Effect of wood sawdust content on rheological and structural changes, and thermo-mechanical properties of PVC/sawdust composites

Sawdust, a versatile, inexpensive, readily available bio-waste: From mother earth to valuable materials for sustainable remediation technologies

Sawdust or wood shaving is a relatively abundant and inexpensive lignocellulosic compound, which is provided by mother nature. It is a waste of industry and agriculture, that is found in large quantities and has disposal problems. Nowadays, waste management (like sawdust) and research on converting it to different compounds for special applications and goals have been receiving tremendous attention. So, introducing sawdust as a kind of interesting bio-waste and turn it into wealth for diverse utilizations can be mentioned as the main goal of this overview. In this regard, in the first part, sawdust structure and properties are considered. It is then followed by highlighting its wide applications in sustainable water remediation technology, production of activated carbon, oil-water separation, and high-performance composites fabrication. Please come on to start a journey on this motivating topic.

Design and Development of False Ceiling Board Using Polyvinyl Acetate (PVAc) Composite Reinforced with False Banana Fibres and Filled with Sawdust

This work deals with design and development of false ceiling board from polyvinyl-acetate (PVAc) composite reinforced with false banana fibres and filled with sawdust. The aim was to develop a light weight and good strength performance false ceiling board using raw materials that are fully biodegradable including sawdust, thus solving the problem of its disposal. The false banana fibres were characterized for its tensile strength, elongation, and moisture content since these parameters affect the composite properties. Hand lay-up method combined with compression molding followed by curing was utilised in the manufacture of the false ceiling composites. The optimum proportions of the raw materials were identified using central composite design software, and the results were 40% sawdust, 40% binder (PVAc), and 20% fibres. The mechanical properties of the developed composite board were evaluated in terms of its tensile strength, flexural strength, and compressive strength. In addition, the composite physical properties were also evaluated including its density and moisture absorption. The optimum results obtained were tensile strength of 12.54 N/mm2, compressive strength of 7.03 N/mm2, and flexural strength of 5.13 N/mm2.

Preparation of Sawdust-Filled Recycled-PET Composites via Solid-State Compounding

Recently, consumer markets have shown great interest in sustainable products. Considerable research efforts are headed towards developing biodegradable and recyclable polymers and composites. In this study, the fabrication of a wood–plastic composite (WPC) via solid state compounding has been examined. Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and wood sawdust waste as major components of waste and challenging materials for the manufacturing of WPCs have been explored. Furthermore, the addition of poly(ε-caprolactone) as a biodegradable plasticizing agent was investigated. Composite powders were prepared by cryogenic solid-state milling (cryomilling) according to a statistical mixture design. Mechanical and water absorption properties were inspected on film samples obtained by hot pressing. Different formulations resulted in a variety of colors, textures, water interactions and mechanical properties. A sawdust content of approximately 25 vol.% was optimal for the best combination of properties. The results indicated that cryomilling is technically advantageous in the production of WPCs.

Processing and Properties of Natural Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Composite

A novel low cost polymer composite using brown grass flower broom reinforcement is prepared. The prepared polymer composite has the lowest porosity, homogeneous surface structure, and the greatest interface bonding. From the physico-mechanical characterization such as: hardness measurement, density measurement, void fraction or porosity measurement, and flexural strength measurement, it is found that the prepared composite is of light weight and high strength. Again, from dielectric behaviour of this polymer composite, it is found that this material has an efficiency that is considered as a high valued marketable product. As the composite is made using bio-materials from local resources, its cost is less compared to other polymer composites available today.