This article explores the development of sustainable bioplastic composites based on agricultural and food waste for agricultural applications, specifically as biodegradable seedling pots. This paper evaluates two bioplastic matrix types: one derived from banana peels and potato starch (BPS), and another from banana and potato peels (BP). The bioplastic composites were prepared in a two-stage process: initially, the bioplastic matrix was formed, followed by the incorporation of 25 wt% or 50 wt% crushed sunflower agro-waste. The sunflower agro-waste underwent fractional and microstructural analysis to determine the plant filler's structural and technological properties. Additionally, water absorption, impact strength, and flexural strength were evaluated for both the neat matrices and the resulting composites. Microstructural studies highlighted clear differences between the matrices. The peel-only matrix (banana and potato peels) featured a light brown surface with a sugary film but no significant caramelization. In contrast, the starch-based matrix (banana peel and potato starch) presented a dark surface, indicative of thermal caramelization. These findings indicate distinct processing behaviors and varying thermal stabilities during matrix formation. Optimal performance characteristics were achieved by the peel-only composite containing 25 wt% crushed sunflower agro-waste. The composite maintained mechanical integrity despite water absorption reaching 107% at 60 minutes and 122% at 24 hours. Additionally, it recorded the highest strength parameters among the studied formulations, featuring an impact strength of 3.1 kJ/cm² and a flexural strength of 43.5 MPa. These findings indicate an optimal balance among water retention, water resistance, mechanical strength, and formability for agricultural applications. The results confirm the viability of utilizing food and sunflower agro-waste to develop sustainable bioplastic composites. Specifically, the proposed materials are highly suitable for manufacturing biodegradable seedling pots that successfully combine operational strength and water-retaining capacity with subsequent biodegradation in soil.
In this work, we present an intermittent immersion microfluidic system for the micropropagation of plant tissue, composed of one hydraulic chamber that controls the nutrient exchange in the plant tissue and their respective microfluidic interactions through the media level and the vortex produced by a propeller to micropropagate agave oteroi. A custom-engineered microfluidic bioreactor with a double-inlet/outlet configuration with a peristaltic flow and an air pump, in a microvortex generated by a propeller. The model was designed in SolidWorks and simulated using CFD in FlowWorks and COMSOL, employing the universal physical properties of water. This system effectively facilitates nutrient transport to the agave tissue model by mediating substance transfer when it is submerged. This microfluidic platform provides intermittent nutrient to plant tissue; the optimal design simulation demonstrates a flow rate in the tissue of 35.3 mL/s and a minimal pressure drop of 80.7 mPa. The simulation displays a uniform wall shear stress distribution across the culture surface and a maximum pressure drop of 107 Pa around the chamber, under simulated conditions. These findings provide a plant tissue culture system for the observed performance and support further device optimization. This work aims to obtain, through computational simulations, the ideal parameters for testing the microfluidic system with the media and parameters derived from the simulation to propagate agave tissue.
The growing use of biopolymers has positioned them as sustainable alternatives to conventional petroleum-based plastics. However, biodegradability and origin do not guarantee chemical safety, as contaminants, processing residues, functional additives, and degradation products may introduce significant human and environmental health risks. This review examines the sustainability of biopolymers used in human-contact applications through analytical techniques, with particular emphasis on Jordan’s emerging bioeconomy. Jordan possesses abundant renewable feedstocks growing in saline environments, yet a gap remains in determining whether these geochemical stressors impact the feedstock and, thus, the finished biopolymer product. Twelve locally studied polymer systems are evaluated for potential contamination pathways and their fit within life-cycle frameworks. Current studies prioritise equal usability over synthetic plastics across various applications, but developments in trace-element screening of feedstocks, region-specific life-cycle inventory data, and frameworks and regulatory standards, especially for long-term exposure, will confirm holistic sustainability rather than mere degradability.
Near-surface-mounted strengthening with polymer-based carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) bars has been proved as one of the efficient techniques in enhancing the shear capacity of reinforced concrete RC deep beams. This paper presents an experimental investigation on the shear behavior of RC deep beams strengthened with NSM CFRP bars. Five identical RC deep beam specimens with the same geometry and internal steel reinforcement were tested under two-point loading. One specimen was left un-strengthened as a control beam; while four specimens have been strengthened by CFRP bars embedded in the shear zone with two orientations, 0°/90° and 45°/135°, and two spacing configurations, 100 and 150 mm. Response parameters of prime interest included first shear cracking load, ultimate shear capacity, crack pattern, and mid-span deflection. The findings of the experiment demonstrated that NSM CFRP strengthening improved the shear performance of deep beams; depending on the orientation and spacing of the CFRP bars, shear capacity augmentation ranged from about 14% to 47% in comparison to the control specimen. Additionally, at similar load levels, strengthened beams demonstrated a 10% to 40% decrease in mid-span deflections and fracture widths. The test results demonstrate how well polymer-based CFRP bars inserted using the NSM technology improve the stiffness and shear strength of RC deep beams.
