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The development of bio-based composites and products from natural biomass offers a viable solution to the resource and environmental issues caused by non-renewable petrochemical feedstocks. Nevertheless, the high carbon content inherent in biomass renders bio-based materials highly flammable, thereby increasing their susceptibility to fire hazards and limiting their potential applications. In this study, flame retardant starch/wood fiber composites (SWA) were developed, utilizing starch as the matrix, wood fiber as the reinforcing phase, ammonium polyphosphate (APP) as the flame retardant, and calcium carbonate (CaCO 3 ) as both an inorganic filler and a flame retardant synergist. The SWA composites incorporating 5 % (SWA-5) and 10 % (SWA-10) APP achieved UL-94 V-0 rating, with limiting oxygen index (LOI) of 41.5 % and 57.8 %, respectively. Compared to the control group, SWA-10 exhibited significantly reduced heat release and smoke emission rates, with total heat release (THR) and total smoke production (TSP) reduced by 50.4 % and 72 %, respectively. Additionally, SWA-5 exhibited excellent mechanical properties and outstanding thermal insulation, while SWA-10 showed remarkable biodegradability. Therefore, this work developed ultra-high flame retardant bio-based composites with excellent overall performance, making them suitable for thermal insulation and green building applications., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

To rapidly acquire fiber phenotypic data for wood quality assessment, we used a portable NIR spectro-meter to collect spectral data in 100 individuals of Schima superba at 18-year-old of 20 different provenances, and simultaneously collected wood cores. Wood basic density and the anatomical structure of wood fiber were measured. The standard normal variate (SNV), orthogonal signal correction (OSC), and multiplicative scatter correction (MSC) methods were used for spectral preprocessing, the competitive adaptive reweighted sampling (CARS) method were used for wavelength selection, and the partial least squares regression (PLSR) model were established. The results showed a significant difference for the absolute reflectance data between forest and indoor environments, and the spectral data of which were relatively independent. SNV, OSC and MSC showed significant differences for predictive performance of the model. OSC had the excellent preprocessing capability in multiple cha-racteristics of wood fiber ether in forest and indoor environments. The predictive accuracy of the models with R 2 was 0.47-0.78 in forest (average=0.63), and R =0.58 and 0.72, respectively). When performed OSC before and after CARS, the predictive accuracy of the models was improved to 0.68 and 0.84 respectively using forest and indoor data. The OSC and CARS could significantly improve the accuracy of the models for wood fiber anatomical structures. First OSC, then CARS, and finally OSC methods could be used to establish the PLSR model for fiber length, fiber cell wall thickness, fiber lumen diameter, wood basic density, fiber cavity-width ratio, and fiber wall-cavity ratio, and the 2 ranged from 0.80 to 0.95. These models had effective predictive ability and accuracy to assess the physical properties of wood fibers of R 2 =0.58 and 0.72, respectively). When performed OSC before and after CARS, the predictive accuracy of the models was improved to 0.68 and 0.84 respectively using forest and indoor data. The OSC and CARS could significantly improve the accuracy of the models for wood fiber anatomical structures. First OSC, then CARS, and finally OSC methods could be used to establish the PLSR model for fiber length, fiber cell wall thickness, fiber lumen diameter, wood basic density, fiber cavity-width ratio, and fiber wall-cavity ratio, and the R 2 ranged from 0.80 to 0.95. These models had effective predictive ability and accuracy to assess the physical properties of wood fibers of S. superba .

The high density and poor thermal insulation of traditional wood-plastic composites limited the application in the field of building materials. In this paper, wood fiber (WF) and PLA were used as raw materials and azodicarbonamide was used as the foaming agent. Lightweight WF/PLA composites were prepared by the hot-pressing foaming method, aiming to obtain renewable, low-density material with high strength-to-weight ratio and thermal insulation performance. The results showed that after adding 20 % WF into PLA, the cell morphology was excellent and the cell size was uniform. The magnification reached the minimum value of 0.36 g/cm 3 and the foaming magnification was 3.42 times. The impact strength and compressive strength were 3.16 kJ/m 3 and 4.12 MPa, its comprehensive mechanical properties were outstanding. The thermal conductivity of foamed materials was 0.110-0.148 (W/m·K), which was significantly lower than that of unfoamed materials and common wood. Its excellent mechanical properties and thermal insulation can be suitable for application in the construction field to replace traditional wood., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Cell walls, especially secondary cell walls (SCWs), maintain cell shape and reinforce wood, but their structure and shape can be altered in response to gravity. In hardwood trees, tension wood is formed along the upper side of a bending stem and contains wood fiber cells that have a gelatinous layer (G-layer) inside the SCW. In a previous study, we generated nst/snd quadruple-knockout aspens (Populus tremula × Populus tremuloides), in which SCW formation was impaired in 99% of the wood fiber cells. In the present study, we produced nst/snd triple-knockout aspens, in which a large number of wood fibers had thinner SCWs than the wild type (WT) and some had no SCW. Because SCW layers are always formed prior to G-layer deposition, the nst/snd mutants raise interesting questions of whether the mutants can form G-layers without SCW and whether they can control their postures in response to changes in gravitational direction. The nst/snd mutants and the WT plants showed growth eccentricity and vessel frequency reduction when grown on an incline, but the triple mutants recovered their upright growth only slightly, and the quadruple mutants were unable to maintain their postures. The mutants clearly showed that the G-layers were formed in SCW-containing wood fibers but not in those lacking the SCW. Our results indicate that SCWs are essential for G-layer formation and posture control. Furthermore, each wood fiber cell may be able to recognize its cell wall developmental stage to initiate the formation of the G-layer as a response to gravistimulation., (© 2021 Society for Experimental Biology and John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Biopolymer-based flame retardants (FR) are a promising approach to ensure adequate protection against fire while minimizing health and environmental risks. Only a few, however, are suitable for industrial purposes because of their poor flame retardancy, complex synthesis pathway, expensive cleaning procedures, and inappropriate application properties. In the present work, wheat starch was modified using a common phosphate/urea reaction system and tested as flame retardant additive for wood fibers. The results indicate that starch derivatives from phosphate/urea systems can reach fire protection efficiencies similar to those of commercial flame retardants currently used in the wood fiber industry. The functionalization leads to the incorporation of fire protective phosphates (up to 38 wt.%) and nitrogen groups (up to 8.3 wt.%). The lowest levels of burning in fire tests were measured with soluble additives at a phosphate content of 3.5 wt.%. Smoldering effects could be significantly reduced compared to unmodified wood fibers. The industrial processing of a starch-based flame retardant on wood insulating materials exhibits the fundamental applicability of flame retardants. These results demonstrate that starch modified from phosphate/urea-systems is a serious alternative to traditional flame retardants., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

