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Polymers
Special Issues
Performance and Application of Novel Biocomposites
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Performance and Application of Novel Biocomposites

A special issue of Polymers (ISSN 2073-4360). This special issue belongs to the section "Polymer Applications".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 August 2020) | Viewed by 68631

Printed Edition Available!
A printed edition of this Special Issue is available here.

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Oisik Das

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Structural and Fire Engineering Division, Department of Civil, Environmental and Natural Resources Engineering, Luleå University of Technology, 97187 Luleå, Sweden
Interests: flammability of polymeric composites and bio-based materials; biocomposites development; polymers; biochar; pyrolysis; nanoindentation; natural fibres
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Sustainability and safety along with strength are the cornerstones for the development of contemporary industrial products. Due to this, biocomposite materials are undergoing steady development which can be applied for numerous applications. However, biocomposites often times suffer from poor mechanical properties and are very susceptible to fire. As a consequence, new research should be devised in order to manufacture biocomposites with superior performance properties. This could be achieved using novel biobased reinforcements and natural polymer resins having attractive material characteristics.

The Special Issue, entitled “Performance and Application of Novel Biocomposites”, would serve as a platform for addressing the developments made in the field of polymer composites where innovative methods, materials, and processing are employed to enhance mechanical, fire, and functional properties. Potential topics include but are not limited to the following: carbon-based materials (e.g., biochar and graphene), self-healing composites, flammability, nanoindentation, biopolymers (e.g., gluten), new processing and testing techniques, and fiber surface modifications.

Papers are published upon acceptance, regardless of the Special Issue publication date.

Prof. Dr. Oisik Das
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Polymers is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • biocomposites
  • flammability
  • carbon-based materials
  • self-healing
  • processing

Published Papers (16 papers)

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Editorial

Jump to: Research, Review

3 pages, 523 KiB  
Editorial
Education and Research during Pandemics: Illustrated by the Example of Experimental Biocomposites Research
by Oisik Das and Seeram Ramakrishna
Polymers 2020, 12(8), 1848; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/polym12081848 - 18 Aug 2020
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 3316
Abstract
n/a Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Performance and Application of Novel Biocomposites)
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Research

