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Topic Review
Paper-Based Humidity Sensors
Paper, especially nanopaper, is a very promising material for the development of low-cost flexible humidity sensors suitable for a wide range of applications.
  • 415
  • 12 Apr 2023
Topic Review
Chitosan, Zein and Essential Oil as Bio-Based Coating
Modifications of the packaging paper surface play an important role in a variety of industries, especially in the food sector. Uncoated paper has poor water and oil barrier properties due to its porous structure. Packaging paper could be successfully coated with different coating solutions containing combinations of chitosan, zein and rosemary essential oil. The chitosan and zein were actually coated in two layers; the mixed chitosan–rosemary oil and the mixed zein–rosemary oil were each applied as one layer to the paper. The results showed increased oil barrier properties in the papers coated with mixed zein–rosemary oil and reduced water permeability in the papers coated with the chitosan–rosemary oil coating solution. The result of this two-layer coating showed excellent water and oil barrier properties. All the coated papers showed a high thermal stability, especially those coated with chitosan, zein and rosemary oil layer by layer. Scanning electron microscopy was used to verify the surface di erences of the coated papers, such as the closed structure, pores and smoother surface, especially in the layer-wise coated samples. Due to their good mechanical and chemical properties, coated papers with rosemary oil can be used in many applications, possibly also in the field of repellents.
  • 407
  • 12 Jan 2023
Topic Review
Enriching WPCs and NFPCs with Carbon Nanomaterials
Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and graphene, with their unique mechanical, electrical, thermal, optical, and wettability properties, are very effective fillers for many types of composites. Recently, a number of studies have shown that CNTs and graphene may be integrated into wood–plastic composites (WPCs) and natural-fibre-reinforced polymer composites (NFPCs) to improve the existing performance of the WPCs/NFPCs as well as enabling their use in completely new areas of engineering. 
  • 407
  • 02 Mar 2022
Topic Review
Basic Principles of Microwave and Ultrasound Treatments
In the context of biorefinery and bioeconomy, lignocellulosic biomass is increasingly used to produce biofuels, biochemicals and other value-added products. Microwaves and ultrasound are emerging techniques that enable efficient and environmentally sustainable routes in the transformation of lignocellulosic biomass. 
  • 359
  • 30 Nov 2023
Topic Review
History of Pleating
Pleating is basically the process of compressing high-quality hardwood along the grain after plasticization by supporting the sides of the wood to avoid buckling. Many treatment variations can be used with a wide range of parameters. Pleated wood can be bent into small curves in any direction. Industrial pleating is still done today in some parts of the world and its success is influenced by many factors, such as wood species, wood quality, moisture content, compression ratio, fixation time, etc. The treatment significantly changes the physical, mechanical and anatomical parameters of the wood. The first written record of the procedure dates back to 1917, and since then many patents, articles, and books on this subject have been published.
  • 335
  • 25 May 2023
Topic Review
Optically Transparent Bamboo
As environmental concerns and the desire to establish a sustainable civilization become more urgent, bamboo has been identified as a potential replacement for materials based on non-renewable resources. There are about 1500 species of bamboo and 36 million hectares of bamboo planting area widely distributed across America, Asia, and Africa. Indeed, bamboo is an important forest resource, having a higher yield, more rapid growth rate, and better mechanical properties than wood, as well as a high aspect ratio and excellent biodegradability. In terms of growth rate, bamboo has a short growth cycle of 3–5 years, whereas wood has a growth cycle of 20–60 years. Furthermore, single bamboo fiber has average tensile strength and modulus of 1.6 GPa and 33 GPa, respectively, which is significantly higher than other known natural fibers, such as cotton, coir, henequen, and ramie. Bamboo has been widely used to fabricate various structural composites, including bamboo scrimber composites, laminated bamboo lumber, and bamboo-fiber-reinforced epoxy composites.
  • 330
  • 23 Aug 2022
Topic Review
Incorporate Plant-Based Biomaterials in Power Generation
Biomass-derived materials have traditionally been used to generate electrical energy through the combustion of their organic components. However, within the past few years, certain common biomass compounds, especially plant-based products such as cellulose and lignin, have drawn attention in the energy field due to their wide availability, low cost, and chemical versatility. In the case of cellulose, the combination of crystalline and amorphous domains, along with the high surface area and abundance of hydroxyl groups, has allowed for its application in multiple devices to harvest energy from the environment. 
  • 226
  • 12 Jun 2023
Topic Review
Improvement of Antibacterial Properties of Wood Surfaces
Wood is a raw material that is renewable and has good mechanical properties, as well as being inexpensive and having abundant reserves. It has been extensively employed in furniture, construction, and other industries. In addition to being a material for furniture and interior decoration, it can have applications in high-tech sectors.
  • 220
  • 21 Feb 2023
Topic Review
Wood-Composite for Wastewater Purification and Desalination
The ecosystem has been seriously affected by sewage discharge and oil spill accidents. A series of issues (such as the continuous pollution of the ecological environment and the imminent exhaustion of freshwater resources) are becoming more and more unmanageable, resulting in a crisis of water quality and quantity. Therefore, studies on industrial wastewater purification and solar-driven seawater desalination based on wood composites have been widely considered as an important development direction. Generally, functional nanomaterials are loaded into the wood cell wall, from which lignin and hemicellulose are selectively removed. Alternatively, functional groups are modified on the basis of the molecular structure of the wood microchannels. Due to its three-dimensional (3D) pore structure and low thermal conductivity, wood is an ideal substrate material for industrial wastewater purification and solar-driven seawater desalination.
  • 213
  • 29 Dec 2023
Topic Review
Pellet Production from Pruning and Alternative Forest Biomass
Typically, coniferous sawdust from debarked stems is used to make pellets. Given the high lignin content, which ensures strong binding and high calorific values, this feedstock provides the best quality available. However, finding alternative feedstocks for pellet production is crucial if small-scale pellet production is to be developed and used to support the economy and energy independence of rural communities. These communities have to be able to create pellets devoid of additives and without biomass pre-processing so that the feedstock price remains low. The features of pellets made from other sources of forest biomass, such as different types of waste, broadleaf species, and pruning biomass, have attracted some attention in this context.
  • 211
  • 12 Jul 2023
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