[Display omitted] Multinary metal sulfides (MMSs) are highly suitable candidates for the application of electrocatalysis as they offer numerous parameters for optimizing the electronic structure and catalytic sites. Herein, a stable nanoarchitecture consisting of MMSs ((NiCoCrMnFe)S x) nanoparticles embedded in S, N-codoped carbon (SNC) layers derived from metal organic framework (MOF) and supported on carbonized wood fibers (CWF) was fabricated by directly carbonization. Benefiting from this carbon-coated configuration, along with the synergistic effects within multinary metal systems, (NiCoCrMnFe)S x @SNC/CWF delivers an exceptionally low overpotential of 260 mV at a high current density of 1000 mA cm−2, a small Tafel slope of 48.5 mV dec−1, and robust electrocatalytic stability. Furthermore, the (NiCoCrMnFe)S x @SNC/CWF used as the cathode of rechargeable Zn-air batteries demonstrates higher power density and remarkable durability, surpassing that of commercial RuO 2. Thus, we showcase the feasibility and advantages of employing highly efficient and durable MMSs materials for low-cost and sustainable energy conversion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A peat substrate is made from peat from drained peatlands, which is a limited resource. A realistic estimate is that 50% of the world's wetlands have been lost. Peat is used in horticulture, especially for the cultivation of vegetables in greenhouses. The consequences of peatland exploitation are an increase in the greenhouse effect and a decrease in carbon stocks. Wood fiber can be used as an alternative to peat. The chemical properties of growing media interact and change continuously due to the small volume of growing media, which is limited by the growing container. This study aims to gain new knowledge on the impact of nutrient changes in the microbial degradation of carbon compounds in wood fiber and mixtures with a peat substrate on the content and uptake of nutrients required by plants. The cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) variety 'Dirigent H' developed in the Netherlands was cultivated in growing media of a peat substrate and wood fiber: (1) peat substrate (PS); (2) wood fiber (WF); (3) wood fiber and peat substrate 50/50 v/v (WF/PS 50/50); (4) wood fiber and peat substrate 25/75 v/v (WF/PS 25/75). The rates of fertilization were the following: (1) conventional fertilization (CF); (2) 13 g N per plant (N13); (3) 23 g N per plant (N23); (4) 30 g N per plant (N30). The experiment was carried out with three replications. As the amount of wood fiber increased, the humidity and pH of the growing media increased. The fertilization of the cucumbers with different quantities of nitrogen influenced the nutrient uptake. The plants grown in the 50/50 and 25/75 growing media had the best Cu uptake when fertilized with N23. When the plants grown in the wood fiber media and the 50/50 media were fertilized with N13, N23, and N30, the Mn content in the growing media at the end of the growing season was significantly lower than the Mn content in the media with conventional fertilization. Thus, nitrogen improved the uptake of Mn by the plants grown not only in the wood fiber, but also in the combinations with a peat substrate. Growing plants in wood fiber and fertilizing them with N13 can result in the optimum uptake of micronutrients. The number and biomass of cucumber fruits per plant were influenced by the amount of wood fiber in the growing media and the application of nitrogen fertilizer. The highest number of fruits and biomass of fruits per plant obtained were significantly higher when the cucumbers were grown in WF/PS 50/50 growing media with additional N13 fertilization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the effects of shredded waste office paper as a raw material on the physical and mechanical properties of fiberboard. Two amounts of urea formaldehyde (UF) resin (10 and 15%) and five shredded waste office paper/wood fiber mixing ratios (0/100, 25/75, 50/50, 75/25, and 100/0) were selected. The findings showed that all characteristics of boards were improved with an increase in resin content at various wastepaper participation ratios. The 15% UF-bonded board with 100% wood fiber had the highest modulus of rupture (MOR) value, but there was no statistically significant difference between it and the board with 50% wastepaper. The modulus of elasticity (MOE) values of the 15% UFbonded boards increased as the wastepaper participation ratio increased, and the highest was obtained from the board with 75% wastepaper. The highest internal bond (IB) strength value was also recorded from the 15% UF-bonded board with 50% wastepaper. This was due to the presence of sufficient bonding potential and smoother surfaces in the shredded wastepaper, which allowed for a synergistic interaction between the wastepaper and wood fiber. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the effects of substrates composed of various ratios of wood fiber and peat (0, 25, 50, 75, and 100% peat (v/v)) mixed with different amounts of lime (0, 2, 4, 6, and 8 g L−1) and start fertilizer (0, 2, and 4 g L−1 Multimix) on the growth and biomass accumulation of petunia (Petunia x hybrida Vilm 'Finity F1 Purple') and basil (Ocimum basilicum L. 'Marian') in an ebb-and-flow greenhouse system. Growth parameters included plant height, weight, canopy diameter, and chlorosis symptoms for petunia, along with substrate pH and EC measurements. Petunia showed optimal growth in substrates with higher peat content, while basil produced satisfactory biomass across a pH range of 5–7 regardless of substrate type. Optimal petunia cultivation in 100% wood fiber required a significant dose of start fertilizer without lime. Monitoring pH and EC using pour-through and press methods revealed a pH decrease in substrates with added start fertilizer, while substrates with higher wood fiber content were less acidic. Substrates with over 50% (v/v) wood fiber without lime showed a rapid pH increase over five weeks. The pour-through method generally underestimated EC values compared to the press method. These findings contribute to optimizing the wood fiber/peat blends for sustainable horticulture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study examined the wood properties of Pterocarpus erinaceus, a species found in West Africa's Guineo-Sudanian and Sudano-Sahelian zones. The primarily focus was on wood fiber properties, which serve as indicators of cambial growth and the transition between juvenile and mature wood. The aim was to analyze the factors contributing to the variability of the wood fiber properties. Specifically, it examined the effect of cambial age and ecological factors on fiber properties and analyzed how the fiber properties influence density and dimensional characteristics of the wood. Measurements of fiber properties were obtained from 451 specimens collected in the Guinean, Sudanian, and Sahelian zones in Burkina Faso, Niger, and Togo. The results indicate significant variations in average fiber parameters among the three climatic zones. This variability leads to an increase in the length, width, and thickness of the fibers along the north–south decreasing rainfall gradient. However, no noteworthy correlations were observed between cambial age and fiber properties, posing challenges in distinguishing between juvenile and adult wood. In terms of correlation, the analysis shows that fiber length has no effect on physical properties, but fiber width significantly influences basic density, wood shrinkage, and the fiber saturation point (FSP). