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Purpose: To evaluate the long-term microtensile bond strength (µTBS) to dentin, water sorption (WSP) and solubility (WSL), and degree of conversion (DC) of self-adhesive resin composites (SACs). Materials and Methods: The mid-coronal dentin of human molars was exposed, and teeth were randomly assigned to five groups according to the SACs (n = 10): 1. FIT SA F03 (FIT); 2. Experimental (EXP); 3. Fusio Liquid Dentin (FLD); 4. Vertise Flow (VER); 5. Constic (CON). The µTBS was evaluated after 24 hours (24 h) and 6 months (6 m) storage. A scanning electron microscope examined failure modes and resin-dentin interfaces. The WSP and WSL (n = 5) were evaluated following ISO 4049:2019 specifications, and DC (n = 3) was measured using Raman spectroscopy. The statistical analyses were performed accepting a significance level of p = 0.05. Results: FIT, EXP, and FLD produced significantly higher µTBS median values than VER and CON after 24 h and 6 m (p < 0.05). After 6m, the µTBS median of FIT and EXP significantly decreased (p < 0.05), while FLD, VER, and CON showed no significant difference (p > 0.05). FLD and CON exhibited lower WSP than FIT, EXP, and VER (p < 0.05). FLD presented the lowest (p < 0.05), and VER revealed the highest WSL (p < 0.05). FIT and EXP showed the highest (p < 0.05), and VER demonstrated the lowest DC (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Following the present study's design, SACs' bonding performance and physical properties remained restricted. Therefore, the application should be considered cautiously, and further clinical trials are necessary to evaluate their long-term performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Needless electrospinning (NES) is the most advanced and robust method to generate biopolymeric nanofibers. NES overcomes the needle clogging and low throughput issues of conventional needle based electrospinning (ES). However, the issue with all ES techniques is the absence of generalized methods in the literature, and most of the work is being done empirically. The solvent system dictates the feasibility of the ES process, and solvent system based studies can help create more generalized ES methods. The current work provides a systematic approach to fabricating tribiopolymeric nanofibers. NES was used to fabricate chitosan (CS)/polylactic acid (PLA)/nanocellulose (NCC) based nanofibers by optimizing the solvent system using dichloromethane (DCM) and trifluoroacetic acid (TFA). Biopolymeric blend PLA/CS/NCC (10:0.1:0.05 w/v %) in various formulated solvent systems were made and analyzed for their physical properties (sedimentation rate, particle size, viscosity, and surface tension) and subjected to NES. The binary solvent system SS91 (DCM (90):TFA (10) %) showed the lowest sedimentation rate and viscosity while the highest particle size and surface tension, resulting in the beads free nanofibers. The viscosity and surface tension comparison were used to determine a critical point for the feasibility of nanofiber fabrication. Overall, the study showed a systematic approach for fabricating complex tri‐biopolymeric nanofibers in future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research examined the effect of adding carbon-based materials, including graphitic carbon nitride (g-C 3 N 4) and reduced graphene oxide (rGO), to titanium dioxide (TiO 2) particles for photocatalytic applications using a simple and cost-effective mechanical grinding method. The results indicated that the composite samples had larger crystallite sizes (19.28–22.86 nm) and lower strain than the TiO 2 sample. Morphological analysis showed that, while the addition of g-C 3 N 4 and rGO did not alter the spherical shape of the TiO 2 particles, it did reduce their average size. The TiO 2 particles exhibited oxygen-poor stoichiometry, which was further intensified by the incorporation of g-C 3 N 4 and rGO. Optical analysis revealed that the TiO 2 sample has an optical energy band gap of approximately 2.94 eV, which was increased by adding of g-C 3 N 4 and rGO. Additionally, the composite samples showed lower radiative recombination compared to the TiO 2 sample. The photocatalytic experiment demonstrated a maximum degradation of 98 % of methylene blue by the g-C 3 N 4 /rGO/TiO 2 sample under UV illumination after 90 min. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cashew (Anacardium occidentale L.) plays an important role in global agriculture, particularly in commercializing the cashew kernel. Nevertheless, kernel extraction poses a challenge due to the nut variable shape and size. Characterizing the properties of the cashew nut becomes a pivotal input for the advancement of processes and machinery. This work presents a comprehensive characterization of raw and steamed cashew nuts from Puerto Carreño, Colombia, with focus on morphological, physical, and mechanical properties. Cashew nut samples from different farms in the region were collected. Morphological properties, including size and shape, were analyzed by measuring length, width, and thickness for 100 nuts from each supplier, both in their raw state and after steaming. Geometric diameter and sphericity were calculated, and qualitative shape characterization was performed. Physical properties, such as mass, bulk density, true density, and moisture content, were also measured. Angle of repose and coefficient of friction were determined to assess flow and frictional behavior. Additionally, compressive mechanical properties were evaluated through uniaxial compression testing along three orientations. The findings indicated significant differences in morphological and mechanical properties between raw and steamed cashew nuts. Conversely, the results demonstrated that cashew nuts from Vichada region exhibit a noteworthy degree of dispersion and larger dimensions than those from Asia and Africa, comparable to those from Brazil. The findings guide machinery design in the cashew industry and offer insights into the physical, morphological, and mechanical properties of cashew nuts in Puerto Carreño, contributing to understanding and enabling quality assessment, processing optimization, and product development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this research was to assess the impact of the components of alkanolamine deep eutectic solvents (DESs) on the physical properties of those DESs and their carbon dioxide capacity. To achieve this goal, novel deep eutectic solvents were synthesized by using 2-(butylamino)ethanol (BAE) as the hydrogen bond donor (HBD), along with tetrabutylammonium bromide TBAB), tetrabutylammonium chloride (TBAC), or tetraethylammonium chloride (TEAC) as the hydrogen bond acceptors (HBA) at various molar ratios (1:6, 1:8, and 1:10). To confirm the presence of hydrogen bond interactions between the components Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy measurements were conducted. Furthermore, thermal properties, including melting points and thermal stability, of these deep eutectic solvents as well as key physical properties, such as density, viscosity, refractive index, and sound velocity, within the temperature range of 293.15–333.15 K and at a pressure of 0.1 MPa were examined. The effect of the molar ratio of HBA to HBD, the type of anion, and the length of the alkyl chain were studied and analysed in regard to physicochemical properties. In this work, the solubility of carbon dioxide in DESs derived from 2-(butylamino)ethanol, 3-aminopropan-1-ol (AP), and 2-(methylamino)ethanol (MAE) was measured. The highest CO2 capacity was found for TEAC:MAE 1:10 DES characterized by the shortest alkyl chain length in both HBA and HBD molecules, the highest amine content, and the lowest viscosity. Additionally, the effect of water addition on carbon dioxide solubility was explored. The results showed that the influence of water on CO2 solubility varies with the type of DES. In general, this work highlighted that DESs can serve as effective media for carbon dioxide capture, and their performance can be tailored by changing the type of hydrogen bond acceptor or donor, their molar ratio and by the addition of water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ice crystal growth of water and its aqueous solution is the key phenomenon in food freezing. In this research, the effect of static magnetic field (SMF) on single ice crystal growth was investigated combing experiment and simulation. The ice crystal growth of water and NaCl-water solution under 0 - 15 mT SMF intensities were studied. The UV absorbance of water after SMF treatment was measured. Phase field model was adopted to simulate the ice crystal growth. The results show that SMF significantly inhibited the growth rate, while had little effect on the morphology and growth direction of ice crystals. SMF had a certain enhancement effect on the UV absorbance of deionized water. The proposed model could well simulate the ice crystal growth under different SMF intensities. Combining experimental and simulation results, it can be inferred that SMF inhibits ice crystal growth by enhancing original hydrogen bonds and reducing free energy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Researchers worldwide have shown significant interest in doping glasses with rare-earth ions. This is particularly intriguing because