Fluidisation is a critical process in polymer laser sintering, but limited studies have been conducted in this area. In this regard, two-dimensional numerical models were used, in this study, to establish a suitable flowrate and period of fluidization for a polypropylene powder material used as a feedstock in polymer laser sintering. The study also investigated the impact of different spreading parameters and properties of material such as, bulk-density, particle-size, and fluidised bed height, on the fluidisation behaviour of powder in the supply bins of EOS P380, P385, and P396 machines. A computational fluid dynamic (CFD) software, Fluent, was identified and applied to investigate the fluidisation behaviour of a polypropylene material. The results arising from the numerical modelling revealed that the suitable fluidisation-flowrate for the material considered is 20 liters/min and the period lies between one and three seconds. It was also established that it might be difficult to fluidise polymeric materials with a density equal to or greater than 1500 kg/m3, particle sizes equal to or greater than 90 µm, and for bed heights below 0.10 m.
The structural behavior and thermally induced stresses of steel members play an important role in the safety, serviceability and long-term performance of civil engineering structures exposed to high temperatures and high humidity. Variations in stiffness, thermal deformation and stress redistribution directly affect the bearing capacity, deflection limit and durability of structural components, especially when polymer-based coatings and hybrid polymer-metal systems are used for environmental protection. In this study, a numerical investigation is performed to measure the thermomechanical response of commonly used structural steels (AISI 304, 316, 1020 and 1045) subjected to coupled thermal and humid conditions. Key structural parameters including elastic stiffness degradation, thermal deflection and thermal stress development are evaluated to support rational material selection and performance-based structural design. The results show that increasing temperature gives a significant increase in deflection for all steel grades due to a reduction in Young's modulus, while the thermally induced stress decreases as a result of hardness softening. Carbon steels (1020 and 1045) exhibit low thermal deflection and high structural stiffness, while stainless steels (304 and 316) exhibit superior resistance to moisture-induced corrosion and environmental degradation, which is essential for durability-oriented structural applications. These findings highlight the inherent trade-off between structural stiffness, thermal compatibility and environmental resistance when choosing a steel substrate.
In this research paper, a detailed examination of the mechanical properties and morphologies of PLA and PBAT polymer blend materials which were produced through 3D printing techniques was conducted. The examination was completed using a PLA/PBAT/Joncryl blended material with a composition ratio of 77/20/3 wt% and manufactured through FDM techniques and an experimental design technique known as the Taguchi method to evaluate the effects of various manufacturing parameters on the mechanical characteristics of the material. This study investigates the mechanical and morphological performance of FDM-printed PLA/PBAT/Joncryl blend specimens using a Taguchi L9 design. A PLA/PBAT/Joncryl blend (77/20/3 wt%) was fabricated and printed by varying layer height (0.16–0.24 mm), printing temperature (190–210 °C), and infill density (50–100%). The optimal condition (0.16 mm, 210 °C, 100% infill) produced a maximum tensile strength of 41.20 N/mm² and elongation of 12.42%. ANOVA results confirmed infill density as the most significant parameter contributing 81.35% of the variance (P = 0.009). SEM revealed reduced voids and improved interlayer fusion at higher infill levels, while DMA showed higher storage modulus (~2200 MPa) for 100% infill specimens. The findings provide a process–structure–property relationship for optimizing biodegradable PLA/PBAT components for high-strength applications. This study illustrates that the infill % is the primary parameter that should be adjusted, while the layer height and printing temperature contribute but to a lesser extent to the improved performance of biodegradable PLA/PBAT/Joncryl blends.
Polymer-based coatings, composite wraps, and functional polymer interfaces are increasingly used to enhance the durability and axial performance of steel piles in infrastructure applications. The establishment of baseline behavior of uncoated piles is a prerequisite for the design of integrated polymer systems. This paper presents an experimental comparison of the axial performance of H-section steel and closed-ended pipe piles embedded in poorly graded sand (SP) at 58% relative density. Eighteen static load tests were carried out on single piles and 2-pile and 4-pile groups using L/D ratios of 10 and 15. H-piles consistently demonstrated higher ultimate capacities because of soil plug formation, better interface shear mobilization, and densification during driving. Capacity gains with increasing L/D were as high as 109%, and up to 365% in H-pile groups. The test results establish a benchmark dataset for developing polymer-coated, polymer-modified, and FRP-strengthened pile systems and contribute to advances in polymer applications in geotechnical and infrastructure engineering.