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As peat (P) demand increases throughout the horticultural industry, alternative fibers must be evaluated. Sugarcane bagasse (B), wood fiber (W), and coconut coir (C) have received interest as domestically available alternatives to P, with demonstrated success in producing greenhouse crops. However, there is limited research comparing these materials to peat. This research evaluated the substrate properties and productivity of Petunia Supertunia Mini Vista 'Indigo' in pine bark substrates amended with C, W, B, or P and fertigated weekly at 100, 200, or 300 parts per million (ppm) nitrogen (N) to account for possible N immobilization. The container capacity was lowest and air-filled porosity was highest in W and B substrates. Substrate pH increased in W and B substrates, and C substrates were fertigated at 100 ppm N. Increasing the N rate increased the growth index in all substrates, especially B and W substrates later in the production period. Higher fertilization increased shoot mass, chlorophyll content, and blooms across all substrates, demonstrating that fertilizer supplementation may offset possible N immobilization. While plant growth and quality parameters were greatest in the P blend, increasing N applications produced similar-quality plants using alternative substrates, demonstrating that modifying fertilizer management practices can make alternative fibers a viable horticultural substrate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Greenhouse tomato production faces multiple challenges, including the excessive use of nonrenewable substrates that are difficult to dispose of after use. Currently, most growers propagate tomatoes in rockwool, but there is an increasing demand for sustainable media. The objective of this research was to evaluate sustainable and organic alternatives for greenhouse propagation of tomato seedlings intended for high-wire production. Different organic and inorganic substrates were evaluated in three experiments, using a nutrient solution composed of a complete water-soluble fertilizer. Germination and growth parameters, including height, stem diameter, number of leaves, leaf area, foliar chlorophyll levels (SPAD), and shoot fresh and dry weight, were measured. In the first experiment, which employed overhead irrigation, rockwool, coir, wood fiber–coir mix, medium-grade pine bark, pine bark < 0.64 cm, and pine bark < 0.32 cm were evaluated. Tomato germination was faster and achieved higher percentages with pine bark < 0.64 cm compared to other substrates. However, growth performance was similar or better in coir than in rockwool four weeks after transplantation. For the second experiment with sub-irrigation only, rockwool, coir, wood fiber–coir mix, pine bark < 0.32 cm bark, and peat were evaluated at different container heights. Peat resulted in greater growth across all parameters, followed by wood fiber–coir mix in all container heights, while pine bark had the least growth across all measured parameters. In the third experiment with overhead irrigation, rockwool, wood fiber–coir mix, pine bark < 0.32 cm, and a commercial peat-based mixture were evaluated under different fertilizer rates (electrical conductivity of 1.1 and 2.2 mS·cm−1). Wood fiber–coir mix, peat-based mix, and rockwool were the substrates with the highest values for all evaluated parameters. While all the organic substrates showed potential for use in tomato propagation, pine bark < 0.32 cm bark and wood fiber–coir mix provided the best media for germination. Peat and wood fiber–coir mix showed the best media for subsequent seedling growth and demonstrated potential to be used as substitutes for rockwool. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Developing green and high‐strength composites with feasible manufacturing process is desirable for advanced applications in construction, transportation, automotive, aerospace, and so on. A novel green and high‐strength wood fiber (WF)/waterborne epoxy resin (WEP) composite with high fiber content, low‐cost, and simple processing was proposed in this study. WF was simply and directly mixed with WEP and the mixture was hot‐pressed to mold the composite. The optimal tensile and flexural strength of 98 MPa and 155 MPa were achieved at 80% WF content, which were superior to those of traditional WF/EP composites. The interphase thickness of 220 nm of WF/WEP composite was more than twice as high as that of 109 nm of WF/EP composite, which was resulted from the penetration of WEP in the micro‐nano structure of WF. Furthermore, the thermal performance of WF/WEP composite was also promoted compared to those of WF/EP composites. This work demonstrated that composites with high WF content could achieve high performance and exhibit significant potential in many applications. Highlights: Wood fiber/waterborne epoxy resin composites fabricated by a green and simple process.Optimal mechanical properties were achieved at 80% wood fiber content.WEP penetrated in the micro‐nano structure of WF.The composites with high WF content achieve high performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wood fibers (WFs) were treated at a fixed heat temperature (180 °C) for 2−6 h and added to a polylactic acid (PLA) matrix to produce wood−PLA composite (WPC) filaments. Additionally, the effects of the heat-treated WFs on the physicomechanical properties and impact strength of the WPC filaments and 3D-printed WPC parts using fused filament fabrication (FFF) were examined. The results revealed that heat-treated WFs caused an increase in crystallinity and a significant reduction in the number of pores on the failure cross section of the WPC filament, resulting in a higher tensile modulus and lower elongation at break. Additionally, the printed WPC parts with heat-treated WFs had higher tensile strength and lower water absorption compared to untreated WPC parts. However, most of the mechanical properties and impact strength of 3D-printed WPC parts were not significantly influenced by adding heat-treated WFs. As described above, at the fixed fiber addition amount, adding heat-treated WFs improved the dimensional stability of the WPC parts and it enabled a high retention ratio of mechanical properties and impact strength of the WPC parts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent decades, there has been a growing concern about the excessive consumption on petroleum-based sources. Scientists are now focused on increasing the utilization of natural and renewable sources instead of nonrenewable ones to produce safety and environmentally friendly products. Their aim is to maintain and enhance product performance while also keeping production costs in check. Within this framework, natural-fiber insulation boards emerge as a trending topic and consequently, also the use of natural adhesives to supply them and reach an entirely friendly-environment product. Natural-fiber insulation material performance is typically evaluated by its mechanical and physical properties. Among them are bending, compression, tensile strength, density, water absorption, and thermal conductivity. Throughout the cited literature, a diversity of vegetal-origin fibers, especially wood-fibers and natural adhesive sources like lignin, tannins, and proteins for insulation materials has been found, which are constantly improved in order to reach a superior production scale. This work provides a summary of research that focuses on natural fiber insulation products as well as natural adhesives, pointing to Polylactic Acid (PLA). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Enhancing mechanical properties of environmentally friendly and renewable polymers by the introduction of natural fibers not only paves the way for developing sustainable composites but also enables new opportunities in advanced additive manufacturing (AM). In this paper, wood fibers, as a versatile renewable resource of cellulose, are integrated within bio-based polylactic acid (PLA) polymer for the development and 3D printing of sustainable and recycle green composites using fused deposition modeling (FDM) technology. The 3D-printed composites are comprehensively characterized to understand critical materials properties, including density, porosity, microstructures, tensile modulus, and ultimate strength. Non-contact digital image correlation (DIC) technology is employed to understand local stress and strain concentration during mechanical testing. The validated FDB-based AM process is employed to print honeycombs, woven bowls, and frame bins to demonstrate the manufacturing capability. The performance of 3D-printed honeycombs is tested under compressive loads with DIC to fully evaluate the mechanical performance and failure mechanism of ultra-light honeycomb structures. The research outcomes can be used to guide the design and optimization of AM-processed composite structures in a broad range of engineering applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adding wood fiber to the 3D printing material can make the 3D-printed product have the characteristics of natural dyeing and material. Because wood fiber is mostly waste and cheap, it can reduce material cost. For environmental sustainability, it is a very promising filling material. Currently, there are 3D printing consumables using wood fiber on the market, most of which are made by drawing wires with polylactic acid (PLA). Due to the low accuracy and yield of frequency-division multiplexing (FDM) printing using filaments, it cannot be extended to mass production industrial use, and natural pellets cause the problem of nozzle clogging. In contrast, if fiber is mixed with polyurethane acrylate (PUA), it can be printed by DLP and cured through the photocuring reaction. This method has no clogging problem and has high printing accuracy, enabling industrialized mass production that requires high yield and accuracy. Therefore, in this study, Taiwan incense-cedar (high economic and ecological value tree species) was applied to commercial PUA materials for DLP 3D printing. Mix wood fiber with different ratios and commercial PUA, conduct printing and performance tests, and then compare the mechanical properties and finished product effects with commercial PLA printed products that add wood fiber. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many greenhouse growers rely on peat-based soilless substrates to produce salable crops in a relatively short period of time. Peat-based substrate suppliers often incorporate additional organic materials such as wood fiber to extend peat supplies. Given the relative success of wood-based substrates, growing interest in other fiber materials such as sugarcane bagasse may provide similar benefits for substrate processers. The objective of this research was to evaluate substrate properties and the productivity of a short-term floriculture crop, Osteospermum 'Bright Lights Purple', in a commercially available peat-based substrate (PL) that has been amended with either commercially available wood fiber [Hydrafiber (HF)] or an aged sugarcane bagasse fiber (SCB). Thus, substrates consisting of PL amended with 15% or 30% HF or SCB were developed. Plants were fertigated weekly at rates of 100, 200, or 300 ppm N, respectively. Crop growth and fertility dynamics were assessed. Substrate shrinkage was greatest in the 30% bagasse blend but had minimal impact given the 2-month crop cycle. The incorporation of 15% and 30% SCB and HF produced slight changes in pH over a 9-week growth period, with HF generally raising pH and SCB generally lowering pH compared with the 100% PL, showing promise for bagasse in managing substrate pH where irrigation water has high pH and/or alkalinity. Substrate EC was initially reduced by blending SCB and, to a lesser extent, HF, but differences ceased to exist by the end of the experiment. Chlorophyll and blooms were abundant in all substrates and fertigation rates. Regardless of fertigation rate, 30% HF had the lowest growth index and shoot dry mass, and 30% SCB had the lowest root dry mass, although differences were not visually apparent. Foliar N concentrations were greatest in plants grown in the PL and SCB substrates and lowest in HF blends. Overall, growth and dry mass differences were minimal across substrate treatment and fertigation rate, and all plants were marketable with statistically similar shelf life. In conclusion, this research indicates the potential of using SCB as a substrate amendment for short-term crop systems in a similar manner as wood fiber. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the influence of fiber particle size on the mechanical properties of a wood-–plastic composite (WPC) was investigated using a combination of experimental measurements and numerical modeling. Four different sizes of wood fibers (10–20 mesh, 20–40 mesh, 40–80 mesh, and 80–120 mesh) were used to reinforce high-density polyethylene (HDPE), either separately or in combination. The different sizes of fibers produced varying properties in the resulting composites. The smallest fiber size (80–120 mesh) resulted in the lowest flexural and tensile properties, but the highest impact strength (15.79 kJ/m2) compared to the other three sizes (12.18–14.29 kJ/m2). Using a blend of fiber sizes resulted in improved mechanical properties. Composites containing a mix of 20–40 mesh and 40–80 mesh fibers exhibited the best flexural (strength 74.16 MPa, modulus 5.35 GPa) and tensile performance (strength 48.27 MPa, modulus 4.30 GPa), while composites containing a mix of all four fiber sizes had the highest impact-resistant strength (16.08 kJ/m2). Several models, including the Rule of Mixtures (ROM), the Inverse Rule of Mixtures (IROM), and the Hirsch models, were used to predict the performance of WPCs. The ROM model was found to be the most accurate in describing the mechanical properties of WPCs reinforced with multi-size wood fibers, based on the sum squared error (SSE) analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is an increased interest in the hydroponic production of strawberries in protected cultivation systems, and it is, therefore, urgent to develop new, more sustainable growing media alternatives. This study investigated the physical properties of wood fiber produced from Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) H. Karst.) and peat:wood fiber substrate blends as well as the performance of the wood fiber in comparison to the industry standards, i.e., peat and coconut coir in the cultivation of hydroponic strawberry. Tray plants of the June-bearing strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa Duch.) cultivar 'Malling Centenary' were transplanted into five different growing media: a peat (80%) and perlite (20%) mixture, stand-alone (100%) coconut coir and three stand-alone (100%) Norway spruce wood fiber substrates (including coarse textured fibers with compact and loose packing density and compacted fine-textured fibers). Ripe strawberries were harvested and registered throughout the production season. The overall marketable yield was comparable across all the tested growing media; however, after 4 weeks of harvest, both coarse wood fiber and fine wood fiber showed better fruiting performance than the peat-perlite mixture. A trend for earlier berry maturation was observed for all wood fiber-based substrates. Plant parameters recorded after the end of production showed that plant height, number of leaves, and biomass production were higher in coarse wood fiber than in the peat-perlite mixture. Moreover, plants grown in wood fiber-based substrates had less unripe berries and flowers not harvested in comparison to both the peat and coir treatments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biomorphic porous La0.8Ce0.2Fe0.3Co0.7O3 perovskite‐type catalysts are synthesized through a facile bio‐templating method taking wood fiber as template for achieving the four‐way purification of PM, NOx, CO, and HC emitted by automobile exhausts. The catalyst samples were characterized by X‐ray diffractometer, Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscope and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller analysis. The results showed that catalyst sample calcined at 700°C obtained high purity, high surface area (4.01 m2/g), wide pore size distribution and retained the initial wood fiber structure, which was suitable for purifying automobile exhausts. In addition, the performances for four‐way purification under the simulated exhaust were analyzed by simulation test bench. The highest purification efficiency of PM, NOx, HC, and CO can reach 92%, 92%, 98%, and 76%, separately. Moreover, four‐way purification mechanism was deduced according to the theoretical research of Mars‐van krevelen on the redox reaction mechanism and experimental result. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Isotactic polypropylene (PP) is a widely used and versatile commodity polymer with several polymorphs (α, β, γ). β-form isotactic PP attracted more interest due to its improved mechanical properties in comparison with the more common α-form. Addition of β-nucleating agents is an easy approach to induce β-form in isotactic PP. Few studies paid attention to the use of β-PP as the matrix of natural fiber/PP composites. In this study, isotactic PP was nucleated by a β-nucleating agent N, N'-dicyclohexylterephthalamide (TMB-5) and then melt compounded with poplar wood fiber (WF) to prepare WF/PP/TMB composites. The influence of adding different contents (0.05, 0.1, 0.15, 0.3 and 0.5%) of TMB-5 on the crystalline morphology, melting and crystallization behavior, mechanical properties and heating deflection temperature (HDT) of WF/PP composites was investigated. It was found that TMB-5 accelerated the crystal nucleation and induced β-crystal growth due to TMB-5 provided the nucleation site. The crystals size of WF/PP/TMB composite decreased and crystals boundaries became blurred with the increasing contents of TMB-5. The TMB-5 contents also affected the self-assembly morphology of TMB-5 which further influenced the morphology of crystals. The relative content of β-crystal ( K β ) reached maximum value of 65.3% when the content of TMB-5 was 0.3%. But WF decreased K β of PP/TMB under same content of TMB-5 which demonstrated the interference of WF with the generation of β-crystal. For mechanical properties, impact strength of WF/PP/TMB composite reached maximum value of 9.6 kJ·m−2 when adding 0.05% TMB-5. The TMB-5 contents had an insignificant effect on the flexural strength and modulus of WF/PP/TMB composite. Compressive strength of WF/PP/0.3%TMB composite reached maximum value of 64.4 MPa, which increased by 25.5% compared to WF/PP composite. Moreover, TMB-5 could improve the HDT of WF/PP composite as well. These results revealed that the addition of β-nucleating agent TMB-5 is an effective and practical method to improve crystallization rate and mechanical properties of WF/isotactic PP composites. WF/PP/TMB composite can be used in construction decoration, catering, automobile applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Red soil is one of the most widely distributed soil types in Yunnan Province of China. Red soil is characterized by high plasticity, high void ratio, heavy viscosity, slightly acidic soil, as well as low water and fertility retention. Among them, alternate wetting and drying can be caused by rainfall, irrigation, high-temperature evaporation, and disturbances in production and construction projects, leading to the shrinkage, cracking, and swelling of red soil during drought. Soil water characteristics change dramatically, which is essential to carry out soil improvement in red soil regions. Soil reconstruction has been widely used in the practice of red soil improvement. Most research focuses mainly on the hydraulic properties of the natural red soil, rather than the reconstructed one. Furthermore, the wood fiber can be expected to serve as an ecological soil conditioner, in order to improve the ecological restoration, of the soil, and water conservation in the mining areas. However, it is still lacking on the effects of wood fiber additions on the physical properties of red soil in the combination of dry and wet alternation and wood fiber. In this study, a novel mechanism was proposed to clarify the impact of wood fiber reconstruction on the hydraulic properties of red soil during dry and wet alternation. The red soil was collected in Kunming City of Yunnan Province in China. Four types of wood fiber additions (0, 0.5%, 2.5%, and 5.0%) were used to improve the red soil. The matric suction of wood fiber composite soil was measured using filtering, and the soil-water characteristic curve (SWCC) was fitted using the Logistic model. The results showed that there was a gradually slow hysteresis in the dry-wet alternation on the decrease in the soil matric suction and SWCC of red soil, as the addition of wood fiber increased. Specifically, 2.5% wood fiber composite soil was the optimal ratio to improve soil water holding. The addition of wood fiber increased the intake and residual value of red soil. The residual value changed greatly under dry and wet alternations, whereas, there was a gradual decrease in the residual value, as the number of dry and wet alternations increased. The slope of 2.5% wood fiber composite soil was less affected by the dry and wet alternations, with the best capacity of water holding, while the volumetric water content decreased. The determination coefficients of soil-water characteristic curves were all above 0.97 after wood fiber addition, indicating that the Logistic model was suitable for the SWCC fitting of red soil that was modified with the wood fiber. The finding can provide a strong reference for soil reconstruction and ecological restoration during land consolidation in the red soil regions. A series of experiments were also carried out to determine the different amounts of wood fiber during dry and wet alternation. The relationship was also established between the impact of wood fiber improvement on the hydraulic properties of red soil. Since the specific impact can be depended on the physical indicators of the soil mass, further research can be expected to focus on the soil pore structure, aggregates, and permeability in the red soil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article investigates the relationships between soil characteristics (physical and chemical) and wood properties of Persian oak in three different elevation sites. For this purpose, 27 trees were randomly chosen and cut in Zagros forests in western Iran. The test samples were prepared at the stem (breast height) to examine physical and biometrical properties. For each elevation site, four soil samples were obtained at a 0-20 cm soil depth under the canopy of each tree to measure soil properties, including clay, silt soil, sand soil, electrical conductivity, pH, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and organic matter content. Then, the relationship of soil and wood properties was determined by principal component analysis. Results specified that there are a positive correlation between wood density and volumetric swelling with clay and available potassium. Moreover, the results revealed a positive correlation between fiber length, cell wall thickness, and fiber diameter with electrical conductivity, sand percentage, and total nitrogen content, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sediments remediated with a nature-based solution approach (NBS-sediments) can represent a suitable and affordable alternative to peat as a constituent of growing media for ornamental plant production based on the combination of advanced production efficiency and rational green use of resources, including peat and water. In a greenhouse experiment, the effect of different growing media containing NBS-remediated sediments on two-year-old container grown cherry laurel (Prunus laurocerasus cv. 