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20 pages, 6589 KiB  
Article
Study of the Compatibilization Effect of Different Reactive Agents in PHB/Natural Fiber-Based Composites
by Estefanía Lidón Sánchez-Safont, Abdulaziz Aldureid, José María Lagarón, Luis Cabedo and José Gámez-Pérez
Polymers 2020, 12(9), 1967; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/polym12091967 - 30 Aug 2020
Cited by 16 | Viewed by 3016
Abstract
Fiber–matrix interfacial adhesion is one of the key factors governing the final properties of natural fiber-based polymer composites. In this work, four extrusion reactive agents were tested as potential compatibilizers in polyhydroxylbutyrate (PHB)/cellulose composites: dicumyl peroxide (DCP), hexamethylene diisocyanate (HMDI), resorcinol diglycidyl ether [...] Read more.
Fiber–matrix interfacial adhesion is one of the key factors governing the final properties of natural fiber-based polymer composites. In this work, four extrusion reactive agents were tested as potential compatibilizers in polyhydroxylbutyrate (PHB)/cellulose composites: dicumyl peroxide (DCP), hexamethylene diisocyanate (HMDI), resorcinol diglycidyl ether (RDGE), and triglycidyl isocyanurate (TGIC). The influence of the fibers and the different reactive agents on the mechanical properties, physical aging, and crystallization behavior were assessed. To evaluate the compatibilization effectiveness of each reactive agent, highly purified commercial cellulose fibers (TC90) were used as reference filler. Then, the influence of fiber purity on the compatibilization effect of the reactive agent HMDI was evaluated using untreated (U_RH) and chemically purified (T_RH) rice husk fibers, comparing the results with the ones using TC90 fibers. The results show that reactive agents interact with the polymer matrix at different levels, but all compositions showed a drastic embrittlement due to the aging of PHB. No clear compatibilization effect was found using DCP, RDGE, or TGIC reactive agents. On the other hand, the fiber–polymer interfacial adhesion was enhanced with HMDI. The purity of the fiber played an important role in the effectiveness of HMDI as a compatibilizer, since composites with highly purified fibers showed the greatest improvements in tensile strength and the most favorable morphology. None of the reactive agents negatively affected the compostability of PHB. Finally, thermoformed trays with good mold reproducibility were successfully obtained for PHB/T_RH/HMDI composition. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Performance and Application of Novel Biocomposites)
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19 pages, 8349 KiB  
Article
Injection Molding of Coir Coconut Fiber Reinforced Polyolefin Blends: Mechanical, Viscoelastic, Thermal Behavior and Three-Dimensional Microscopy Study
by Miguel A. Hidalgo-Salazar, Juan P. Correa-Aguirre, Serafín García-Navarro and Luis Roca-Blay
Polymers 2020, 12(7), 1507; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/polym12071507 - 07 Jul 2020
Cited by 13 | Viewed by 4978
Abstract
In this study, the properties of a polyolefin blend matrix (PP-HDPE) were evaluated and modified through the addition of raw coir coconut fibers-(CCF). PP-HDPE-CCF biocomposites were prepared using melt blending processes with CCF loadings up to 30% (w/w). CCF [...] Read more.
In this study, the properties of a polyolefin blend matrix (PP-HDPE) were evaluated and modified through the addition of raw coir coconut fibers-(CCF). PP-HDPE-CCF biocomposites were prepared using melt blending processes with CCF loadings up to 30% (w/w). CCF addition generates an increase of the tensile and flexural modulus up to 78% and 99% compared to PP-HDPE blend. This stiffening effect is caused by a decrease in the polymeric chain mobility due to CCF, the higher mechanical properties of the CCF compared to the polymeric matrix and could be an advantage for some biocomposites applications. Thermal characterizations show that CCF incorporation increases the PP-HDPE thermal stability up to 63 °C, slightly affecting the melting behavior of the PP and HDPE matrix. DMA analysis shows that CCF improves the PP-HDPE blend capacity to absorb higher external loads while exhibiting elastic behavior maintaining its characteristics at higher temperatures. Also, the three-dimensional microscopy study showed that CCF particles enhance the dimensional stability of the PP-HDPE matrix and decrease manufacturing defects as shrinkage in injected specimens. This research opens a feasible opportunity for considering PP-HDPE-CCF biocomposites as alternative materials for the design and manufacturing of sustainable products by injection molding. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Performance and Application of Novel Biocomposites)
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25 pages, 4985 KiB  
Article
The Effects of Reprocessing and Fiber Treatments on the Properties of Polypropylene-Sugarcane Bagasse Biocomposites
by Juan P. Correa-Aguirre, Fernando Luna-Vera, Carolina Caicedo, Bairo Vera-Mondragón and Miguel A. Hidalgo-Salazar
Polymers 2020, 12(7), 1440; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/polym12071440 - 27 Jun 2020
Cited by 24 | Viewed by 4582
Abstract
This study explores the reprocessing behavior of polypropylene-sugarcane bagasse biocomposites using neat and chemically treated bagasse fibers (20 wt.%). Biocomposites were reprocessed 5 times using the extrusion process followed by injection molding. The mechanical properties indicate that microfibers bagasse fibers addition and chemical [...] Read more.
