Volume 20 Issue 2

This study aimed to develop plywood, which is generally used as a building material in outdoor areas, by adding low-cost glass fiber and to examine some physical and mechanical properties of the developed plywood. For this, beech veneers (600 × 600 mm dimension, 2 mm thickness in 3% to 5% humidity) were glued with phenol-formaldehyde adhesive at the levels of 10%, 20%, and 30% by adding powdered e-type glass fiber in two different sizes (25 µm and 10 µm) to produce seven-layer beech plywood. Density, equilibrium moisture content, thickness swelling, tensile-shearing, and tensile-perpendicular to the surface were evaluated on test samples cut from the beech plywood in 50 × 50 mm dimension, and screwing torque values were carried out on test samples cut in 500 × 50 mm dimensions. Two-factor analysis of variance (ANOVA) was performed separately for the tests above. Results indicated that in cases where interactions between the glass fiber size and ratio were significant at the 0.05 significance level, the least significant difference value (LSD) analysis of the interaction was performed. According to LSD results, the tensile strength perpendicular to the surface decreased as the glass fiber ratio was increased.

Cassava chaff in its raw and heat-treated (ash) forms was studied as an adsorbent for the removal of arsenic (As(V)) from aqueous solutions in a batch process. The findings indicated that pH significantly influenced As adsorption efficiency on raw cassava chaff, with optimal adsorption (78.6%) observed at a pH of approximately 4.5. Adsorption isotherm modeling revealed that the Langmuir model was more applicable to heat-treated cassava chaff, with maximum adsorption capacity of 101 mg/g, whereas the Freundlich model better described As adsorption on raw cassava chaff with maximum adsorption capacity of 82.2 mg/g. Kinetic studies showed that the pseudo-second-order model accurately represented As adsorption onto raw cassava chaff, while the pseudo-first-order model best fit the kinetics for heat-treated cassava chaff. The enthalpy change for heat-treated cassava chaff and raw sample were +35.3 kJ/mol and +55.3 kJ/mol, respectively, suggesting the process to be endothermic. Information from Fourier transform infrared analysis revealed that the adsorbent was made up of cellulose and hemicellulose materials. Functional groups including OH, C=C, C=O, and C-O may be involved in the uptake of As(V) ions. This work highlights heat-treated cassava chaff as a promising, robust solution for As-contaminated water treatment.

With the growing global demand for sustainable energy, the development of efficient and environmentally friendly energy conversion and storage materials has become a research hotspot. Paulownia wood, with its natural porous structure and good hygroscopicity, is considered a highly promising biomass material. However, its properties still need to be further optimized through pretreatment to meet specific application requirements. In this study, paulownia wood was chemically modified through delignification and lithium chloride (LiCl) compounding, and far-infrared paper was attached to its surface to enhance its hygroscopicity and electrochemical performance. These pretreatment methods not only increased the porosity of paulownia wood, but also significantly improved the ion transport capacity, thereby achieving excellent moisture absorption and power generation performance in a high humidity environment. Experimental results showed that the LiCl and delignified paulownia composite materials (DW@LiCl) material exhibited excellent electrochemical performance during the hygroscopic process: its current continuously increased with humidity, and the final voltage reached 0.494 V, which was significantly higher than that of other control groups. This modified paulownia wood material demonstrated significant application value in the field of hygroscopic power generation, such as directly generating electricity from ambient humidity, and it exhibits potential for the development of high-performance lithium-ion batteries.

This article examines the chemical deterioration of wooden materials on the exterior surfaces of a historical mansion in Kahramanmaraş, constructed using the Bağdadi Wall Construction Technique, which is a rare example of Late Ottoman-Turkish architecture. The study employed various analyses to demonstrate that environmental factors, such as air, temperature, light, rain, and biological decay, have aged the wood. Fourier transform infrared analysis revealed a decrease in holocellulose peak density and lignin degradation. X-ray diffraction analysis indicated that the amorphous components of hardwood had diminished, leading to an increase in crystallinity, while the crystalline cellulose content in softwood had decreased, thereby weakening the structure. Thermal analysis uncovered changes in thermal stability between the wood’s outer and inner surfaces. Ultraviolet analysis indicated a 21% color change on the exterior compared to that in the interior. Despite the deterioration of the exterior, the interior surfaces remained intact. Appropriate measures could prolong the mansion’s lifespan, and urgent restoration is necessary to preserve this important cultural heritage.

Continuous fiber 3D printing, as a new technology, has attracted attention in an increasing number of applications. Research on continuous fiber 3D printing is currently still in its infancy, after less than 10 years since its discovery in 2016. Many technical and fundamental questions still need to be addressed. Most literature has dealt with 3D printing employing continuous synthetic fibers (e.g., carbon and aramid fibers). This critical review summarizes the progress on the 3D printing of continuous natural plant fibers and their regenerated fibers and their use in reinforced thermoplastic composites. Their mechanical performance under extreme environmental conditions is further reviewed. These high-performance continuous fiber reinforced polymer composites have potential for high value applications such as aerospace technologies.