'Novìta') under standard and induced restrictive irrigation was evaluated. Six ternary mixes with different proportion (45:30:25 and 30:20:50 v/v) of peat:pumice:sediment (PE:TS25, PE:TS50), coconut fiber:pumice:sediment (CF:TS25, CF:TS50) and wood fiber:pumice:sediment (WF:TS25, WF:TS50) were tested in comparison to the standard peat:pumice blend (60:40 v/v), commonly used for pot ornamental crops ad used as control (PE, control). Pots were drip irrigated with 200 and 250 cc daily water volume (DWV). Cherry laurels grown in the control showed the lowest sign of stress, maintaining the highest net CO2 assimilation and transpiration rates, however stomatal conductance was reduced compared to PE:TS mixes. On the other hand, photosynthetic performance was strongly depressed by WF:TS25 and WF:TS50 under reduced DWV compared to the control, due to the combined effect of physical properties of the used matrices and reduced water availability. Nevertheless, final biomass production of plants grown on sediment-based growing media was similar to that of control, indicating that photosynthetic performance of plants fully recovered during the cultivation period. Differences in final plant development were negligible when compared to quality standards of marketing categories. Thus, appropriately blended NBS-sediment-based growing media can be used on a larger scale to produce rustic outdoor ornamentals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Geopolymers based on fly ash are an emerging alternative to ordinary Portland cement, with a low impact on the environment and a potential to increase the sustainability of the concrete-based construction. Reported here is the design and investigation of new wood fiber reinforced geopolymer composites (WFRGC) based on fly ash and wood fiber (5–35 wt%). These WFRGC showed reduced mechanical properties with rising wood fiber addition as calculated by compressive strength with the cylindrical test (7.83–59.82 MPa); compressive strength at cubic test (6.95–50.23 MPa); force load at upper yield (0.70–5.02 KN); flexural strength (1.71–11.05 MPa); compressive modulus at cubic test (0.13–054 GPa); and flexural modulus (3.91–1293.61 MPa). The adding of wood fiber showed decreases of the density WFRGC (1.58–1.87 g/cm3) and decreases the thermal conductivity of WFRGC. The addition 20 wt% wood fiber could be the limit for acceptable mechanical properties. WFRGC with 20–35 wt% wood fibers may be a promising green material for building. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of wood-derived materials in soilless substrates for horticultural crop production is increasing; however, there is little information about the effects of wood on the incidence and severity of soilborne diseases of container-grown plants. The objectives of this research were to compare three differently processed wood substrate components blended with sphagnum peat and to investigate the effect of the peat:wood blend ratio on damping-off disease caused by Rhizoctonia solani using radish as a model system. In objective one, raw sphagnum peat was blended with three types of processed pine wood, screw-extruded, twin disc-refined, and hammer-milled, at a volumetric ratio of 70:30 and compared to a 70:30 peat:perlite mix. Radish plants grown in the hammer-milled wood and disc-refined wood had significantly lower damping-off disease severity compared to plants grown in the peat–perlite control. In objective two, sphagnum peat was blended with the three types of processed wood at a volumetric ratio of 90:10, 80:20, and 70:30 and compared to a 70:30 peat–perlite mix. The effect of the blend ratio varied by wood processing type. Higher percentages of Forest Gold and pine tree substrate resulted in lower disease severity. In both objectives, radish plants grown in any of the substrate treatments containing wood infested with R. solani tended to have lower disease severity compared to plants in the control. Results of this study indicate that the blending of processed pine wood-derived components into peat may enhance the natural suppression of damping-off disease of radish. Further research is needed to elucidate the mode of action of wood-derived materials on disease suppression in container-grown crops and to study the effects for other plant pathogens and crop species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The nanocomposites of high-density polyethylene, low-density polyethylene, polypropylene, and poly(vinyl chloride) reinforced with Azadirachta indica wood flour (WF) and different amounts of the organomodified nanoclay and titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanopowder were produced by melt-blending process followed by compression molding. Polyethylene- co -glycidyl methacrylate (PE- co -GMA) was used as a compatibilizer. TiO2 nanopowder was synthesized by sol–gel method and characterized using transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The average size of the synthesized nano-TiO2 was 17.5 nm, which was confirmed both by TEM and X-ray diffraction (XRD) study. The distribution of nanoparticles in the nanocomposites was also examined by the XRD study. The surface modification of the TiO2 nanoparticles by organic surfactant cetyl trimethyl ammonium bromide and their interaction with the wood and the polymer were studied by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Incorporation of compatibilizer PE- co -GMA, nanoclay, and nano-TiO2 significantly influenced the mechanical and thermal properties of the WF-reinforced composites. Wood polymer composites (WPC) reinforced with nanoclay and nano-TiO2 showed improved tensile strength, tensile modulus, flexural strength, flexural modulus, and hardness. Maximum improvement in mechanical properties was shown by WPC loaded with 40 phr WF, 2 phr nanoclay, and 2 phr of nano-TiO2. On inclusion of organically modified nanoclay and nano-TiO2, the WPC samples showed lower water uptake and higher chemical resistance. The nanocomposites were further examined by TEM study and thermogravimetric analyzer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study introduces a novel approach using wood fiber/PLA composite microperforated panel (WFCMPP) for indoor sound absorption purposes. WFCMPP, comprising rubber tree chip-derived fibers and a polylactic acid (PLA) matrix, with the dimensions of the rubber tree chip-derived fibers ranging from 0.5 to 1 mm, demonstrated promising sound absorption coefficients comparable to other natural fiber composite microperforated panels. The maximum sound absorption coefficient was recorded at 0.989 with a resonance frequency of 1416 Hz when the wood fiber composition was 30 %. The study also investigates the impact of wood fiber composition on sound absorption, revealing a linear relationship between fiber content and both porosity and sound absorption. The peak sound absorption coefficient of WFCMPP remained almost identical at different air gap thicknesses, showcasing the versatility and effectiveness of the samples. Additionally, the performance remained robust even with variations in air gap size. Scanning electron microscope analysis confirms the irregular porous structure and complexity contributing to enhanced sound absorption. WFCMPP presents a sustainable and effective alternative for acoustic applications, combining sound absorption performance with environmental considerations. [Display omitted] • Microperforated panels (MPPs) were fabricated from wood fiber/PLA composite using conventional machining. • Sound absorption of wood fiber/PLA MPPs (WFCMPP) was measured using an impedance tube. • All samples showed excellent absorption, with coefficients exceeding 0.9 between 1,400 and 1,470 Hz. • Porosity and surface morphology analyses were conducted to verify the complex structure of WFCMPP. • WFCMPP's sound absorption performance was comparable to other natural fiber-based MPPs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries are promising alternatives for the forthcoming generation of power and energy storage batteries due to their remarkable features and advantages. However, the large-scale application of Li-S batteries faces significant challenges posed by the shuttle effect of lithium polysulfides (LiPSs) and sluggish reaction kinetics of sulfur cathode. Herein, a low-priced Fe 2 O 3 /CFe 15.1 /Fe