This study explores the reprocessing behavior of polypropylene-sugarcane bagasse biocomposites using neat and chemically treated bagasse fibers (20 wt.%). Biocomposites were reprocessed 5 times using the extrusion process followed by injection molding. The mechanical properties indicate that microfibers bagasse fibers addition and chemical treatments generate improvements in the mechanical properties, reaching the highest performance in the third cycle where the flexural modulus and flexural strength increase 57 and 12% in comparison with neat PP. differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and TGA characterization show that bagasse fibers addition increases the crystallization temperature and thermal stability of the biocomposites 7 and 39 °C respectively, without disturbing the melting process of the PP phase for all extrusion cycles. The rheological test shows that viscosity values of PP and biocomposites decrease progressively with extrusion cycles; however, Cole–Cole plots, dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), width at half maximum of tan delta peaks and SEM micrographs show that chemical treatments and reprocessing could improve fiber dispersion and fiber–matrix interaction. Based on these results, it can be concluded that recycling potential of polypropylene-sugarcane bagasse biocomposites is huge due to their mechanical, thermal and rheological performance resulting in advantages in terms of sustainability and life cycle impact of these materials. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Performance and Application of Novel Biocomposites)
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16 pages, 3841 KiB  
Article
Characterization, Biocompatibility, and Optimization of Electrospun SF/PCL/CS Composite Nanofibers
by Hua-Wei Chen and Min-Feng Lin
Polymers 2020, 12(7), 1439; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/polym12071439 - 27 Jun 2020
Cited by 23 | Viewed by 3082
Abstract
In this study, composite nanofibers (SF/PCL/CS) for the application of dressings were prepared with silk fibroin (SF), polycaprolactone (PCL), and chitosan (CS) by electrospinning techniques, and the effect of the fiber diameter was investigated using the three-stage Taguchi experimental design method (L9). Nanofibrous [...] Read more.
In this study, composite nanofibers (SF/PCL/CS) for the application of dressings were prepared with silk fibroin (SF), polycaprolactone (PCL), and chitosan (CS) by electrospinning techniques, and the effect of the fiber diameter was investigated using the three-stage Taguchi experimental design method (L9). Nanofibrous scaffolds were characterized by the combined techniques of scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), a cytotoxicity test, proliferation tests, the antimicrobial activity, and the equilibrium water content. A signal-to-noise ratio (S/N) analysis indicated that the contribution followed the order of SF to PCL > flow rate > applied voltage > CS addition, possibly owing to the viscosity and formation of the beaded fiber. The optimum combination for obtaining the smallest fiber diameter (170 nm) with a smooth and uniform distribution was determined to be a ratio of SF to PCL of 1:2, a flow rate of 0.3 mL/hr, and an applied voltage of 25 kV at a needle tip-to-collector distance of 15 cm (position). The viability of these mouse fibroblast L929 cell cultures exceeded 50% within 24 hours, therefore SF/PCL/CS could be considered non-toxic according to the standards. The results proposed that the hydrophilic structure of SF/PCL/CS not only revealed a highly interconnected porous construction but also that it could help cells promote the exchange of nutrients and oxygen. The SF/PCL/CS scaffold showed a high interconnectivity between pores and porosity and water uptake abilities able to provide good conditions for cell infiltration and proliferation. The results from this study suggested that SF/PCL/CS could be suitable for skin tissue engineering. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Performance and Application of Novel Biocomposites)
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10 pages, 1766 KiB  
Article
Green Synthesis of Metal-Organic Framework Bacterial Cellulose Nanocomposites for Separation Applications
by Radwa M. Ashour, Ahmed F. Abdel-Magied, Qiong Wu, Richard T. Olsson and Kerstin Forsberg
Polymers 2020, 12(5), 1104; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/polym12051104 - 13 May 2020
Cited by 42 | Viewed by 5670
Abstract
Metal organic frameworks (MOFs) are porous crystalline materials that can be designed to act as selective adsorbents. Due to their high porosity they can possess very high adsorption capacities. However, overcoming the brittleness of these crystalline materials is a challenge for many industrial [...] Read more.
Metal organic frameworks (MOFs) are porous crystalline materials that can be designed to act as selective adsorbents. Due to their high porosity they can possess very high adsorption capacities. However, overcoming the brittleness of these crystalline materials is a challenge for many industrial applications. In order to make use of MOFs for large-scale liquid phase separation processes they can be immobilized on solid supports. For this purpose, nanocellulose can be considered as a promising supporting material due to its high flexibility and biocompatibility. In this study a novel flexible nanocellulose MOF composite material was synthesised in aqueous media by a novel and straightforward in situ one-pot green method. The material consisted of MOF particles of the type MIL-100(Fe) (from Material Institute de Lavoisier, containing Fe(III) 1,3,5-benzenetricarboxylate) immobilized onto bacterial cellulose (BC) nanofibers. The novel nanocomposite material was applied to efficiently separate arsenic and Rhodamine B from aqueous solution, achieving adsorption capacities of 4.81, and 2.77 mg g‒1, respectively. The adsorption process could be well modelled by the nonlinear pseudo-second-order fitting. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Performance and Application of Novel Biocomposites)