rare-earth ions are extensively used to enhance the optical properties of host glasses, capitalizing on their unique spectroscopic characteristics due to optical transitions within the intra-4f shell. An in-depth review was conducted on various glass fabrication methods, such as sputtering, solgel, chemical vapor deposition, ion exchange, and direct melt quenching. The study emphasized the physical, optical, and photoluminescence properties of glasses made from glass formers co-doped with rareearth ions. Understanding the interrelationship between these properties is crucial for optimizing material performance across various technological applications. The research highlights the broad applicability of rare-earth-doped glasses in fields like white light emission, photonic devices, solid-state lasers, optical fiber communication, and biomedical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the current study, multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were added to the crumb rubber concrete (CRC) to enhance its physical, mechanical, and fire-resistance properties. A comprehensive investigation into thirteen distinct concrete mixes incorporating rubber aggregate (RA) at levels of 5, 10, and 15%, combined with varying percentages (0, 0.1, 0.2, and 0.3%) of MWCNTs particles, evaluated workability, density, compressive strength, split tensile strength, and flexural strength of MWCNT-mixed CRC at ambient and elevated temperatures (200, 400, and 600 °C). The study demonstrated that MWCNTs, used as a partial substitute for cement in CRC, significantly improved concrete properties, enhancing density, flexural strength, split tensile strength, and compressive strength. Notably, adding 0.2% MWCNTs to CRC resulted in remarkable increases: 0.96% in density, 21.91% in 28-day compressive strength, 10.19% in split tensile strength, and 15% in flexural strength. The workability of CRC decreased with the inclusion of MWCNTs. Furthermore, results indicated that MWCNTs bolstered the residual compressive, tensile, and flexural strengths of rubberized concrete at elevated temperatures, with substantial improvements particularly evident at 200 °C. The present work was focused on the analysis of feasibility of MWCNT mixed CRC toward sustainable construction practices by comparing its physical, mechanical, and fire resistance properties with conventional concrete. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to comprehensively investigate and characterize the physical, mechanical, and molecular properties of gelatin films made from goat skin incorporated with konjac glucomannan. The study involved three treatment groups, labeled GG/KG1, GG/KG2, and GG/KG3, which included konjac glucomannan at concentrations of 0, 10, and 20% (w/w), respectively. Glycerol at 20% (w/w) was also included as a plasticizer. All samples underwent homogenization and ultrasonic treatment. The addition of konjac glucomannan to the gelatin-based film resulted in changes such as increased thickness (0.033 - 0.093 mm), opacity (0.9910 - 1.0433 mm-1), color L* (92.45 - 92.77), color difference (48.13 - 48.38), swelling (65.53 - 69.47%), and contact angle (86.92 - 127.85o). Conversely, a decrease was observed in water activity (0.521 - 0.463 Aw), moisture content (9.87 - 9.62%), tensile strength (0.0171 - 0.0118 N/mm²), elongation at break (5.91 - 4.52%), young’s modulus (0.0029 - 0.0026 N/mm²), WVTR (118.99 - 116.82 g/m². day), transparency (81.59 - 67.33%), and water resistance (34.47 - 30.53 %). Additionally, the peaks of amides A, B, I, II, and III exhibit both a shift and an increase in intensity, suggesting structural modifications and molecular interactions. The microstructure also indicated the presence of goat skin gelatin and konjac glucomannan cross-linked in the film formation. Therefore, the addition of konjac glucomannan modifies gelatin-based films, enhancing their suitability for food packaging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Key message: Hydraulic properties of wetwood differ from normal sapwood: hydraulic conductivity is null and water contained in wetwood is totally trapped. Wetwood could result from a bad healing of dead branches. Wetwood is a common phenomenon in silver fir (Abies alba Mill.), posing technical challenges for its industrial use. In this study, we thoroughly characterized the properties of this particular wood, investigating the mechanisms governing its formation and exploring its potential physiological relevance for trees. To address these objectives, we used a wide range of techniques, offering a comprehensive insight into the structure of wetwood at different scales, from cellular to whole-tree. Our results revealed significant variability in moisture distribution in the heartwood of the silver fir trees studied, suggesting the absence of a predefined distribution pattern. The physical properties of wetwood differ from those of sapwood, notably in terms of its hydraulic conductivity, which is null. In addition, our study demonstrated that the anatomical characteristics of wetwood are identical to those of normal dry heartwood, including features such as aspirated tori in bordered pits and the absence of nuclei. These results suggest a normal initial duraminization process followed by a progressive resaturation of the heartwood of silver fir. Taken together, these observations strongly suggest that the water present in wetwood is trapped and unavailable for use by the tree, particularly under conditions of prolonged drought. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper may be the first meta-analysis that presents a comprehensive synthesis of scientific works spanning the last five years, focusing on methodologies and results related to the analysis of nanocomposite using nanoparticles. The primary objective is to identify the optimal algorithm using software information and leading to better classification methodology. Specifically, this study comes up with the advantages and the drawbacks of the most used algorithms and proposes an enhancement and performance of Recurrent Neural Networks based on Long Short Term Memory (LSTM) neurons. Besides, a comparison of Deep Learning methods for the classification of polymeric nanoparticles, with polypropylene serving as a case study will be implemented. Experiment comparisons are conducted to assess with one physical property, later expanded to four properties and finally to eight properties. Neural networks, including Artificial Neural Networks (ANN), Recurrent Neural Networks (RNN), and Recurrent Neural Networks-Monte Carlo, are employed for simulations. The evaluation criteria encompass accuracy, calculation time, mean square error (MSE) and other metrics. The findings contribute to the selection of an optimal algorithm for the analysis of polymeric nanoparticles, emphasizing the potential of Deep Learning methodologies, particularly Recurrent Neural Networks Monte Carlo, in advancing classification accuracy and efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the production of needle-punched nonwoven fabrics, the direction of needle barbs is towards the tip of the needle. When the needle penetrates into the fabric, the barbs carry some fibres into the fabric and when it returns the barbs are empty. This means that, the needle works when it penetrates into the fabric and doesn't work when it returns. Using a bi-directional barb needle in the needle-punch process was proposed as an idea with the theory that, the needle also works when returning (leaving the layer). This study investigates the physical properties of needle-punched nonwoven fabrics produced with unidirectional and bi-directional needle types. Effects of needle penetration depth (NPD), strokes per minute (SPM), and needle type (N1, N2) on properties such as gram per square meter (GSM), thickness, fabric density (FD), and static puncture resistance (SPR) are examined. An experiment with 19 runs was designed using response surface methodology and optimal design with two quantitative factors, including NPD and SPM, and one qualitative factor containing needle types. In addition, four responses were measured and reported, including GSM, thickness, FD, and SPR. Test results show that needle N2 produces a fabric with lower FD, higher GSM, thickness, and SPR in comparison to needle N1, and was selected in optimization process with a desirability value of 0.872 against 0.688 for needle N1. The improved fabric properties of needle N2 may be exploited for the economic benefits of the nonwoven fabric producers or textile industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of new types of raw materials to improve the quality and nutritional value of products is an important trend in flour confectionery. Flour from extruded sunflower seed kernels (FESSK), the by-product of oil production, was used as a new ingredient in muffin formulation. Analysis of physicochemical and nutritional properties of muffins prepared with FESSK, which was added in the amounts of 5, 10, and 15% to the total weight of mixture of wheat and rye flours, as well as their sensory evaluation, were performed. According to the sensory evaluation, the muffins with FESSK had a pleasant, nutty and sunflower aroma, and the best results were shown by muffins with 10% of FESSK. Addition of FESSK, 10%, led to an increase of the content