heterostructure was purposefully engineered and distributed within carbonized wood fibers (CWF) by a straightforward hydrothermal and pyrolysis process. The distinctive Fe 2 O 3 /CFe 15.1 /Fe heterostructure concurrently achieves both chemical adsorption and catalytic capability for LiPSs, effectively mitigating the shuttle effect. The optimized Fe 2 O 3 /CFe 15.1 /Fe heterostructure exhibits impressive electrochemical performance with a high initial capacity of 1174.7 mA h g−1 at 0.1 C, an outstanding rate capacity of 687.4 mA h g−1 at 2.0 C, and a remarkable cycling stability, maintaining a notable capacity of 513.6 mA h g−1 after 1000 cycles at 1.0 C. This work presents a viable strategy of a multifunctional Fe 2 O 3 /CFe 15.1 /Fe heterostructure to capture and expedite the transformation of LiPSs, realizing exceptional electrochemical performance. [Display omitted] • Fe 2 O 3 /CFe 15.1 /Fe heterostructure was constructed on carbonized wood fiber. • Carbonized wood fibers employed for modulating heterostructures. • Fe 2 O 3 /CFe 15.1 /Fe heterostructure could accelerate polysulfide reaction kinetics. • Resulting WCF/Fe 2 O 3 /CFe 15.1 /Fe achieved excellent electrochemical properties as cathodes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Decoupling the scaling relation of intermediates is an effective strategy to improve the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) catalytic efficiency. Herein, S-doped carbon-confined Fe.92 Co.08 S nanoparticles (Fe.92 Co.08 S@SC) anchored to S-doped carbonized wood fiber (SCWF) are fabricated via simple synchronous carbonization and sulfidation. Due to the synergistic catalytic effect of bimetallic and the unique structural effect of the supported catalyst, Fe.92 Co.08 S@SC/SCWF exhibit excellent OER catalytic efficiency with an overpotential of 238 mV at 50 mA cm and stability up to 100 h. Furthermore, a high current density of 500 mA cm−2 at an overpotential of 281 mV was achieved. Theoretical calculations and electrochemical characterizations confirm that bimetallic synergies can accelerate the surface reconstruction of Fe.92 Co.08 S@SC with highly efficient OER activity. For zinc–air battery applications, Fe.92 Co.08 S@SC/SCWF exhibits superior power density and stability over commercial RuO 2. This work provides insights into the preparation of supported electrocatalysts with bimetallic synergy for high-efficiency OER. [Display omitted] • Fe.92 Co.08 S@SC/SCWF was prepared by simple synchronous carbonization and sulfidation. • Fe.92 Co.08 S@SC/SCWF has excellent OER catalytic activity and stability. • Bimetallic synergies can accelerate the surface reconstruction of Fe.92 Co.08 S@SC. • The zinc-air battery using Fe.92 Co.08 S@SC/SCWF has excellent performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reactive chemical modifications have been shown to impart decay resistance to wood. These modifications change hydroxyl availability, water uptake, surface energy, and the nanostructure of wood. Because fungal action occurs on the micro and nano scale, further investigation into the nanostructure may lead to better strategies to prevent fungal decay. The aim of this article is to introduce our findings using small angle neutron scattering (SANS) to probe the effects of chemical modifications on the nanostructure of wood fibers. Southern pine wood fiber samples were chemically modified to various weight percentage gains (WPG) using propylene oxide (PO), butylene oxide (BO), or acetic anhydride (AA). After modification, the samples were water leached for two weeks to remove any unreacted reagents, homopolymers or by-products and then the equilibrium moisture content (EMC) was determined. Laboratory soil-block-decay evaluations against the brown rot fungus Gloeophyllum trabeum were performed to determine weight loss and decay resistance of the modifications. To assist in understanding the mechanism behind fungal decay resistance, SANS was used to study samples that were fully immersed in deuterium oxide (D2O). These measurements revealed that modifying the fibers led to differences in the swollen wood nanostructure compared to unmodified wood fibers. Moreover, the modifications led to differences in the nanoscale features observed in samples that were exposed to brown rot fungal attack compared to unmodified wood fibers and solid wood blocks modified with alkylene oxides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soy meal-based wood adhesive has received much interest for its environmentally friendly properties, as it is thought to provide an effective alternative to conventional formaldehyde-based wood adhesives. However, the abundant hydrophilic groups and weak internal structure result in poor water resistance and low bonding strength of soy meal-based wood adhesives. In this study, bio-based carboxymethylated wood fibers (CMWFs) were used to develop a high-performance soy meal-based adhesive. Wood fibers (WFs) were pre-treated via carboxymethylation to endow WFs with abundant carboxyl groups and facilitate their dispersion in soy protein matrix. CMWFs containing abundant carboxyl groups served as a multiple "crosslinking core" and effectively cross-linked with soy protein side-chain, resulting in the construction of a stable adhesive system. The modified soy meal-based adhesive exhibited excellent bonding strength and water resistance. In particular, tension tests indicated that the water-resistant bonding strength of the adhesive modified with CMWFs reached 1.69 MPa, which was 160% higher compared with the unmodified adhesive; the wood failure percentage of the plywood bonded by CMWF-modified soy meal-based adhesive was as high as 100%. Moisture uptake and residual rate tests indicated that high water resistance of the adhesive was achieved. This design provides a facile and sustainable strategy for developing high-performance soy meal-based adhesives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To prolong the service lives of wood fiber (WF)/poly(lactic acid) (PLA) composites, composites with different contents of bis (2,6-diisopropylphenyl) carbodiimide (BDICDI) were prepared. The composites were buried in natural soil for 150 days to evaluate the stabilizing effect of BDICDI on the WF/PLA composites. It was also used to evaluate the properties changes of WF/PLA composites under extreme conditions. The changes in the chemical structures, molecular weights and thermal properties of the WF/PLA composites during soil burial and the stabilization mechanism of BDICDI on the composites were studied. The results showed that the addition of BDICDI reacted with both the formed acid and the water absorbed by the WF/PLA composites, which inhibited the breaking of ester bonds in the WF/PLA composites. After 120 days of soil burial, the tensile strengths of the WF/PLA/1 wt% BDICDI composites were 1.31 times to those of the WF/PLA composites. This research provided theoretical support to prolong the service lives of WF/PLA composites and expanded the application scope of WF/PLA composites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Wood fiber produced with pine waste was used to reinforced AAC. • Detailed comparison between WFAC and performances of PFAC was conducted. • The effect of fiber content in the production was tested. • Wood fiber had a positive impact on the mechanical strengths of AAC, but slightly increased the thermal conductivity. Using fiber produced with wood waste into AAC could reduce the negative impacts on environment and improve the mechanical property of AAC. To obtain a better understanding of wood fiber produced by pine waste used in autoclaved aerated concrete (AAC), a comparative study between performances of wood fiber reinforced AAC (WFAC) and performances of polyester fiber reinforced AAC (PFAC) was conducted. Fluidity of slurry and swollen height of forming mixture were measured during preparation. The influences of fiber content on the physical properties and mechanical properties of products were systematically