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13 pages, 5664 KiB  
Article
Development of a Highly Proliferated Bilayer Coating on 316L Stainless Steel Implants
by Fatemeh Khosravi, Saied Nouri Khorasani, Shahla Khalili, Rasoul Esmaeely Neisiany, Erfan Rezvani Ghomi, Fatemeh Ejeian, Oisik Das and Mohammad Hossein Nasr-Esfahani
Polymers 2020, 12(5), 1022; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/polym12051022 - 01 May 2020
Cited by 44 | Viewed by 3605
Abstract
In this research, a bilayer coating has been applied on the surface of 316 L stainless steel (316LSS) to provide highly proliferated metallic implants for bone regeneration. The first layer was prepared using electrophoretic deposition of graphene oxide (GO), while the top layer [...] Read more.
In this research, a bilayer coating has been applied on the surface of 316 L stainless steel (316LSS) to provide highly proliferated metallic implants for bone regeneration. The first layer was prepared using electrophoretic deposition of graphene oxide (GO), while the top layer was coated utilizing electrospinning of poly (ε-caprolactone) (PCL)/gelatin (Ge)/forsterite solutions. The morphology, porosity, wettability, biodegradability, bioactivity, cell attachment and cell viability of the prepared coatings were evaluated. The Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM) results revealed the formation of uniform, continuous, and bead-free nanofibers. The Energy Dispersive X-ray (EDS) results confirmed well-distributed forsterite nanoparticles in the structure of the top coating. The porosity of the electrospun nanofibers was found to be above 70%. The water contact angle measurements indicated an improvement in the wettability of the coating by increasing the amount of nanoparticles. Furthermore, the electrospun nanofibers containing 1 and 3 wt.% of forsterite nanoparticles showed significant bioactivity after soaking in the simulated body fluid (SBF) solution for 21 days. In addition, to investigate the in vitro analysis, the MG-63 cells were cultured on the PCL/Ge/forsterite and GO-PCL/Ge/forsterite coatings. The results confirmed an excellent cell adhesion along with considerable cell growth and proliferation. It should be also noted that the existence of the forsterite nanoparticles and the GO layer substantially enhanced the cell proliferation of the coatings. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Performance and Application of Novel Biocomposites)
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17 pages, 7439 KiB  
Article
Performance of Straw/Linear Low Density Polyethylene Composite Prepared with Film-Roll Hot Pressing
by Lei Zhang, Huicheng Xu and Weihong Wang
Polymers 2020, 12(4), 860; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/polym12040860 - 09 Apr 2020
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 3774
Abstract
Thermoplastic composites are usually prepared with the extrusion method, and straw reinforcement material must be processed to fiber or powder. In this study, film-roll hot pressing was developed to reinforce linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) with long continuous straw stems. The long straw [...] Read more.
Thermoplastic composites are usually prepared with the extrusion method, and straw reinforcement material must be processed to fiber or powder. In this study, film-roll hot pressing was developed to reinforce linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) with long continuous straw stems. The long straw stems were wrapped with LLDPE film and then hot pressed and cooled to prepare straw/LLDPE composite. Extruded straw fiber/LLDPE composite was prepared as a control. The mechanical properties of these LLDPE-based composites were evaluated. The hot pressed straw/LLDPE composite provided higher tensile strength, tensile modulus, flexural strength, flexural modulus, and impact strength than the traditional extruded straw/LLDPE composite, by 335%, 107%, 68%, 57%, and 181%, respectively, reaching 35.1 MPa, 2.65 GPa, 3.8 MPa, 2.15 GPa, and 25.1 KJ/m2. The density of the hot pressed straw/LLDPE composite (0.83 g/cm3) was lower than that of the extruded straw/LLDPE composite (1.31 g/cm3), and the former had a higher ratio of strength-to-weight. Scanning electron microscopy indicated that the orientation of the straws in the composite was better with the new method. Differential scanning calorimetry tests revealed that in hot pressed straw/LLDPE composite, straw fibers have a greater resistance to the melting of LLDPE than extruded composite. Rotary rheometer tests showed that the storage modulus of the hot pressed straw/LLDPE was less affected by frequency than that of the extruded composite, and the better elastic characteristics were pronounced at 150 °C. The hot pressed straw/LLDPE composite absorbed more water than the extruded composite and showed a potential ability to regulate the surrounding relative humidity. Our results showed that straw from renewable sources can be used to produce composites with good performance. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Performance and Application of Novel Biocomposites)
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12 pages, 6022 KiB  
Article
Facile Construction of Superhydrophobic Surfaces by Coating Fluoroalkylsilane/Silica Composite on a Modified Hierarchical Structure of Wood
by Jiajie Wang, Yingzhuo Lu, Qindan Chu, Chaoliang Ma, Lianrun Cai, Zhehong Shen and Hao Chen
Polymers 2020, 12(4), 813; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/polym12040813 - 04 Apr 2020
Cited by 20 | Viewed by 2945
Abstract
Constructing superhydrophobic surfaces by simple and low-cost methods remains a challenge in achieving the large-scale commercial application of superhydrophobic materials. Herein, a facile two-step process is presented to produce a self-healing superhydrophobic surface on wood to improve water and mildew resistance. In this [...] Read more.