of protein by 24.7%, fat by 16.9%, fiber by 23.3%, ash by 16.9%, and a decrease of content of total carbohydrates by 5.2% and sugars by 16.2%. Enriched muffins had improved texture characteristics, particularly, smooth, crack-free surface, soft, and elastic crumb with well-developed porosity and small, evenly distributed, thin-walled pores. The FESSK could be recommended as an ingredient for improving the nutritional and technological properties of flour confectionery products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study aimed to create a cost-effective pregnancy detection model for cattle by combining early pregnancy predicting parameters and focusing on changes in saliva's physical properties. Saliva from 100 pregnant and 100 non-pregnant cows in Charsadda, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Pakistan, were collected using pre-weighed sponges attached to a thin, flexible metal rod placed in the cows' mouths for 30 seconds, then processed at farms. Results showed that pregnant cows had significantly higher mean pH (9.325 ± 0.13) than non-pregnant cows (8.133 ± 0.13). Conversely, non-pregnant cows exhibited higher mean specific gravity (0.000173±0.00) and conductivity (0.666 ± 0.029) compared to pregnant cows (0.000146±0.00 and 0.538 ± 0.028). Additionally, non-pregnant cows had higher buffer capacity (7.40 ± 0.10) and flow rate (91.92±1.13) than pregnant cows (2.42 ± 0.151 and 91.92±1.13). Six distinct salivary crystallisation patterns were identified: branches, ferns, fir, dots, none, and combinations. Fern-like (26.19%) and branch-fern (19.04%) patterns were predominant in pregnant cows, while branch-fir (29.03%) and branch-fern (22.58%) were common in nonpregnant cows. These variations are likely influenced by hormonal changes during pregnancy. Further research is needed to validate these findings for early pregnancy diagnosis in cattle and potentially other animal species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this research, the distribution and physical characteristics of soils are the main topics. The inverse distance weighting (IDW) method was used in conjunction with GIS to forecast the physical properties of the soil. This study involved a detailed analysis of 65 soil samples collected across Kirkuk City to investigate its physical properties and behavior. Through the creation of 10 digital maps using the IDW technique, the distribution of soil types, such as gravel, sand, silt, clay, dry density, specific gravity, Atterberg limits, and water content were illustrated. Variations in these properties were observed across different sectors of the city, with specific districts showing notable differences. The gravel content was particularly high in certain northeastern zones, while sand was the predominant soil type overall, and the silt content exhibited significant variability. Clay content, which is concentrated in the eastern and southern regions, has implications for agriculture and contamination control. A direct correlation between the clay content and Atterberg limits was observed, with the liquid and plastic limits (LL and PL) increasing with clay content. Additionally, dry density was highest in the northwestern region, and the water content generally remained high except in specific areas. The specific gravity values exhibited consistency across most regions. These findings offer valuable insights for geotechnical and engineering practices in Kirkuk City and are supported by a cross-validation technique that assesses the relationships between basic and studied physical attributes. The coefficient of determination, R squared (R²), for the IDW maps indicated varying degrees of model fit to the data, with lower root mean square error (RMSE) values suggesting improved prediction accuracy. Overall, the study revealed strong correlations ranging from good to excellent across the examined regions. The use of GIS techniques has demonstrated significant effectiveness in modeling and quantifying soil properties, offering benefits in protecting and improving soil health through effective soil management strategies and treatments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increase in demand and the acute supply of good quality wood has created a gradual shift towards fast-growing species with low to medium-strength properties. Modification methods are often necessary to improve the properties of such timbers thereby expanding their application potential. As the mechanical properties of wood are strongly dependent on its density, artificially increasing the density is a good wood modification strategy for quality enhancement. Wood densification helps improve the mechanical properties of low to medium-density woods with limited structural applications in building and construction. The structure of the wood changes when the porosity is reduced through impregnation with chemicals, mechanical compression or their combination, thereby increasing the density and altering the material properties. The mechanical densification of wood follows three basic steps i.e., plasticisation, compression and fixation of the deformed or densified stage. The different processes adopted for wood densification have been described in this paper. The properties of densified wood are dependent on the process parameters such as pressure, temperature, treatment duration and the densification method used. The properties of the densified wood, their applications and future areas of research are also explored in this review. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Similar to water-in-oleogel emulsions, glycerol-in-oleogel emulsions may be of food value and can also be used as carriers for neither hydrophilic nor lipophilic substances (e.g. resveratrol, etc.). Meanwhile, it is not clear that whether the natural wax can facilitate the formation of such non-aqueous emulsions. This study approached the influence of different concentrations of rice bran wax (RBW) on the physical properties and stability of resveratrol-loaded glycerol-in-oleogel emulsions. The results displayed that the utilization of higher levels of RBW could result in the formation of emulsions with larger droplet sizes, more elastic behaviours, better thermal stabilities, and more needle-like β' crystals formed in the outer continuous phase. Moreover, a higher retention of resveratrol and a lower oxidation rate were observed for the emulsions prepared with higher levels of RBW, indicating the emulsions containing higher quantities of RBW could possess better storage and oxidative stability. These findings allowed the better understanding of the concentration-dependent properties of oleogel-based non-aqueous emulsions, which might have great potential applications in food industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Natural stone is a pivotal element in shaping local architecture and defining the region’s characteristics. While numerous studies delve into Latvia’s architectural artistry and historical discourse, any comprehensive study summarising the distinctive architectural stones, their utilisation, and the challenges concerning their long-term preservation is still absent. The current study outlines Latvia’s architectural stone heritage, identifying granite, dolostone, and sandstone as the primary stone types used. Source areas of these major lithologies are discussed in the context of local geology as well as historical, political, and social development of the country. The importance of the original treatment of dolostones and sandstones used in finer architectural elements or sculptures is discussed in the context of their susceptibility to degradation, providing laboratory data to illuminate the distinctive characteristics of these two lithologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Global industry relies on a linear approach for economic growth. One step towards transformation is the implementation of a circular economy and the reclamation of anthropogenic deposits. This study examines two filter dusts, one German and one Argentinian, from the production of calcined clays, representing such deposits. Investigations and comparisons of untreated and calcined filter dust and the industrial base product pave the way for using waste product filter dust as supplementary cementitious material (SCM). In the future, some twenty thousand tons of contemporary waste could potentially be used annually as SCM. The results confirm the suitability of one material as a full-fledged SCM without further treatment and a measured pozzolanic reactivity on par with fly ash. Sample materials were classified into two groups: one was found to be a reactive pozzolanic material; the other was characterized as filler material with minor pozzolanic reactivity. Additionally, important insights into the physical properties of oven dust and heat-treated oven dust were obtained. For both material groups, an inversely proportional relationship with rising calcination temperatures was found for the specific surface area and water demand. The impact of the calcination temperature on both the particle size distribution and the potential to optimize the reactivity performance is presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the crystallization behavior, microstructure, and mechanical and physical properties of CaO-Al2O3-SiO2 (CAS)-based