Particleboards constitute an important solution addressing two current demands: Improving the use of exploited resources and implementing adequate waste management. In this study, panels were produced from recycled polyethylene terephthalate (PET), rosin (adhesive derived from natural pine resin or colophony), and particles of Pinus sp. wood (pinewood). Rosin resin was used at a 20% ratio for all panels, and recycled PET was incorporated at varying proportions (75%, 50%, and 25%) as a wood substitute. Physical tests assessed included density (D), moisture content (MC), 24 h thickness swelling after 24 h (TS-24h), and water absorption after 24 h (WA-24h). All tests were carried out in accordance with NBR 14810-2 (ABNT 2018). The findings revealed commendable physical performance across all mixtures, with mixture M4 demonstrating the most favorable results among the four evaluated. Although further investigation is warranted, the integration of wood, rosin resin, and PET in particleboard production represents a sustainable and efficient alternative.

This study analyzed the antibacterial potential of Dactylicapnos scandens extract (DSE) against Mycoplasma pneumoniae (MP)-induced pneumonia in mice. The DSE was tested for in-vitro antibacterial activity against MP and pharmacological activity in MP-induced pneumonia in mice. DSE showed significant in-vitro antibacterial activity against MP. It improved the level of nitric oxide, and myeloperoxidase, including the lung weight index near to control in a dose-dependent manner in experimental animals. The levels of glutathione and superoxide dismutase were found significantly increased in DSE treated rats with a reduction in malondialdehyde activity as compared to pneumonia-induced mice in a dose dependent manner. The level of pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as interleukin-6, Interleukin-1 beta, and tumour necrosis factor alpha, and total cells and DNA content were also found reduced in DSE treated group as compared to disease control mice. This study demonstrated potent antibacterial activity of Dactylicapnos scandens extract against Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection.

Wood, as a renewable and highly abundant material, has been receiving increasing attention for use in high-performance applications, such as a structural element subjected to high temperatures. For its successful implementation in the construction or timber industry sector, it is crucial to understand its behavior during and after exposure to high temperatures. In this study, the red angelim wood, Dinizia excelsa, was subjected to high temperatures, up to a temperature of 508 K, using the dynamic excitation wave propagation test. Samples tested in the furnace were dimensioned in six distinct directions: three main ones (radial, tangential, and longitudinal) and three intermediate ones at 45º (longitudinal-radial, longitudinal-tangential, and radial-tangential). The static test used only the main directions of wood orientation. The values of elasticity modulus exhibited a reduction after the heat treatment, resulting in significant decreases of up to 45%. Results demonstrated that the excitation wave propagation method was effective in estimating the elasticity modulus at room temperature up to 508 K. Therefore, this study contributed to the construction of a database that can be expanded by future research focused on Brazilian woods.

The design of Chinese-style furniture (CSF) strives to preserve cultural symbols and aesthetic features while enhancing user experience and emotional resonance. This paper explored how to optimize the design of CSF by analyzing the relationships between affective vocabulary, cultural symbols, and user perception, aiming to narrow the gap between designer intent and user perception, thereby enhancing emotional resonance and user satisfaction. An Affinity Diagram was employed to collect and organize affective vocabulary related to furniture design. Subjective weights of the affective vocabulary were calculated using the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP), and objective weights were determined through the Entropy Weight (EW) Method. The Coupling Coordination Degree (CCD) Method was applied to identify the core affective vocabulary. The artifact shapes and patterns from the Haihunhou tomb site were analyzed to extract representative design elements. Finally, the Quality Function Deployment (QFD) Method was utilized to examine the mapping relationships between core affective vocabulary and the artifact shapes and patterns, ranking the characteristics of these elements. The optimized design elements were integrated into the design of a Chinese-style chair. The incorporation of cultural symbols and affective vocabulary into Chinese-style chair design enhanced user experience and emotional identification, providing a viable path for innovation in CSF design.

The permeability, hydrophobicity, glass transition temperature, crystallinity and chemical composition of bamboo subjected to wax-scalding heat treatment were detected using depth-of-field microscopy, contact angle measurement, thermogravimetric analysis, X-ray diffractometry, and infrared spectrometry. Effects of wax scalding technology and formula on bamboo properties were studied from three aspects: temperature, time, and wax species. The improved wax scalding technology was found to have a good penetration effect and to achieve hydrophobic and mildew-proof effects. At the heat treatment temperature of 180 °C, a good permeation effect was achieved and the hydrophobicity of bamboo was increased. The penetration depth of wax in bamboo within 2 min decreased with the shortening of wax scalding time. However, the infiltration effect was not obvious with the prolonging of time, and increasing preheating treatment will obviously improve the permeability. The effect was the best after preheating and wax scalding at 180 °C for 2 min. Mixed experiments of various waxes showed that the wax had the best penetration effect into bamboo when the ratio of paraffin wax to white wax was 5:4:2, the wax scalding temperature was 180 °C (above which the wax begins to sublimate), and the wax scalding time was 2 min.