Constructing superhydrophobic surfaces by simple and low-cost methods remains a challenge in achieving the large-scale commercial application of superhydrophobic materials. Herein, a facile two-step process is presented to produce a self-healing superhydrophobic surface on wood to improve water and mildew resistance. In this process, the natural hierarchical structure of wood is firstly modified by sanding with sandpaper to obtain an appropriate micro/nano composite structure on the surface, then a fluoroalkylsilane/silica composite suspension is cast and dried on the wood surface to produce the superhydrophobic surface. Due to the full use of the natural hierarchical structure of wood, the whole process does not need complicated equipment or complex procedures to construct the micro/nano composite structure. Moreover, only a very low content of inorganic matter is needed to achieve superhydrophobicity. Encouragingly, the as-obtained superhydrophobic surface exhibits good resistance to abrasion. The superhydrophobicity can still be maintained after 45 abrasion cycles under the pressure of 3.5 KPa and this surface can spontaneously recover its superhydrophobicity at room temperature by self-healing upon damage. Moreover, its self-healing ability can be restored by spraying or casting the fluoroalkylsilane/silica composite suspension onto this surface to replenish the depleted healing agents. When used for wood protection, this superhydrophobic surface greatly improves the water and mildew resistance of wood, thereby prolonging the service life of wood-based materials. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Performance and Application of Novel Biocomposites)
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18 pages, 4237 KiB  
Article
Pyrolytic Kinetics of Polystyrene Particle in Nitrogen Atmosphere: Particle Size Effects and Application of Distributed Activation Energy Method
by Lin Jiang, Xin-Rui Yang, Xu Gao, Qiang Xu, Oisik Das, Jin-Hua Sun and Manja Kitek Kuzman
Polymers 2020, 12(2), 421; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/polym12020421 - 12 Feb 2020
Cited by 19 | Viewed by 3100
Abstract
This work was motivated by a study of particle size effects on pyrolysis kinetics and models of polystyrene particle. Micro-size polystyrene particles with four different diameters, 5, 10, 15, and 50 µm, were selected as experimental materials. Activation energies were obtained by isoconversional [...] Read more.
This work was motivated by a study of particle size effects on pyrolysis kinetics and models of polystyrene particle. Micro-size polystyrene particles with four different diameters, 5, 10, 15, and 50 µm, were selected as experimental materials. Activation energies were obtained by isoconversional methods, and pyrolysis model of each particle size and heating rate was examined through different reaction models by the Coats–Redfern method. To identify the controlling model, the Avrami–Eroféev model was identified as the controlling pyrolysis model for polystyrene pyrolysis. Accommodation function effect was employed to modify the Avrami–Eroféev model. The model was then modified to f(α) = nα0.39n − 1.15(1 − α)[−ln(1 − α)]1 − 1/n, by which the polystyrene pyrolysis with different particle sizes can be well explained. It was found that the reaction model cannot be influenced by particle geometric dimension. The reaction rate can be changed because the specific surface area will decrease with particle diameter. To separate each step reaction and identify their distributions to kinetics, distributed activation energy method was introduced to calculate the weight factor and kinetic triplets. Results showed that particle size has big impacts on both first and second step reactions. Smaller size particle can accelerate the process of pyrolysis reaction. Finally, sensitivity analysis was brought to check the sensitivity and weight of each parameter in the model. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Performance and Application of Novel Biocomposites)
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24 pages, 4959 KiB  
Article
The Role of Nanoparticle Shapes and Structures in Material Characterisation of Polyvinyl Alcohol (PVA) Bionanocomposite Films
by Mohanad Mousa and Yu Dong
Polymers 2020, 12(2), 264; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/polym12020264 - 25 Jan 2020
Cited by 14 | Viewed by 3232
Abstract
Three different types of nanoparticles, 1D Cloisite 30B clay nanoplatelets, 2D halloysite nanotubes (HNTs), and 3D nanobamboo charcoals (NBCs) were employed to investigate the impact of nanoparticle shapes and structures on the material performance of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) bionanocomposite films in terms of [...] Read more.
Three different types of nanoparticles, 1D Cloisite 30B clay nanoplatelets, 2D halloysite nanotubes (HNTs), and 3D nanobamboo charcoals (NBCs) were employed to investigate the impact of nanoparticle shapes and structures on the material performance of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) bionanocomposite films in terms of their mechanical and thermal properties, morphological structures, and nanomechanical behaviour. The overall results revealed the superior reinforcement efficiency of NBCs to Cloisite 30B clays and HNTs, owing to their typical porous structures to actively interact with PVA matrices in the combined formation of strong mechanical and hydrogen bondings. Three-dimensional NBCs also achieved better nanoparticle dispersibility when compared with 1D Cloisite 30B clays and 2D HNTs along with higher thermal stability, which was attributed to their larger interfacial regions when characterised for the nanomechanical behaviour of corresponding bionanocomposite films. Our study offers an insightful guidance to the appropriate selection of nanoparticles as effective reinforcements and the further sophisticated design of bionanocomposite materials. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Performance and Application of Novel Biocomposites)