glass-ceramics prepared from eggshell waste, zeolite, and pumice were investigated using X-ray diffraction (XRD), differential thermal analysis (DTA), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), a nanoindentation tester, and the Archimedes method. XRD analysis revealed that anorthite and wollastonite crystalline phases precipitated in the glass-ceramic samples after sintering at temperatures of 1000 °C and 1100 °C. However, diffraction peaks belonging to the wollastonite phase disappeared after sintering at 1200 °C, while peaks representing the pseudowollastonite phase were detected together with anorthite in the samples. SEM images showed that the crystals become coarser as the sintering temperature increased, with the crystal morphology transitioning from needle-like to rod-like. The crystallization activation energy (Ea) and Avrami parameter (n), both kinetic parameters, were calculated from DTA curves plotted at different heating rates using the Kissinger, Ozawa, and Matusita approaches. The results indicated that the crystallization activation energy of the CASZ glass ranged from 406 to 428 kJ mol−1, while that of the CASP glass varied from 356 to 378 kJ mol−1, depending on the method used. Additionally, the Avrami constant (n) was calculated to be 3.33 for CASZ and 2.89 for CASP. The hardness and bulk density of the glass-ceramic samples were significantly affected by the porosity present in the structure, with the highest hardness and bulk density values achieved for the CASZ glass-ceramic sample at the initial sintering temperature of 1000 °C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the past three decades, global aquaculture production has significantly increased, emphasizing the need for sustainable and cost‐effective alternatives to traditional fish meal in aquafeed. This study's objective was to elucidate the impact of utilizing a combination of fish and crustacean byproducts—namely, smoked salmon (Salmo salar) skins (SSs), smoked salmon trimmings (STs), and shrimp (Litopenaeus setiferus) heads (SHs)—as primary ingredients in pelleted aquafeed. Importantly, this work focuses on nonextruded pellets, where the physical properties are more influenced by ingredient composition compared to extruded pellets. The tested formulations were not nutritionally comprehensive for any specific commercial aquaculture species, as the goal of this study was to highlight the effect of the byproducts on pellet physical integrity. SH and de‐oiled solid fractions of SS and ST were dehydrated for 24 h at 60°C, ground into dried powders, and formulated into six samples at a 1:1 (w/w) ratio and one sample at a 1:1:1 ratio. Potato starch (80 g/kg) was added to each sample, along with varying deionized (DI) water amounts before steam conditioning, pelletizing, and drying. Analyses included pellet nutrient composition, floatability, durability, water stability, bulk density, water absorption index (WAI), and water solubility index (WSI). Results revealed that SS pellets exhibited 97% floatability at 1 min, decreasing to 70% at 60 min. SS and ST combinations showed slow sinking behavior, while all other formulations sank quickly. Pellets containing SH had lower water stability (65.65% ± 4.44% to 0.05% ± 0.07%), in contrast to over 92% for SS and ST pellets. Durability ranged from 98.48% ± 0.37% for SS to 75.29% ± 5.82% for SH and ST combinations, further underlining the significant impact of byproduct choice on pellet performance. Overall, the inclusion of SS or ST and their combination as primary ingredients for pelleted aquafeed produced pellets that scored well on important quality parameters, while pellets containing SH performed poorly. This information may be used in the development of nutritionally comprehensive nonextruded aquafeeds containing SS and/or ST to conduct feeding trials with commercially relevant species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights Hybrid composites have attracted considerable interest from researchers due to their balanced combination of ecological and mechanical properties. This paper examines the physical and mechanical behavior of hybrid composites reinforced with nano‐silica and woven jute/kenaf fiber. The hybrid composites were fabricated using hand layup techniques with varying weight percentages of nano‐silica (1.5, 3, 4.5, and 6 wt%) and three different fiber layering sequences (JKJK, JKKJ, and KJJK). The mechanical properties, including tensile, flexural, interlaminar shear strength, impact resistance, and hardness, along with the physical properties such as density and moisture absorption, are evaluated for the fabricated composite samples. The jute/kenaf composite fabricated with KJJK layering sequence and 4.5 wt% nano‐silica particles exhibited reduced void content (1.983%) and low moisture absorption (4.87%). The addition of 4.5 wt% nano‐silica to KJJK composites achieved a maximum tensile strength of 86.38 ± 2.9 MPa and a maximum tensile modulus of 4.238 ± 0.094 GPa. In KJJK hybrid composites, the incorporation of 4.5 wt% nano‐silica led to a 70.11% increase in flexural strength and a 47.05% increase in flexural modulus. Surface morphological analysis of the specimens was conducted using SEM to examine cracks, fiber pullout, and different failure modes within the hybrid composite. Developed the jute/kenaf composites with 1.5, 3, 4.5, and 6 wt% of nano‐silica. Nano‐silica into jute/kenaf composites reduced void content and moisture absorption. The composites with 4.5 wt% nano‐silica had better mechanical properties. Layering sequence jute and kenaf affect the mechanical properties. Morphological analysis confirms the improved adhesion with nano‐silica. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biochar, a carbon-rich by-product of organic matter pyrolysis, has a variety of physiochemical properties beside a variety of applications. This review highlights some physical and chemical characteristics of herbaceous, woody, and sewage waste biochar under different pyrolysis conditions, as well as soil and foliar applications of biochar. The controlling role of pyrolysis temperature was the reason for selecting the discussed biochar types in the study. This review concludes that increasing pyrolysis temperature mainly raised the values of some chemical properties of the biochar, such as pH, electrical conductivity (EC), ash content, total phosphorus (TP), and a few values of physical properties like porosity and specific surface area (SSA). On the other hand, yield and total nitrogen (TN) decreased with rising pyrolysis temperature. Among biochar application methods to soil, mixing biochar with soil before planting is one of the best methods of application, and in most cases, biochar reapplication improved soil properties, while foliar application of biochar has positive effects on plant growth and yield parameters, ranging from low rates to the highest ones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study provides multidisciplinary research on the alteration of petrographic, mineralogical, geochemical characteristics, and physical properties of Himachal gneiss due to weathering. Three different weathering grades fresh, slightly, and moderately weathered gneiss are collected from Kullu, Himachal Pradesh, India. The petrographic and mineralogical analyses are done by thin section and XRD analyses. The microstructural and geochemical studies of gneiss samples were performed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray fluorescence (XRF) respectively. The petrographic images revealed a large amount of alteration in the plagioclase due to weathering. The pervasive sericitization of plagioclase is observed in moderately weathered gneiss samples. The quartz grains are intact and only minor fracturing in some quartz grains is observed in moderately weathered gneiss samples. The SEM images indicate that the inter-granular and intra-granular micro-cracks increase with the weathering grades. The XRF results are used to obtain the different chemical weathering indices and their suitability for Himachal gneiss. Among twenty-five chemical weathering indices, the CIA, CIW, alkaline ratio, PIA, LOI, and WI show a suitable trend and can be used for assessing the weathering of Himachal gneiss. In addition, alterations in the physical properties of gneiss are observed due to weathering. The bulk, dry, saturated densities and slake durability index decrease while the porosity increases with the progressive weathering of gneiss. The progressive weathering significantly reduces the gneiss's uniaxial compressive strength (UCS). For all three weathering grades of gneiss, the maximum and minimum values of UCS were observed at 90˚ and 30˚ foliations, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The common wisdom in the literature about clinker aggregate (CA) is that it improves the performance properties of mortar or concrete to some extent. The current study, in this context, investigated the physical characteristics and mechanical performances of alkali-activated composites (AACs) made entirely with CA. The CA was used in three particle sizes of 0–2 mm (named No.10), 2–4 mm (named No.5), and 4–8 mm (named medium). To examine the impact of the fine CA-size fraction on the characteristics of AAC, No.10 CA was partially replaced by No.5 CA up to 50%, while the content of the medium