Bio-processing of bamboo fibres for textile applications: a mini review

Experimental Investigations on the Application of Natural Plant Fibers in Ultra-High-Performance Concrete

Due to its high strength, the use of ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC) is particularly suitable for components subjected to compressive loads. Combined with its excellent durability, UHPC can be used to produce highly resource-efficient components that represent a sustainable alternative to conventional load-bearing structures. Since UHPC fails in a brittle manner without the addition of fibers, it is typically used in conjunction with micro steel fibers. The production of these steel fibers is both expensive and energy-intensive. Natural plant fibers, due to their good mechanical properties, cost-effective availability, and inherent CO2 neutrality, can provide a sustainable alternative to conventional steel fibers. Thanks to the low alkaline environment and dense matrix of UHPC, the use of natural plant fibers in terms of durability and bond is possible in principle. For the application of natural plant fibers in UHPC, however, knowledge of the load-bearing and post-cracking behavior or the performance of UHPC reinforced with natural plant fibers is essential. Currently, there are no tests available on the influence of different types of natural plant fibers on the load-bearing behavior of UHPC. Therefore, five series of compression and bending tensile tests were conducted. Three series were reinforced with natural plant fibers (bamboo, coir, and flax), one series without fibers, and one series with steel fibers as a reference. Under compression loads, the test specimens reinforced with natural plant fibers did not fail abruptly and exhibited a comparable post-failure behavior and damage pattern to the reference specimens reinforced with steel fibers. In contrast, the natural plant fibers did not perform as well as the steel fibers under bending tensile stress but did show a certain post-cracking bending tensile strength. A final life cycle assessment demonstrates the superiority of natural plant fibers and shows their positive impact on the environment.

A review of recent developments in kenaf fiber/polylactic acid composites research

Kenaf fiber has recently garnered exponential interest as reinforcement in composite materials across diverse industries owing to its superior mechanical attributes, ease of manufacture, and inherent biodegradability. In the discourse of this review, various methods of manufacturing kenaf/Polylactic acid (PLA) composites have been discussed meticulously, as delineated in recently published scientific literatures. This paper delves into the chemical modification of kenaf fiber, examining its consequential impact on tensile strength and thermal stability of the kenaf/PLA composites. Further, this review illuminates the role of innovative 3D printing techniques and fiber orientation in augmenting the mechanical robustness of the kenaf/PLA composites. Simultaneously, recent insightful explorations into the acoustic properties of the kenaf/PLA composites, underscoring their potential as sustainable alternative to conventional materials have been reviewed. Serving as a comprehensive repository of knowledge, this review paper holds immense value for researchers aiming to utilize the capabilities of kenaf fiber reinforced PLA composites.

Recent Developments of Carboxymethyl Cellulose

Carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) is one of the most promising cellulose derivatives. Due to its characteristic surface properties, mechanical strength, tunable hydrophilicity, viscous properties, availability and abundance of raw materials, low-cost synthesis process, and likewise many contrasting aspects, it is now widely used in various advanced application fields, for example, food, paper, textile, and pharmaceutical industries, biomedical engineering, wastewater treatment, energy production, and storage energy production, and storage and so on. Many research articles have been reported on CMC, depending on their sources and application fields. Thus, a comprehensive and well-organized review is in great demand that can provide an up-to-date and in-depth review on CMC. Herein, this review aims to provide compact information of the synthesis to the advanced applications of this material in various fields. Finally, this article covers the insights of future CMC research that could guide researchers working in this prominent field.

Green Composites Made of Bamboo Fabric and Poly (Lactic) Acid for Packaging Applications-A Review

Petroleum based thermoplastics are widely used in a range of applications, particularly in packaging. However, their usage has resulted in soaring pollutant emissions. Thus, researchers have been driven to seek environmentally friendly alternative packaging materials which are recyclable as well as biodegradable. Due to the excellent mechanical properties of natural fibres, they have been extensively used to reinforce biopolymers to produce biodegradable composites. A detailed understanding of the properties of such composite materials is vital for assessing their applicability to various products. The present review discusses several functional properties related to packaging applications in order to explore the potential of bamboo fibre fabric-poly (lactic) acid composites for packaging applications. Physical properties, heat deflection temperature, impact resistance, recyclability and biodegradability are important functional properties of packaging materials. In this review, we will also comprehensively discuss the chronological events and applications of natural fibre biopolymer composites.

Synthesis of Sodium Carboxymethyl Cellulose Based on Pretreated Bamboo Shaving

Bamboo shaving is a by-product of bamboo industry, often be discarded or incinerated. In this work, sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) was prepared from pretreated bamboo shaving as raw material, while the main reaction conditions affecting product properties such as pretreated method, alkalization temperature and time, etherified temperature and time were studied. The results showed that the optimized pretreated conditions for bamboo cellulose were soaked in 15% NaOH at 1:8 (w/v) ratio of cellulose to solvent for 1 h at 95°C, The content of α-cellulose reach to 94.25%. The optimized reaction conditions for CMC synthesis were alkalified at 30°C for 70 min and etherified at 55°C for 90min; afterwards, temperature was kept at 70°C for 10min. Under these conditions, viscosity of 1% CMC aqueous solution was above 260 mPa·s, degree of substitution (DS)≥0.8, and content of chloride and moisture were less than 1.2 % and 10 % respectively.