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16 pages, 3461 KiB  
Article
Application of Adaptive Neuro-Fuzzy Inference System in Flammability Parameter Prediction
by Rhoda Afriyie Mensah, Jie Xiao, Oisik Das, Lin Jiang, Qiang Xu and Mohammed Okoe Alhassan
Polymers 2020, 12(1), 122; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/polym12010122 - 05 Jan 2020
Cited by 44 | Viewed by 4492
Abstract
The fire behavior of materials is usually modeled on the basis of fire physics and material composition. However, significant strides have been made recently in applying soft computing methods such as artificial intelligence in flammability studies. In this paper, multiple linear regression (MLR) [...] Read more.
The fire behavior of materials is usually modeled on the basis of fire physics and material composition. However, significant strides have been made recently in applying soft computing methods such as artificial intelligence in flammability studies. In this paper, multiple linear regression (MLR) was employed to test the degree of non-linearities in flammability parameter modeling by assessing the linear relationship between sample mass, heating rate, heat release capacity (HRC) and total heat release (THR). Adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (ANFIS) was then adopted to predict the HRC and THR of the extruded polystyrene measured from microscale combustion calorimetry experiments. The ANFIS models presented excellent predictions, showing very low mean training and testing errors as well as reasonable agreements between experimental and predicted datasets. Hence, it can be inferred that ANFIS can handle the non-linearities in flammability modeling, making it apt as a modeling technique for accurate and effective flammability assessments. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Performance and Application of Novel Biocomposites)
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17 pages, 4848 KiB  
Article
Development of Coffee Biochar Filler for the Production of Electrical Conductive Reinforced Plastic
by Mauro Giorcelli and Mattia Bartoli
Polymers 2019, 11(12), 1916; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/polym11121916 - 21 Nov 2019
Cited by 61 | Viewed by 6019
Abstract
In this work we focused our attention on an innovative use of food residual biomasses. In particular, we produced biochar from coffee waste and used it as filler in epoxy resin composites with the aim to increase their electrical properties. Electrical conductivity was [...] Read more.
In this work we focused our attention on an innovative use of food residual biomasses. In particular, we produced biochar from coffee waste and used it as filler in epoxy resin composites with the aim to increase their electrical properties. Electrical conductivity was studied for the biochar and biochar-based composite in function of pressure applied. The results obtained were compared with carbon black and carbon black composites. We demonstrated that, even if the coffee biochar had less conductivity compared with carbon black in powder form, it created composites with better conductivity in comparison with carbon black composites. In addition, composite mechanical properties were tested and they generally improved with respect to neat epoxy resin. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Performance and Application of Novel Biocomposites)
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11 pages, 2894 KiB  
Article
Durability Analysis of Formaldehyde/Solid Urban Waste Blends
by Francesca Ferrari, Raffaella Striani, Paolo Visconti, Carola Esposito Corcione and Antonio Greco
Polymers 2019, 11(11), 1838; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/polym11111838 - 08 Nov 2019
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 2080
Abstract
Following the innovative research activity carried out in the framework of the POIROT (Italian acronym of dOmotic Platform for Inertization and tRaceability of Organic wasTe) Project, this work aims to optimize the composition of the blends between the organic fraction of municipal solid [...] Read more.
Following the innovative research activity carried out in the framework of the POIROT (Italian acronym of dOmotic Platform for Inertization and tRaceability of Organic wasTe) Project, this work aims to optimize the composition of the blends between the organic fraction of municipal solid waste (OFMSW) and formaldehyde-based resins, in order to improve the durability properties. To this aim, in this work, commercial urea-formaldehyde and melamine-formaldehyde powder polymers have been proposed for the inertization of the OFMSW, according to the previous optimized OFMSW-transformation process. A preliminary study about the mechanical properties of the composite panels produced with the different resins was carried out by evaluating compressive, flexural, and tensile performances of the panels. Artificial weathering by cyclic (heating–cooling) and boiling tests were carried out and the mechanical properties were evaluated in order to assess the resistance of the panels to water and humidity. The melamine-formaldehyde based resin had the best performances also when subjected to the weathering tests and despite the higher content of resin in the composites, the panels produced with melamine-formaldehyde have the lowest values of release of formaldehyde minimizing their potential hazard level. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Performance and Application of Novel Biocomposites)
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Review