CA was kept constant in all AAC mixtures. Moreover, to evaluate the influence of the 8-h curing temperature on the performance of the AACs, different temperature-based curing strategies (ambient, 45, and 75 °C) were applied to the AACs. In the production of AACs, granulated blast furnace slag was employed as an aluminosilicate-rich raw material, and a sodium silicate and sodium hydroxide combination was used as an alkaline activator. Physical properties (flowability, water absorption, capillary water absorption, and dry unit weight), and 8-h strength performances (flexural and compressive) were determined. Furthermore, to monitor the influence of high temperatures on the characteristics of the AAC, the mixtures were exposed to elevated temperatures (200, 500, and 800 °C). In SEM image analysis, it was determined that spherical CSH gels were formed in the heat-cured AACs. It has been observed that the geopolymerization products decompose in AACs exposed to 800 °C. To evaluate statistically the experimental results, a multi-factor analysis of variance (ANOVA) was also applied. The results revealed that increasing the coarser fine aggregate fraction led to higher water absorption and apparent porosity capacities and lower unit weight. Besides, strength performance was improved by applying a heat-curing strategy to the AAC, whereas a decrease was observed by increasing the No.5 CA fraction. There was a remarkable reduction in compressive strength and considerable loss of mass when the AAC mixes were exposed to high temperatures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fullerene has been acknowledged as a significant nanocarbon nanofiller enhancing the imperative polymer characteristics. Since, thermoplastic polymers constitute a large group of polymeric materials, fullerene has been used as reinforcement in these matrices mostly via non-covalent means. This state-of-the-art review article summarizes thermoplastic polymer nanocomposites reinforced with fullerene nano-additives without involving any covalent interactions. Accordingly, thermoplastic polymer/fullerene nanocomposites of interest have non-covalent or physical interactions in the matrix-nanofiller such as van der Waals forces, electrostatic interactions, hydrogen bonding, and aromatic stacking interactions. Number of thermoplastic polymers including polyamide, polyurethanes, and block copolymers have been non-covalently or physically reinforced with the fullerene molecules. Ensuing high performance thermoplastic polymer/fullerene nanocomposites exhibited improved microstructure, electrical, mechanical, thermal, and other physical properties. Enhancements in the thermal, mechanical, and electrical properties of the thermoplastic/fullerene nanomaterials were found dependent upon the nanofiller contents, orientations, interfacial effects, and processing. Consequently, the polyamide/fullerene systems were found efficient to enhance the glass transition up to 260°C, in addition to optimum mechanical properties. Polyurethane/fullerene systems performed better for improved tensile strength and young's modulus features up to 90 MPa and 48 GPa, respectively. System based on poly (methyl methacrylate) and fullerene has resulted in high thermal degradation temperature in the range of 501-633°C with fine electrical conductivity of 1.3 Scm−1. Using combination of fullerene and graphene nanofiller (due to synergistic effects) has been found to improve the electrical conductivity considerably in the range of 1.8–2.5 Scm−1 for a polystyrene and block copolymer system. However, attaining fine fullerene nanoparticle dispersion of non-covalently reinforced matrices have been found important affecting the final nanocomposite properties. Consequently, processability and essential characteristics of non-covalently fullerene filled nanocomposites can be influenced due to nanoparticle aggregation. Hence, the physical property enhancement potential of physical linking between the non-covalently linked thermoplastics-fullerene has been portrayed in this article. Research on non-covalently interacted thermoplastic polymer/fullerene nanocomposites revealed technical potential ranging from energy/electronic devices to engineering and biomedical sectors. This review article can be a useful guide for the field researchers towards the development of advanced systems using non-covalently linked polymer/fullerene nanomaterials for future technical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

β -In2S3 thin films (S/In = 1 , 2 and 4) were prepared using the pneumatic spray pyrolysis (PSP) route to analyze the effect of the S/In ratio on the physical properties. These properties were conducted using the photothermal deflection spectroscopy (PDS) method. The PDS signal amplitudes as a function of wavelength show multiple reflections which appear for all prepared In2S3 films. Such multiple reflections indicate homogeneity and high crystalline quality of the films. The deduced values of the optical band gap vary in the range 2.55–2.65 eV. The highest thermal diffusivity is obtained for S/In = 2. The product (μ ⋅ τ) is found in order of 10 − 8 cm − 1 /V. The estimated carrier diffusion lengths are 0.06, 0.11 and 0.09 μ m for films corresponding to S/In = 1 , 2 and 4, respectively. Defect absorption in β -In2S3 films is also investigated by PDS. Five absorption peaks are observed. These absorption peaks contain defect information in the band gap. Hence, this work evidences that β -In2S3 is a multi-functional material that can be used in optoelectronic, photovoltaic and visible-irradiation photocatalyst applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper brings out an innovation in fabricating porous magnesia‐stabilized zirconia components by infiltrating free‐flowing suspension into polyurethane foam. The process enables the production of samples with different levels of porosity and pore structure by easily controlling the amount of slurry infiltrated into the foam. The process uses Isobam, a nontoxic binder, which makes the fabrication simple and environment‐friendly. Samples with five different levels of total porosity ranging from 41.7% to 62.4% were fabricated. Microstructural studies revealed multimodal pore structure comprising both open and closed porosities. Measurements on thermal properties and compressive strength of the samples showed that the sample with the lowest porosity exhibited a thermal conductivity of 0.495 W/mK and a compressive strength of 45.7 MPa. The measured values of thermal conductivity of the samples with different porosity levels could be described by modified effective medium theory. Present work opens up enormous possibilities for economical industrial production of porous magnesia‐stabilized zirconia components for biomedical and thermal insulation applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scientific and technical developments toward improving bio-oil are under investigation, with an emphasis on research into upgrading bio-oil bitumen. The current study presents a new development of eco-friendly bio-oil bitumen produced using some local materials as well as studying its physical and rheological properties. Two bitumen sources with penetration grade of 40/50 were used, Dora and Nasiriyah, which were locally obtained from Dora and Nasiriyah refineries in Iraq. Biobitumen was prepared by vacuum distillation after esterification of waste cooking oil, which was freely collected from local households and cafeterias. Methanol, sulfuric acid (as a catalyst agent), and zeolite were used in the biobitumen preparation process. Physical and rheological properties were tested in evaluating the performance. The physical tests included viscosity, softening point, and penetration, and the rheological properties involved sweep frequency and creep tests using a dynamic shear rheometer (DSR). Three percentages (10%, 20%, and 30%) of biobitumen were blended with aged petroleum bitumen, which was obtained from excessive aging of the virgin bitumen by thin-film oven test (TFOT). It was found that a ratio of 1∶5 of biobitumen and aged petroleum bitumen exhibited the best performance. Results also highlighted that the new modified bitumen with biobitumen showed superior performance compared with that of traditional bitumen, taking into consideration the influence of biobitumen percentage and level of the age of the virgin bitumen. The current development and outcomes of the study can be considered as promising and encouraging for further investigations into sustainable and environmentally friendly production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVES: As patients are instructed to wear thermoplastic retainers for the rest of their lives, the durability of the materials is a critical factor in evaluating whether the expense is justified. This study examined the physical and mechanical properties of three different thermoplastic retainer materials before and after thermoforming (BT and AT). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Clear Advantage Series I, Clear Advantage Series II, and Leone types were used, with each material having a thickness of 1 mm. The materials' tensile force, hardness, and water absorption tests have been measured for 90 thermoformed and 90 non-thermoformed specimens (30 specimens from each material). RESULTS: The tensile force, hardness, and water absorption values of all the materials differed significantly (P ≤ 0.05) BT. Additionally, the majority of the materials showed significant differences in water absorption, hardness, and tensile force (P ≤ 0.05) AT, except the Leone materials, and Clear Advantage Series I did not significantly differ in the case of hardness value. All studied materials showed an increase in hardness and water absorption AT (P ≤ 0.05). At the same time, all of the studied materials showed a significant decrease in tensile force after thermoforming. CONCLUSION: Thermoforming increases the material's water absorption while decreasing its stiffness, affecting its mechanical and physical properties. Clear Advantage Series II (PP) stood out with superior flexibility, wear resistance, and minimal water absorption compared to other materials, highlighting its durability and superiority. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles (NP) are generating substantial attention across multiple areas due to the distinctive Structural and Molecular Features. Predicting and understanding these properties is crucial for designing effective applications in areas such as catalysis, sensors, and biomedical devices. Nanotechnology has emerged as a pivotal field, particularly in materials science, where the unique properties of NP are harnessed for various applications. Understanding and predicting the physical properties of NP, such as those in ZnO, is crucial for optimizing their performance. For the classification approach, we introduced a novel method, Bat based Random Forest (B-RF) to enhance the accuracy and efficiency of predicting major physical properties of ZnO NP. In this research, we utilize a relevant dataset encompassing various physical properties of ZnO NP. The model is fine-tuned to achieve optimal performance. The proposed Random Forest-based classification approach demonstrates superior predictive performance compared to traditional methods. Our model attains high accuracy and reliability in predicting diverse physical properties of ZnO NP. By the end of the study, our suggested approach outperforms other methods in terms of Accuracy (92.8%), Sensitivity (90.8%), and Specificity (93.9%). This can contribute to improve the overall performance and functioning of the existing model in a better way. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recycled powder (RP) is the primary by-product generated during the reclamation process of construction and demolition waste (CDW). There is existing literature on the use of RP as supplemental cementitious materials (SCMs) in cement-based materials, but a comprehensive evaluation on the characteristics of RP generated from concrete waste has been missing until now. This paper critically reviews the use of RP from concrete waste in cement-based materials, as concrete waste makes up a significant amount of CDW and other components have designated recycling methods. In this sense, this study conducted a critical analysis on the use of RP as an SCM, using detailed literature research. The technology used for producing RP is detailed along with its chemical, mineralogy, and microstructural characteristics. Fresh-state properties in cementitious matrices with RP are introduced with the view of mechanical grinding, thermal activation, carbonation, chemical treatment, biomineralization, mineral addition, nano activation, and carbonation. The review highlights the significant potential of utilizing RP in cement-based materials. Specifically, RP can be advantageously utilized in the production of value-added construction materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Crushed stone is one of the most exploited and important mineral raw material. Emphasis is given to determination of mineralogical and petrographic properties, of two genetically different rocks of silicate composition, commonly used as crushed stone for road constructions, as their physical properties depend on them. First is amphibolite from Vetovo, and second is basalt from Vratnik locality, both sourced from Croatia. Tests conducted according to European and Croatian norms evaluated the real and apparent density, open and total porosity, and water absorption of stones. The relationship between mineralogical and physical properties led to the following conclusions: the open porosity values of amphibolite samples are low, which is a consequence of the medium to high degree of metamorphism, (plagioclase and hornblenda), sosiritization, and undisturbed rock features. The total water saturation was achieved in a brief time, confirming this statement. The basalts have different porosity and water absorption values, which are consequences of differences their textural-structural properties (glassy, intersertal or intergranular groundmass), amount of amygdules, presence or absence of chlorite/volcanic glass. Furthermore, the percentage of plagioclase in the modal composition differs, and the plagioclase itself has been altered, and the amount of clay, sericite and calcite vary in two different varieties of basalt. Compared to amphibolites, basalts have notably higher water absorption values as well. Accordingly, the studied amphibolite has water absorption less than 0.5% and is suitable for use in a road construction application for wearing course in the asphalt pavement, and studied basalt is not.Article Highlights: Properties of amphibolite and basalt samples from Croatia were determined according to the European and Croatian norms. Mineralogical and petrographical properties significantly influencing the physical properties and they must be determined in detail. Amphibolite (Vetovo locality) is suitable as crushed stone for wearing course in the asphalt pavement in road construction, while basalt (Vratnik locality) is not. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two series of europium-doped zinc borotellurite glass embedded with nickel oxide nanoparticles (NiO NPs) in the composition (60-x) TeO2-30B2O3-10ZnO-xEu2O3 (x = 0.5, 1,1.5, 2, 2.5 mol%) and (58-x) TeO2-30B2O3-10ZnO-2Eu2O3-xNiO (x = 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5 mol%) are prepared using conventional melt-quenching technique. The amorphous nature of the prepared glasses is confirmed with the aid of the X-ray diffraction technique. Transmission electron microscopy investigations confirmed the presence of spherical and non-spherical NiO NPs with an average size of around 4.6 nm distributed and growing uniformly in the glassy matrix. The lattice spacing was inferred from high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, the estimated distance between the crystal lattice spacing being about 0.198 nm, representing the NiO NPs' fingerprint identification. The elemental weight fractions of the samples were confirmed by energy dispersive X-ray analysis and these results geared to the determination of adequate atomic number and photon energy response of the samples. The UV–Vis-NIR absorption spectra show seven bands corresponding to transition bands from ground states 7F0 and 7F1 to excited states 7F1 → 5G2, 7F1 → 5D3, 7F0 → 5D2, 7F0 → 5D1, 7F1 → 5D1, 7F0 → 7F6 and 7F1 → 7F6. The infrared to visible frequency down-conversion emission under 395 nm excitation shows six emission bands centered at 519.77 nm, 539.44 nm, 574 nm, 600.25 nm, 634.4 nm, and 683.69 nm, these peaks' positions are related to the transitions 5D1 → 7F0, 5D1 → 7F1, 5D0 → 7F1, 5D0 → 7F2, 5D0 → 7F3 and 5D0 → 7F4, respectively. The bonding parameter (δ) exhibits a positive sign for all TBZE glass samples, showing that the Eu3+ ligand possesses covalent bonding characteristics. The magnetic properties of TBZEN glass were interpreted using VSM, the highest Ms content was obtained when 2 mol% of NiO NP content was embedded in the glass composite and the highest Mr content was obtained for 1.5 mol% of NiO NPs. The maximum possible magnetization ratio Mr/Ms 2.77 was achieved for the glass sample with 1.5 mol% NiO NPs. These findings reveal that the europium-doped zinc borotellurite glass embedded with NiO NPs can be a promising candidate for storage device application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soft clay in the offshore area of the Yangtze River estuary has been investigated considering its basic physical properties. Forty-five unconfined compressive strength tests were conducted on the remolded marine soft clay to investigate the impacts of curing time T, water content w, plasticity index IP, and clay particle content ρc on the thixotropic static shear strength ratio As of the marine soft clay from the Yangtze River estuary. Results show that the stress--strain curves were primarily strain hardening and strain softening curve types. Unconfined compressive strength qu increased with an increase in T. All specimens with different basic physical properties were capable of thixotropic strength recovery. When T = 0-28 days, As increased rapidly, while for T > 28 days, As of most specimens increased slightly or tended to stabilize. The impacts of w, Ip and ρc on As do not follow a consistent pattern, but there is a strong correlation between As and w/wL (wL is the liquid-limit water content). For w/wL < 0.75, As increased with increasing w/wL, whereas for w/wL ≥0.75, As decreased with increasing w/wL. We proposed a simple and widely applicable power function