This paper presents the investigation of sustainable construction composites manufactured from rPET and rHDPE with the addition of nano-silica, graphene oxide, and nanoclay. The composites were fabricated by melt blending and compression molding. Mechanical, thermal, and durability performances of the composites were tested according to ASTM specifications. Experimental test results revealed that with an optimum loading of 3 wt% nanofillers, there is an enhancement in tensile and flexural strength by up to 35%, improvement of thermal stability by 20-25 °C, and a reduction of water absorption by about 25% compared to unreinforced polymers. SEM, FTIR, and XRD analyses confirm enhancement in interfacial bonding and refinement of microstructure. Compressive strength in the range of 38 to 43 MPa was obtained, which indicates that these materials are suitable for lightweight panels and non-structural elements. The results are in agreement with previously reported literature data and emphasize the possibility of recycled polymer-nanofiller composites to provide low-density durable construction material with an environmental benefit. The engineering-oriented outcome of this study focuses on the optimization of filler dispersion and performance to enable scalable and sustainable application.
This study systematically optimizes the key electrospraying parameters—flow rate, applied voltage, and nozzle-collector distance—for generating polymer micro/nanospheres from aqueous solutions of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP). Solutions at concentrations of 10%–15% w/v were characterized by conductivity measurements, revealing a significant solvent-dependent effect (450 µS/m–590 µS/m for water vs. 44 µS/m–56 µS/m for ethanol). Through iterative testing, two distinct sets of optimal parameters were identified: 10% PVA at 20 µL/h, 25 kV, and 12 cm distance, and 15% PVP at 10 µL/h, 30 kV, and 14 cm distance. Statistical analysis (ANOVA) confirmed a significant interaction between polymer type and concentration on solution conductivity (p< 0.05). Strict environmental control (≤24 °C, ≤44% RH) was essential for process stability. Optical microscopy confirmed the formation of structures under the optimized conditions. This work establishes a reproducible parametric framework for the electrospraying of PVA and PVP, providing a critical foundation for the subsequent development of functional polymer particles for potential applications in catalysis and drug delivery.
Carbon dioxide (CO2) is the most significant greenhouse gas, accounting for 77% of global warming and is produced by the combustion of fossil fuels in industries. Carbon capture, storage and utilization (CCUS) is a possible pathway in achieving the emission reduction target set by the Canadian government in 2050. The transportation of the captured CO2 to storage is a critical factor in the CCUS process, which is frequently hindered by corrosion. The impurities in CO2 lead to corrosion risks, which are generally addressed using inhibitors, corrosion-resistant alloys, and polymer coatings in the oil and gas sector. However, CO2 corrosion is more complex than CO2 sweet corrosion. It is difficult to obtain a single inhibitor capable of mitigating CO2 corrosion in pipelines, and corrosion-resistant alloys are too expensive to be used throughout all sections of the pipeline. Polymers are employed as coatings. For gaseous and supercritical CO2, which leads to defects in the coatings, such as blisters and porosity. As a result, researchers have focused on using nanocomposite coatings to control CO2 corrosion. This review paper focused on the interactions of CO2 with impurities on polymer and polymer nanocomposites. In particular, the most commonly used clay and graphene polymer nanocomposites coatings and their interactions with CO2 were discussed. Further, the transport properties of CO2 through polymers and polymer nanocomposites and the interaction mechanism were analyzed. The paper concludes with the processing methods used for the polymer and polymer nanocomposite coatings.