Jump to: Editorial, Research

21 pages, 1256 KiB  
Review
A Review on the Flammability Properties of Carbon-Based Polymeric Composites: State-of-the-Art and Future Trends
by Karthik Babu, Gabriella Rendén, Rhoda Afriyie Mensah, Nam Kyeun Kim, Lin Jiang, Qiang Xu, Ágoston Restás, Rasoul Esmaeely Neisiany, Mikael S. Hedenqvist, Michael Försth, Alexandra Byström and Oisik Das
Polymers 2020, 12(7), 1518; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/polym12071518 - 08 Jul 2020
Cited by 58 | Viewed by 7371
Abstract
Carbon based fillers have attracted a great deal of interest in polymer composites because of their ability to beneficially alter properties at low filler concentration, good interfacial bonding with polymer, availability in different forms, etc. The property alteration of polymer composites makes them [...] Read more.
Carbon based fillers have attracted a great deal of interest in polymer composites because of their ability to beneficially alter properties at low filler concentration, good interfacial bonding with polymer, availability in different forms, etc. The property alteration of polymer composites makes them versatile for applications in various fields, such as constructions, microelectronics, biomedical, and so on. Devastations due to building fire stress the importance of flame-retardant polymer composites, since they are directly related to human life conservation and safety. Thus, in this review, the significance of carbon-based flame-retardants for polymers is introduced. The effects of a wide variety of carbon-based material addition (such as fullerene, CNTs, graphene, graphite, and so on) on reaction-to-fire of the polymer composites are reviewed and the focus is dedicated to biochar-based reinforcements for use in flame retardant polymer composites. Additionally, the most widely used flammability measuring techniques for polymeric composites are presented. Finally, the key factors and different methods that are used for property enhancement are concluded and the scope for future work is discussed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Performance and Application of Novel Biocomposites)
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28 pages, 3967 KiB  
Review
A Review on Barrier Properties of Poly(Lactic Acid)/Clay Nanocomposites
by Shuvra Singha and Mikael S. Hedenqvist
Polymers 2020, 12(5), 1095; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/polym12051095 - 11 May 2020
Cited by 60 | Viewed by 6588
Abstract
Poly(lactic acid) (PLA) is considered to be among the best biopolymer substitutes for the existing petroleum-based polymers in the field of food packaging owing to its renewability, biodegradability, non-toxicity and mechanical properties. However, PLA displays only moderate barrier properties to gases, vapors and [...] Read more.
Poly(lactic acid) (PLA) is considered to be among the best biopolymer substitutes for the existing petroleum-based polymers in the field of food packaging owing to its renewability, biodegradability, non-toxicity and mechanical properties. However, PLA displays only moderate barrier properties to gases, vapors and organic compounds, which can limit its application as a packaging material. Hence, it becomes essential to understand the mass transport properties of PLA and address the transport challenges. Significant improvements in the barrier properties can be achieved by incorporating two-dimensional clay nanofillers, the planes of which create tortuosity to the diffusing molecules, thereby increasing the effective length of the diffusion path. This article reviews the literature on barrier properties of PLA/clay nanocomposites. The important PLA/clay nanocomposite preparation techniques, such as solution intercalation, melt processing and in situ polymerization, are outlined followed by an extensive account of barrier performance of nanocomposites drawn from the literature. Fundamentals of mass transport phenomena and the factors affecting mass transport are also presented. Furthermore, mathematical models that have been proposed/used to predict the permeability in polymer/clay nanocomposites are reviewed and the extent to which the models are validated in PLA/clay composites is discussed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Performance and Application of Novel Biocomposites)
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