polylactic acid (PLA) and polybutylene succinate (PBS) were chosen for the substitution, because of their availability, biodegradability, and good food contact properties. Plasticizer (glycerol) was used to modify the starch, such as TPS under a heating condition, which improved its processability. TPS films are sensitive to moisture and their mechanical properties are generally not suitable for food packaging if used alone, while PLA and PBS have a low oxygen barrier but good mechanical properties and processability. In general, TPS, PLA, and PBS need to be modified for food packaging requirements. Natural fibers are often incorporated as reinforcements into TPS, PLA, and PBS to overcome their weaknesses. Natural fibers are normally used in the form of fibers, fillers, celluloses, and nanocelluloses, but the focus of this paper is on nanocellulose. Nanocellulose reinforced polymer composites demonstrate an improvement in mechanical, barrier, and thermal properties. The addition of compatibilizer as a coupling agent promotes a fine dispersion of nanocelluloses in polymer. Additionally, nanocellulose and TPS are also mixed with PLA and PBS because they are costly, despite having commendable properties. Starch and natural fibers are utilized as fillers because they are abundant, cheap and biodegradable.

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.

This paper reviews the mechanical performance of bamboo fibre reinforced polymer composites (BFRPs) for structural applications. Bamboo fibres are very promising reinforcements for polymer composites production due to their high aspect ratio, renewability, environmentally friendly, non-toxicity, cheap cost, non-abrasives, full biodegradability, and strong mechanical performances. Besides, bamboo has its own prospects and good potential to be used in biopolymer composites as an alternative for petroleum-based materials to be used in several advanced applications in the building and construction industry. For bamboo fibre to be reinforced with polymer, they must have good interfacial bond between the polymer, as better fibre and matrix interaction results in good interfacial adhesion between fibre/matrix and fewer voids in the composite. Several important factors to improve matrix-fibre bonding and enhance the mechanical properties of BFRP are by fibre treatment, hybridisation, lamination, and using coupling agent. Moreover, mechanical properties of BFRP are greatly influenced by few factors, such as type of fibre and matrix used, fibre-matrix adhesion, fibre dispersion, fibre orientation, composite manufacturing technique used, void content in composites, and porosity of composite. In order to better understand their reinforcing potential, the mechanical properties of this material is critically discussed in this review paper. In addition, the advantages of bamboo fibres as the reinforcing phase in polymer composites is highlighted in this review paper. Besides that, the bamboo-based products such as laminated bamboo lumber, glued-laminated bamboo, hybrid bamboo polymer composites, parallel bamboo strand lumber, parallel strand bamboo, bamboo-oriented strand board, and bamboo-scrimber have lately been developed and used in structural applications.

Natural-fiber-reinforced composites are progressively attracting interest in the aerospace, automotive, aeronautics, and marine sectors due to their good strength-to-weight ratios, long lifetimes and cost-effectiveness. Traditional machining methods have trouble machining such composite materials. However, abrasive water jet machining (AWJM) provides an alternative quality machining method that can be accomplished by regulating various process variables. The efficiency of the AWJM method has been the subject of extensive study, due to its negligible heat-affected zone. This review attempts to focus on an exploration of the thermal and mechanical properties and the AWJM efficiency of various coir-fiber-based composites in relation to various parameters and to determine the best AWJM operating conditions. There are numerous process variables that influence AWJM machined surface quality. However, the standoff distance, hydraulic pressure, abrasive mass flow rate, nozzle diameter, and transverse speed are all important factors to consider. Kerf taper, kerf width, and surface roughness are considered key response factors.

The bio-inspired structure (e.g., honeycomb) has been studied for its ability to absorb energy and its high strength. The cell size and wall thickness are the main elements that alter the structural ability to withstand load and pressure. Moreover, adding a secondary structure can increase the compressive strength and energy absorption (EA) capability. In this study, the bio-inspired structures are fabricated by fused deposition modelling (FDM) technology using polylactic acid (PLA) material. Samples are printed in the shape of a honeycomb structure, and a starfish shape is used as its reinforcement. Hence, this study focuses on the compression strength and EA of different cell sizes of 20 and 30 mm with different wall thicknesses ranging from 1.5 to 2.5 mm. Subsequently, the deformation and failure of the structures are determined under the compression loading. It is found that the smaller cell size with smaller wall thickness offered a crush efficiency of 69% as compared to their larger cell size with thicker wall thickness counterparts. It is observed that for a 20 mm cell size, the EA and maximum peak load increase, respectively, when the wall thickness increases. It can be concluded that the compression strength and EA capability increase gradually as the cell size and wall thickness increase.

Composites are being used in the place of metals in many industries as they have a lower density and are cheaper than metals. In aerospace industries there is requirement for light weight together with strength, and reinforced fibre composites are superior in some critical properties compared with metals. In this study, laminated composites were fabricated with woven E-glass and jute fibres in an epoxy matrix by a hand layup method. The samples were prepared as per the relevant the America Society for Testing ad Materials (ASTM) standard and tested for mode II interlaminar fracture toughness to investigate delamination resistance. Mode II interlaminar fracture toughness was evaluated by an end-notched flexure test using three-point bending. The fracture toughness G IIC was calculated for a curing temperature range from 40 °C to 70 °C at intervals of 5 °C for different sets of laminated composites. The investigations revealed that when the curing temperature of laminated composites was increased from 40 °C to 70 °C, the interlaminar fracture toughness G IIC was increased in neat woven E-glass laminated composites, decreased in neat jute laminated composites, significantly increased in laminated composites with woven E-glass fibres in compression and jute fibres in tension and slightly increased when woven E-glass fibres were kept in tension and jute fibres in compression.

The mode of integration in the value chain can impact a business organization in multiple ways and affect the sustainability of its competitive advantage. Several studies on benefits of Value Chain...

The aim of this article is to identify the key parameters of effective value-chain management in an information technology-driven industry. Further, the article aims to elucidate the hierarchical relationship among the parameters to facilitate focused interventions at ‘strategic’, ‘operational’ and ‘tactical’ levels. An important aspect of organizational transformation leading to integrated ‘value-chains’ facilitated by digital interaction among partners (that is, the digitized environment) is the identification of key parameters and establishing a critical list to facilitate focused attention of the different organizational levels—top management, middle management and operating levels. This article utilizes the Interpretive Structural Modelling (ISM) methodology to understand the mutual influence among the parameters to identify the dependent and driving parameters. By analysing the hierarchical interrelationship amongst parameters, we can identify the focus group, that is, the set of key interventions on which the top management should focus their attention, to leverage the benefits from a digitally integrated value-chain. It can be clearly seen that there two sets of parameters—one set, which essentially leads to better information integration on the buy and sell side of the value-chain, includes the key drivers of an effective value-chain; and another set, reflecting the effectiveness/derived benefits of the integration of the value-chain, are dependent on the degree of integration. The input for this research is based on qualitative data collated from industry experts in Indian steel and cement industries. Finally, the implications for practices and scope of future research are identified here.