prediction model for the As of the soft clay from the Yangtze River estuary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the molecular structure models of four ionic liquids were created, the reverse nonequilibrium molecular dynamics simulation (RNEMD) approach was used to predict their densities and viscosities, and their thermal conductivity was simulated using the non-equilibrium molecular dynamic simulation method (NEMD). The calculated results of ionic liquid densities were compared with the data in the literature; most of the variances are around 2.5%, and the maximum relative deviation was less than 6.27%; viscosity values were compared with the experimental data, with a maximum relative deviation of −8.96% and a minimum relative deviation of −2.72%. The simulated thermal conductivity has a good linear relationship with respect to temperature and pressure, which is in good agreement. This study provides a reference for molecular dynamics simulation to measure the physical properties of ionic liquids, which is important for the development of ionic liquids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Glass ionomer cement (GIC) is one of the most widely used restorative materials for temporary fillings and reconstructions in dentistry, but it has relatively poor mechanical properties that make its use limited, especially in places subject to high pressure. Thus, to extend the applicability of GIC, samples based on SiO2, P2O5, Al2O3, CaF2, and NaF were prepared with the addition of calcium oxide CaO extracted from natural sources (oyster shells) in different ratios of 0, 5, 10, 15, 20, and 25% wt. The suggested glass samples were evaluated, and their physical and mechanical properties were compared. XRD, SEM, and FTIR were performed on the samples. 24 specimens were prepared for each test in order to assess the mechanical properties as per the specific requirements. The tests included measuring bending strength, elastic modulus, adjusted direct tensile strength, absorption, water solubility, and diffusion coefficients after the specimens were stored in distilled water for 60 days. All calculations were carried out in accordance with standard procedures. The findings indicated a slight improvement in the bending resistance of the recommended GIC. Glass modified with 20% by weight of calcium oxide was the best among the ratios in terms of the results obtained and compared to the traditional commercial type. The malleable strength of the sample was 54.121 MPa, while the flexural modulus increased, the tensile strength reached 10.154 MPa, and the solubility was 25.87 µg/mm3 after storage for 60 days. These indicate that the developed material is suitable for use as a dental restoration material when compared to international commercial cement specifications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility of incorporating natural mineral waters (NMW), including thermal water (TW) and bottled mineral water (BMW), into bread ('biju' type) to enhance its mineral content and explore their impacts on physicochemical, technological, biochemical, and chemical composition. NMW, rich in sodium, potassium, and magnesium, resulted in bread formulations with higher contents of these minerals and greater total mineral levels, thus potentially enriching food products. Proximate composition analysis showed no significant differences in moisture, proteins, carbohydrates, and energy, except for lipids and soluble sugars. Texture analysis revealed that water type influenced textural properties, with salt content affecting hardness, springiness, and cohesiveness. Viability analysis of Saccharomyces cerevisiae showed consistent results across formulations, suggesting water pH and mineral content did not significantly affect fermentation. In addition, bread formulations without added salt were developed to assess the potential of sodium-rich NMW as a natural source of salt. For these samples, and considering the parameters assessed, except for salt and sodium content, the differences observed were slight compared to salt-added formulations, highlighting NMW's potential to produce low-salt bread. These findings not only enhance the value of local resources but also offer an innovative and sustainable strategy for utilizing NMW springs across Europe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current focus has been shifted from artificial to natural fibers due to increasing environmental awareness and consciousness. In this regard, various types of natural fiber have been explored as potential reinforcement in composite materials. Pineapple leaf and kenaf fibers have been shown to have several outstanding characteristics over other natural fibers. This study examines the physical and mechanical properties of pineapple leaf and kenaf fabrics in plain weave architectures to determine their potential as reinforcement in composite laminates. A comprehensive characterization was performed on the two types of woven fabrics. Moreover, the tensile properties of both dry and wet woven fabrics were identified in two different orientations. The findings showed that the fabric density and weight of PALF were slightly higher than kenaf fabrics. However, the yarn size, crimp level, and fabric thickness of PALF were smaller than kenaf. In terms of tensile properties, the tensile strength and modulus of fabrics in the warp direction were higher than in the weft direction, regardless of fiber type. Fabrics at an off-axis angle demonstrated the lowest tensile strength and modulus but exhibited the highest tensile strain. In addition, it was found that the moisture absorption of the fabrics deteriorated their tensile strength and modulus but increased the tensile strain. Overall, PALF fabrics with lower crimp levels and higher mechanical properties outperformed kenaf fabrics, and thus, PALF fabrics have a higher potential to be the reinforcement for biocomposites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this research the synthesis of graphene oxide (GO) through the Hummers method, to obtain various percentage nanocomposite materials incorporating GO into polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) (2%GO/PVA, 3%GO/PVA, and 20%GO/PVA), and the detailed investigation of these composites’ morphological, structural, and optical characteristics using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR), Raman spectroscopy, and Scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The main goal of the presented work is to investigate how the physical properties change in the wide-range concentrations of the GO/PVA composite materials, as well as at different thermal annealing temperatures. From the XRD results, the space between the sheets is decreased by increasing the thermal annealing temperature. By the Halder-Wagner method, crystallite size and microstrain of the various percentages of GO/PVA were determined. The high microstrain and crystallite size belong to thermal annealed at 70°C of 3% GO/PVA (D = 8.50 nm/ε = 11%) and thermal annealed at 40°C of 20% GO/PVA (D = 13.70 nm/ε = 16 %). At room temperature and the highest annealing temperature, the microstrain value is minimal or equal to 0, because, its crystal structure is stable at low temperatures and it occurs as a result of relaxation due to rearrangement of the polymer chain at high temperatures. From Raman measurements, the ID/IG ratio for 2% and 3% GO/PVA composite materials increased with increasing temperature compared to the pristine GO. This indicates that the defect in the structure increases due to temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The research explored the influences of 2% and 4% heat‐treated fresh elderberry fruit mash supplement and 0.5% and 1% dried elderberry powder supplement before and after fermentation in kefir production on certain features of kefir beverage. Antioxidant activity, total monomeric anthocyanin, and total phenolic content were 16.69–75.67 (μmol TE/kg), 14.64–88.20 (mg cyn‐3‐gly/kg), and 167.94–531.33 mg GAE/kg in the samples during storage, respectively. Total phenolic content and antioxidant activity were higher in kefir samples produced with elderberry powder when compared to the other samples. It was determined that L* and b* increased with the decrease in the fruit supplement in kefir production, and L* and b* values were mostly higher in kefirs with fruit supplement before fermentation. The highest ACE inhibitor activity was observed in the kefir sample (1‐DEPre sample) with 1% dried elderberry supplement before fermentation on the first day of storage. It was determined that the general appreciation scores were above 3, and the samples produced mostly with dried elderberry powder were appreciated more when compared to the samples produced with fresh elderberry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Application of agricultural by-products in the functional food and beverage industry is currently gaining prominence. Banana (Musa spp) is a popular tropical fruit with global production of 124.97 million tonnes. The banana production industry contributes to large amount of solid waste/ banana by-products, such as, pseudostem and inflorescence. Palayankodan (Musa × paradisiaca Mysore AAB group), Nendran (Musa × paradisiaca AAB group) and Njalipoovan (Musa × paradisiaca AB group) are three popular and common cultivars