Polycaprolactone (PCL) is a semi-crystalline, biodegradable aliphatic polyester that has emerged as a versatile biomaterial for tissue engineering, drug delivery, and regenerative medicine applications due to its exceptional biocompatibility, controlled degradation kinetics (2-4 years in vivo), and FDA approval status for multiple medical devices. Despite these advantages, pure PCL exhibits significant limitations including low mechanical strength (16-24 MPa tensile strength), hydrophobic surface properties (water contact angle 80-90°), and minimal bioactivity, which restrict its clinical utility in load-bearing and cell-interactive applications. To address these shortcomings, researchers have developed PCL-based composite systems by incorporating bioactive ceramics (hydroxyapatite, β-tricalcium phosphate), natural polymers (collagen, chitosan, gelatin), synthetic polymers (PLA, PLGA), and nanomaterials (carbon nanotubes, graphene oxide) to create multifunctional biomaterials with enhanced properties. This comprehensive review analyzes PCL composite development over the past two decades, emphasizing fabrication techniques including electrospinning, 3D printing, solvent casting, and melt blending, which enable precise control over scaffold architecture and functionality. Comparative analysis with other biodegradable polymers (PGA, PLGA) reveals PCL's unique advantages in long-term applications, with studies demonstrating >90% cell viability, ~65% bone regeneration in animal models, and sustained drug release profiles extending 6-8 weeks. Recent innovations include smart, stimuli-responsive PCL systems for targeted therapy, gene delivery platforms, and bioprinting applications that have advanced from laboratory research to clinical trials, with several PCL-based products (Neurolac®, Osteoplug®) receiving regulatory approval. Current challenges include manufacturing scalability, long-term biocompatibility assessment, and complex regulatory pathways for multi-component systems. Future developments focus on integrating artificial intelligence for scaffold design, 4D printing technologies for dynamic structures, and multidisciplinary approaches combining materials science with precision medicine. This review demonstrates that PCL-based composites represent a transformative class of biomaterials with customizable properties that bridge fundamental research and clinical translation, positioning them at the forefront of next-generation biomedical technologies.
Hybrid composites have been considered emerging materials that have garnered the attention of researchers around the globe. Combining two kinds of reinforcement may balance their merits and demerits in hybrid composites. In this work, glass fiber/wire mesh-reinforced epoxy composites were prepared via vacuum infusion to minimize void formation. Non-hybrid wire mesh and glass fiber-reinforced composites were also fabricated for comparison purposes. The thicknesses of all the composite laminates were fixed at 4 mm. Tensile tests were performed at a cross-head displacement rate of 2 mm/min with reference to ASTM D3039 to obtain the modulus of composite laminates. Subsequently, the tensile modulus of each composite laminate was predicted using the Rule of Hybrid Mixtures (RoHM). A comparison was made between the modulus of the composite laminates obtained from the tensile tests and prediction using RoHM. In accordance with the results obtained, it was found that the incorporation of glass fiber increased the modulus of the hybrid composites but did not significantly improve their tensile strength. The highest modulus (22.6 GPa) was obtained in non-hybrid glass fiber-reinforced composites, which is 107.71 % greater than non-hybrid wire mesh-reinforced composites. When comparing the experimental and predicted tensile modulus of the glass fiber/wire mesh composite laminates, both results matched well, demonstrating a linear increase in the tensile modulus with an increase in glass fiber content. Overall, the percentage error of the prediction was in the range of 3 – 6 %, indicating a high accuracy of the RoHM.
Ultrafiltration membranes are widely used in wastewater filtration due to their efficiency relative to conventional water treatment technologies. To improve the antifouling property of the PVDF membrane, a composite ultrafiltration membrane was fabricated employing the in-situ embedment approach throughout the phase inversion process and utilizing a new 2D material, MAX phase Molybdenum Titanium Aluminium Carbide (Mo2TiAlC2). The membranes were described using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and porosity measurements. Rejection tests were applied to study the produced membranes. Adding Mo2TiAlC2 increased the hydrophilicity of the composite membrane compared to the pristine membrane. Porosity and membrane pore size increased with the addition up to 0.6% wt. The most hydrophilic membrane (M3) recorded the highest protein rejection of 84.9%, which was much higher than that of the pristine membrane. These findings highlight the potential of Mo2TiAlC2 as a promising PVDF membrane additive.
Fused deposition modeling (FDM) has become a widely adopted additive manufacturing method for producing functional polymer components across industrial and biomedical domains. However, ensuring both mechanical performance and safety reliability remains challenging due to the sensitivity of FDM outcomes to process parameters. This study proposes a decision-making framework integrating Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) and Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) to optimize FDM process parameters—layer thickness, infill density, print speed, and extrusion temperature—based on mechanical and safety performance indicators. Experimental and decision analyses identified an optimal configuration of 0.2 mm layer thickness, 80% infill density, 60 mm/s print speed, and 220 °C extrusion temperature, resulting in a 17.6% improvement in tensile strength and a 14.3% increase in safety factor, calculated as the ratio of maximum tensile stress to yield stress, compared to baseline settings. The proposed framework provides a systematic pathway for balancing mechanical integrity and safety reliability in polymer additive manufacturing, offering practical value for industrial optimization and sustainable design.
