Volume 20 Issue 3

Self-assembled block copolymers (BCPs) with micro-phase separated structures have attracted attention due to their potential applications as lithography material in the semiconductor industry and a soft template in the design of precisely ordered pore materials. The primary questions to be addressed include whether forestry bio-material xylan makes it possible to tune micro-phase separation window of BCP along with high Flory-Huggins’s parameter BCP design. Additionally, xylan nanocrystals (XNCs) have potential to further tune micro-phase separation of BCP due to their unique rod- or platelet-like shape and high crystallization. The follow-up question to be addressed is how to design XNC-BCP hybrid nanocomposites with ordered nanostructure that work as a soft template to establish precisely organized pores in energy-material applications. The studies of xylan and XNC tailoring micro-phase separation of BCP open an avenue for its advanced applications.

In the past decades, substantial research efforts have been directed towards increasing the availability of renewable and recycled raw materials. Lignin, one of the most abundant natural polymers, constitutes a vast, renewable, and largely untapped source of aromatic structures. In addition, it is one of the most abundant renewable sources of carbon. Despite the countless research projects aimed at valorizing kraft lignin, the largest source of industrial lignin, relatively few commercial kraft lignin products have emerged. Simultaneously, lignosulfonates represent a commercially successful range of products with a steady and growing global market. This paper reviews the current outlook of technical lignin research, including common misunderstandings, and discusses various factors that have hampered the use of lignin as a renewable source of materials and chemicals.

This editorial piece examines the integration of Guangxi’s traditional papermaking techniques with educational tourism, demonstrating the potential to combine cultural preservation and modern tourism development. Through data analysis, it highlights the increasing interest in cultural tourism and educational experiences, proposing practical strategies such as interactive program design, cultural integration, industry chain extension, and digital promotion. Additionally, it emphasizes the importance of policy support and infrastructure improvement to enhance the visitor experience. Guangxi’s papermaking educational tourism serves as a model for successfully merging intangible cultural heritage with tourism, contributing to cultural sustainability and local economic growth.

Objects made of wood form one of the most important chapters of the heritage of civilization, culture, and traditional popular art of woodcraft among the Romanian people, encompassing creations that continue to develop this millennia-old legacy. Popular art in wood is, undoubtedly, an organic art. It is deeply connected to work and life in which various objects seamlessly blend utility with beauty in the most natural way possible, fully addressing this dual necessity. Wood art is not just a craft of shapes and motifs; it reveals, in specific stylistic structures, a genuine thought and conception of the world and life.

Chinese root carving art, a traditional craftsmanship form, carries profound cultural significance and high artistic value. In the era of globalization and technological advancement, the market for Chinese root carving art has expanded significantly, particularly with the rise of cross-border e-commerce. The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) presents an intriguing market for such art due to its diverse cultural landscape and growing interest in traditional crafts. This editorial examines the market value of Chinese root carving art in ASEAN countries, focusing on how cross-border e-commerce can facilitate its international dissemination and commercialization. By analyzing the unique appeal of root carving, the cultural context of ASEAN, and the advantages and challenges of cross-border e-commerce, this editorial aims to provide insights and strategies for promoting the internationalization of Chinese root carving art.

Xuan paper, an essential treasure of Chinese culture, has long been the heart of calligraphy and ink painting. This paper delves into the delicate balance between preserving the traditional craft of Xuan paper and embracing the innovation of modern technology, highlighting how these advancements have transformed its production process and expanded its role in contemporary mixed-media art. The traditional methods, rooted in skilled craftsmanship and natural materials, have served as the foundation for a material that can withstand centuries of artistic expression. With the rise of modern machinery and digital printing techniques, Xuan paper has evolved to meet the demands of today’s artists, offering enhanced durability and consistency while maintaining its unique texture. The fusion of old and new not only revitalizes this ancient art form but opens new avenues in contemporary art, where Xuan paper is now integrated with diverse materials and techniques. This editorial explores how technological innovations breathe new life into Xuan paper, providing artists with fresh tools for creative expression, while ensuring that its cultural heritage remains intact. Ultimately, this exploration aims to chart a course for the sustainable future of Xuan paper, making it relevant for both traditional and modern art forms.

Paper artifacts are important carriers of history and culture. As they age and are affected by environmental factors, their protection and restoration become increasingly important. This paper discusses the restoration techniques for paper artifacts, including cleaning, acid removal, strengthening, and surface protection. It also considers the application of digital technologies in artifact restoration. Digital scanning, virtual restoration, and digital display provide new solutions for artifact restoration, effectively protecting artifacts from further damage, enhancing accessibility, and promoting academic research and education. Although digital display faces challenges such as technological limitations, storage, and copyright issues, with technological advancements, the restoration and display of paper artifacts will see more innovations. The protection and transmission of paper artifacts have become an important task in global cultural heritage preservation.

Sustainability ethics is a relevant topic as we humans become more focused on the implications of “going green.” We all need to think about what sustainability means and the extent to which we need to change our individual behaviors so that its goals can be met. This editorial will explore the idea of how our ego plays a role in defining sustainable behavior and ways in which a breadth of ethical constructs can guide our thinking on what is right and what is wrong. All of us cannot give up meat or avoid flying, but all of us can engage in healthy dialogue to determine how we all can subscribe to the principles of sustainability in ethical ways, as governed by our understandings and feelings. Ultimately, we recognize ethical behavior as an ecosystem of social, environmental, and intellectual parameters which affect not only humans, but also the non-humans around us.

The machining processing of wood-plastic composites (WPCs) has some technological gaps in the field of surface damage mechanism and surface quality monitoring. In this study, orthogonal cutting tests were used to investigate the mechanisms of surface damage and the degree of chip (the material cutting off by cutting tool) curling of WPCs with various tool rake angles (from 5 ° to 40 °) and cutting depths (from 0.1 to 1 mm). Based on observations of the processed surface micromorphology, a surface damage model is proposed to describe the temperature-dependent reduction in adhesion force between polyethylene and wood flour. Chip curling was quantified by the point curvature in the side view. The curvature data for each chip point were negatively correlated with the depth of cut, but the relationship with the tool rake angle was less pronounced. The surface damage mechanism of WPCs during machining was revealed, providing a theoretical basis for improving surface quality through material formulation. The analysis of chip curvature offers theoretical support for the dynamic observation of chip morphology and elucidates the relationship between chip morphology, cutting depth, and tool rake angle. These findings can serve as a foundation for monitoring cutting precision in practical production.

Over the past decades, consistent efforts have been dedicated to addressing the challenge of low performance of protein-based wood adhesives. This study explored the potential of polyethyleneimine (PEI) as a crosslinker for improving the bonding strength of canola protein isolate (CPI) and canola meal (CM) bio-adhesive. Simultaneously, the effect of the pH value of the slurry was investigated. Three-layer particleboards were manufactured using the canola-based adhesives and subjected to testing for their internal bonding strength (IB), bending strength (BS), and modulus of elasticity (E-modulus). Results showed that, despite the low PEI ratio utilized, notable enhancements in the mechanical properties of the boards were observed. The IB values increased by 17% and 15% for CPI and CM-based adhesive formulations, respectively; while the BS exhibited rose by 13% and 9%, respectively. It was observed that an increase in pH contributed to enhanced bonding properties of the bio-based adhesive. By enhancing the denaturation of the protein and increasing the free reaction group in the protein chain, this improves the crosslinking mechanism of PEI, leading to improved mechanical properties.