in Kerala, a state in South India. The present study was aimed to extract the potential bioactive compounds from the pseudostem and inflorescence of the above-mentioned cultivars and to standardise the process of microencapsulation using spray drying. Ultrasonication assisted extraction using ethanol as solvent was carried out. The extract and wall material parameters were standardised for microencapsulation. The encapsulated powders were analysed for encapsulation yield, retention efficiency, physical properties, phytochemical composition, antioxidant potential and anti-diabetic activity. The encapsulation yields and retention efficiencies of the encapsulated powders were found to be approximately 75 and 70.51%, respectively. Results revealed that the powders exhibited lower bulk density, good solubility and reconstitutability. Scanning electron microscopy was also conducted to reveal the particle morphology. All the powders exhibited smooth, spherical shape, with no pores. The phenolic and flavonoid contents of the encapsulated pseudostem and inflorescence extract powders ranged from 2.75 to 3.13 mg GAE/ g of powder and 34.83 to 46.67 mg QE/g of powder, respectively. The present study also reported the in vitro bioactive properties, in terms of antioxidant and anti-diabetic activities of the encapsulated powders. The HPLC analysis of the microencapsulated powders revealed the presence of gallic acid, protocatechuic acid, trans cinnamic acid, trans ferulic acid, epicatechin and syringic acid. It is clear from the study that the encapsulated powders from banana by-products have a great potential to be utilised by the functional food industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oil palm trunk biochar (OPTB) serves as a flame-retardant additive aimed at enhancing the thermal stability of natural rubber (NR) latex foam. This study explores whether OPTB affects the physical and mechanical properties of specialty NR (SpNR) latex foam, specifically deproteinised NR (DPNR) latex foam and epoxidised NR (ENR) latex foam. The results indicate that the addition of OPTB up to 8 phr insignificantly increases the density of DPNR and ENR latex foams, but significantly at 16 phr and 24 phr (p < 0.05). Shore F hardness also shows a significant increase with OPTB loading (p < 0.05), while volume shrinkage decreases with higher OPTB loading (p < 0.05), thereby enhancing foam dimensional stability. The study also found that the addition of OPTB reduced the elasticity of both DPNR and ENR latex foams, resulting in higher hysteresis loss ratios as OPTB loading increased from 8 to 16 phr and 24 phr. The highest observed hysteresis loss ratio was 0.32 in DPNR latex foam loaded with 24 phr of OPTB. Additionally, OPTB loading up to 24 phr in DPNR latex foam decreased its rebound resilience from 66 to 55% and increased its vibration-damping ratio from 0.14 to 0.24. This implies that the addition of OPTB to SpNR latex foam alters its physical and mechanical properties, making it ideal for applications requiring good vibration damping and impact absorption, such as seat cushions and headliners for vehicles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Partial delignification of alder wood specimens was performed with alkaline sulfite and peracetic acid (PAA) methods, and subsequently the delignified samples were saturated with furfuryl alcohol, as an eco-friendly chemical. The aim of delignification before furfurylation was to facilitate the penetration of furfuryl alcohol into the cell wall, in order to overcome the weak mechanical properties and hydrophilicity of alder wood as a fast growing species. The results showed that alkaline delignification removed a lower percentage of lignin despite more significant mass loss as compared to peracetic acid delignification method, which indicates more carbohydrates degradation in alkaline delignification. Infrared spectroscopy also confirmed more retention of carbohydrates in the sample delignified with peracetic acid. The polymerization of furfuryl alcohol in the cell cavities decreased the access of water molecules to the hydroxyl groups of the cell wall, increased the contact angle, and decreasing surface wettability. This effect was more noticeable in the PAAdelignified samples. Mechanical tests revealed that the delignified samples with peracetic acid had higher mechanical strength and modulus, compared to the alkaline sulfite delignified samples. This was attributable to the maintenance of carbohydrates during the delignification process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A hybrid adhesive system composed of phenol-formaldehyde (PF) resin and polymeric methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (pMDI), modified with two types of alkaline catalysts, namely NaOH and CaCO3 at 20% (w/v), was used for manufacturing the oriented strand board (OSB) from sengon (Paraserianthes falcataria L. Nielsen) wood. The catalyst was added at a concentration of 1% of the solids content of PF adhesive, and pMDI was added at 2.5% and 5.0% of the PF adhesive solids content. Adding catalysts and cross-linking agents increased the solids content and viscosity of the adhesive and accelerated the gelation time. The water absorption of OSB increased with the addition of catalysts and crosslinking agents compared to the control PF. Still, the CaCO3 catalyst worked optimally in reducing the thickness swelling of OSB. The mechanical properties of the laboratory-fabricated OSB panels increased with the addition of catalyst and cross-linker, except for the modulus of elasticity parallel to the grain. The optimal performance of OSB was obtained by adding 1% CaCO3 and 2.5% pMDI based on the PF's solids content. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gigantochloa levis and G. scortechinii bamboo species were evaluated as material for plybamboo production. Plybamboo was composed of three layers with 12 mm thickness and used phenol formaldehyde (PF) as their binder. Representative samples were cut and tested for bonding, physical, mechanical, and finishing properties. Results indicated that G. levis plybamboo exhibited higher bending strength property compared to G. scortechinii plybamboo, as indicated by its higher modulus of rupture (121 N/mm2) and modulus of elasticity (16300 N/mm2). The G. levis plybamboo also displayed higher bond shear strength and was dimensionally stable compared to G. scortechinii plybamboo. The finishing properties revealed that all coatings performed well in the cross-cut tape and pull-off tests. Notably, plybamboo from both bamboo species showed excellent coating film adhesion. Based on minimum standard requirement, results revealed that both bamboo species were suitable to be used in plybamboo production for general use. The findings showed that those species are valuable renewable natural resources for plybamboo production and had potential to be utilized as a substitute for wood in board production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of pressing time were evaluated relative to the physical, mechanical, and morphological properties of flat-pressed composites made from Gmelina arborea bark and recycled polypropylene (RPP). Bark powder (5% moisture content) was mixed with RPP pellets in a weight ratio of 40:60 with added maleic anhydride (MAH) as compatibilizer. The materials were mixed in a rotary blender for 15 min at speed 80 rpm until homogeneous. The mixture was heated from 175 to 200 °C until RPP pellets were completely melted and then cooled to room temperature. Afterwards, the mixture was made into powder and molded using a steel plate mold at 175 to 200 °C and pressure of 30 kg/cm² for 2, 4, and 6 min to a targeted density of 1.0 g/cm³. The tested physical properties were covered density, moisture content, water absorption, and thickness swelling. The mechanical properties modulus of elasticity (MOE) and modulus of rupture (MOR), tensile strength parallel to length of panel were also examined. Research results showed that the properties were significantly affected by pressing time and it can be concluded that the optimum condition was obtained at 4 min of pressing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we evaluated the effect of different Bi2O3 contents (45–60 mass %) on the radiation protection ability, mechanical properties, and physical properties of glass samples composed of Bi2O3-SiO2-B2O3-ZnO-Al2O3. To assess these properties, we utilized the Monte Carlo based code MCNPX 2.6.0 and the Phy-X PSD program. We calculated various mechanical and physical values, including the elastic modulus, Poisson's ratio (σ), and Fractal Bond Connectivity. The radiation shielding properties of various glass compositions were investigated for a range of photon energies including 0.284, 0.347, 0.511, 0.662, 0.826, and 1.173 MeV. The study found that glass compositions with minimal mole fraction of B2O3 exhibited higher density, Equivalent Atomic Number (Zeq), Effective Atomic Number (Zeff), Molar Oxygen Volume, and lower Half Value Layer (HVL), Tenth Value Layer (TVL), Mean Free Path (MFP), and Oxygen Packing Density. Based on these findings, it can be concluded that the glass composition containing 60Bi is the most effective γ-ray attenuator and is recommended as the best glass for this purpose. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]