This study investigates the structural and chemical interactions in nanoparticle-doped polymer dispersed cholesteric liquid crystals using Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. Cholesteric liquid crystals known for their helical structure and optical selectivity, were embedded in a polymer matrix, and doped with silver metal nanoparticles. Samples were fabricated using polymerization-induced phase separation and analyzed through FTIR to examine the addition of nanoparticles and their influence on functional group behavior. Shifts in characteristic absorption bands (C=O, O–H, and metal–oxygen) and appearance of new peaks in the fingerprint region suggested significant interfacial interactions among the nanoparticles and the composite matrix. The findings reveal the effectiveness of FTIR in elucidating the molecular-level effects of nanoparticle doping in liquid crystal-based hybrid systems. Such improvements underscore the significance of nanoparticle–polymer interactions in designing thermally robust functional composites, thereby expanding their potential for advanced structural, optical, and sensing applications.
Ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) is highly regarded for its superior mechanical properties, chemical resistance, and biocompatibility. However, its extremely high melt viscosity inhibits direct use in extrusion-based additive manufacturing techniques like fused deposition modeling (FDM). This study explores enhancing the processability and FDM compatibility of UHMWPE by blending it with high-density polyethylene (HDPE) and polyethylene glycol (PEG). Three formulations were assessed: neat HDPE, a 70:30 (w/w) binary HDPE/UHMWPE blend, and a ternary blend of HDPE/UHMWPE/PEG at 60:30:10 (w/w/w). Consistent with prior literature, pure HDPE displayed stable extrusion and excellent filament quality facilitating high-fidelity prints. The binary blend allowed filament formation but showed rough surface morphology and compromised print quality due to poor miscibility, echoing similar challenges reported in polymer blend studies. The ternary blend, intended to improve melt flow via PEG plasticization, resulted in erratic filament diameter and unreliable extrusion, highlighting the delicate balance needed in additive incorporation. These outcomes confirm that HDPE incorporation improves UHMWPE extrusion capabilities; however, advanced compatibilization techniques and refined processing, such as twin-screw extrusion, remain essential for achieving dependable FDM performance. The findings offer critical insights for designing UHMWPE-based filaments tailored for biomedical and industrial additive manufacturing applications.
Emerging advancement in nanotechnology have facilitated the embedment of nanomaterials (NMs) such as graphene and derivatives, carbon nanotubes and derivatives, nanowires, and so on, within polymeric matrices to attain enhanced properties, especially fire retardancy, in polymeric nanoarchitectures (PNC) for multifarious applications. In thermal interface materials (TIM) for electronic gadgets, notable fire hazards are often ignored, whereas PNC exhibiting electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding are frequently subjected to accidental fires. Furthermore, fire warning sensors with capability of rapidly exposing fire dangers in combustible materials plays a key role in mitigating or entirely eliminating fire disasters in most scenarios. Moreover, the escalating evolution of electronic gadgets in the fifth-generation (5G) era has made superlative fire safety, thermal stability and high-performance of PNC highly imperative. Nanowires are one-dimensional (1-D) nanostructures possessing a high length to diameter aspect ratios, unique flame retardant (FR), mechanical, electrical, thermal, and optical properties. The inclusion of different forms of nanowires within polymeric matrices has tremendously enhanced the flame retardancy (F-R) of nanowire@polymeric nanoarchitectures (N-PNC) thereby enlarging their scope of applications. Therefore, this paper presents advances in flame retardancy of nanowire polymeric nanoarchitectures.
This study investigates the enhancement of mechanical properties in polymer-modified steel fiber-reinforced concrete (PMSFRC) incorporating demolition waste as a sustainable coarse aggregate replacement. The work addresses the dual objectives of resource recycling and performance optimization within environmentally responsible construction practices. Results show that replacing natural coarse aggregates with demolition waste slightly reduces compressive strength from 44.1 MPa to 41.6 MPa. However, the incorporation of PC-600 Flocrete superplasticizer effectively compensates for this reduction, increasing compressive strength to 49.4 MPa. Significant improvements were also observed in tensile strength, which increased from 5.7 MPa to 6.1 MPa, and in flexural strength, which increased from 12.1 MPa to 15.5 MPa for mixes with 100% waste replacement. Additionally, the modulus of elasticity improved from 26.5 GPa to 30.5 GPa, demonstrating enhanced stiffness and structural viability. These findings confirm that polymer modification enables effective utilization of concrete waste without compromising structural integrity, promoting cleaner production, circular material use, and sustainable innovation in civil infrastructure.
The global reliance on fossil-derived polymers continues to contribute to environmental degradation and climate change [...]