investigated, together with the SEM investigation. In the most case, the effect of adding wood fiber into AAC was better than that of polyester fiber. Along with the increase of wood fiber content, the fluidity, swollen height and porosity decreased, while the volume density and thermal conductivity slightly increased. The mechanical property was significantly enhanced by wood fiber, particularly the flexural strength. Moreover, SEM results revealed the reinforcing mechanism of wood fiber was a physical interaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Recycling of construction and demolition waste (CDW) which contains materials with high resource value such as plastics, metals, wood, glass and concrete has been investigated in recent years due to tightening environmental legislation. Wood-plastic composites as an environmentally friendly material provide a possibility to enhance the recycling of material. The effect of the addition of CDW on the mechanical and moisture properties of WPC is studied in this paper. Three types of wood-plastic composites were manufactured with different amounts and composition of a CDW filler. Their properties were compared to the reference composite manufactured with virgin wood fibers and polypropylene as the polymer. It was found that the addition of the CDW filler weakened the mechanical properties of the composite generally, except for the fact that the Charpy impact strength was improved significantly. Minor variations in the composition of the CDW filler did not have an impact on the mechanical properties, but an increase in the amount of filler increased the deterioration of mechanical properties. For moisture properties, the addition of the CDW filler decreased the water absorption and thickness swelling of the composites. An increase in the filler content improved the thickness swelling more significantly than water absorption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to overcome the consumption of non renewable resources and serious environmental pollution caused by traditional petroleum based polymers, blending and modifying renewable PLA and wood fibers to replace traditional petroleum based plastics has become a current research hotspot. However, due to the large polarity difference between PLA and wood fibers, the performance of the composite material prepared is not ideal. To improve the performance of polylactic acid/poplar fiber (PLA/PF) composites and simplify the process, this study used cellulase and 2,2 '- (1,3-phenylene) - dioxazoline (PBO) co modification, a safe, environmentally friendly and simple process, to prepare the composites. The results show that the crystallization properties of cellulase and PBO-modified composites will be appropriately reduced, the microstructure shows that the interface of PLA/CF -5.5 /PBO is more tightly bonded, and the mechanical test results show that the modified material has excellent mechanical properties. Compared to the unmodified PLA/PF, PLA/CF -5.5 /PBO has a 28.85% increase in tensile strength, reaching 63.65 MPa. while its flexural strength reaches 116.07 MPa, representing a 21.45% increase. Surprisingly, the tensile and strength of PLA/CF -5.5 /PBO exceeds that of pure PLA, with the flexural modulus showing a significant increase of 43.96% compared to PLA. The above analysis shows that the effect of the two synergistic modification methods is significant, and the research results provide an environmental protection idea for the development of PLA matrix composites with high compatibility, good mechanical properties and good environmental adaptability, and broaden the application scope and value of the composites. [Display omitted] • Cellulase-treated wood fibers are eco-friendly, energy-saving, simple process. • New method: synergistic enhancement of PLA with wood fiber treated by cellulase and PBO. • The mechanical properties of PLA/CF -5.5 /PBO are at a high level in the research field. • PLA/CF -5.5 /PBO has higher tensile, flexural strength and modulus than pure PLA, adding 20% wood fibers reduces cost. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Development of high-performance, environmentally friendly polylactide (PLA) foam to replace petroleum-based polymer foam is crucial for promoting the sustainable and green development. Herein, flexible poly (butylene adipate-co-butylene terephthalate) (PBAT) is introduced into the PLA/wood fiber composite, and the PLA/PBAT/wood fiber composite foam is prepared by supercritical CO 2 batch foaming technology. The results show that the introduction of PBAT can reduce the storage modulus and Tanδ value of PLA/wood fiber composite, accelerate the rate of crystallization of composite, expand the temperature range for the crystallization of composite, improve the crystallinity of composite, leading to the improved foamability of composite. Compared with PLA/wood fiber composite foam, the volume swelling ratio of PLA/PBAT/wood fiber composite foam is increased to 10 times when the loadings of PBAT is 15 wt%. What's more, the apparent density of the composite foam is decreased to 0.13 g/cm3, the cell distribution is more uniform, and the ratio of closed cell is significantly improved. More importantly, when the content of PBAT is 15 wt%, the composite foam shows a superior compressive strength (1.66 MPa), which is 7.97 times higher than that of neat PLA foam. The excellent foamability of PLA/PBAT/wood fiber composite is attributed to the improved crystallization kinetics and melt elasticity due to the introduction of flexible PBAT. The as-prepared high-performance PLA/PBAT/wood fiber composite foam will be expected to have broad prospects in green and sustainable packaging, sound absorption, and thermal insulation materials. • PLA/PBAT/wood fiber composite foam is prepared by supercritical CO 2 batch foaming technology. • The introduction of PBAT could increase the melt strength of PLA and improve its crystallization rate. • The composite foam shows a high ratio of closed-cell, high expansion ratio, and a high compressive strength. • Compared with the pure PLA foam, the strength of PLA/PBAT/wood fiber composite foam is increased by 797 %. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • sea anemones biomimetic design is proposed for high-efficient ORR. • Single atom Co doped carbon nanotubes embedded with Co NPs act as sea anemones. • The synergistic effect of CoN 4 and Co NP reduces the energy barrier for ORR. • The Co/CoN 4 PCF exhibits excellent ORR performance and good application in ZABs. The construction of oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) electrocatalysts with well-textured structure and desirable activity remains great challenge for the complicated procedures and poor interface. Herein, inspired by sea anemones , the highly ordered Co–based carbon nanotubes electrocatalysts were elaborately assembled on wood fibers via stoichiometry. The porous cell-wall and abundant oxygen groups in lignocellulosic scaffold impose such preferable structure, in which the Co–based carbon nanotubes with Co single atoms and Co nanoparticles were tuned to possess higher catalytic activity and capture more oxygen species. As expected, the as-prepared electrocatalyst displays outstanding ORR performance with a half-wave potential of 0.9 V. The assembled Zn–air battery using this cathode catalyst shows a high-power density of 196 mW cm−2, superior to the commercial Pt/C catalysts. This work could inspire developing other biomimetic architectures for high-performance energy storage and conversion systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Enhanced atmospheric pressure corona-based weakly ionized plasma was investigated to modify surface properties of wood materials. The plasma was generated using a point-to-point bare electrode geometry without dielectric barriers. The gas-phase admixture used in this work was argon and acetylene. Wood fibers were processed in the post-discharge region outside of the harsh corona environment. Return corona emanating into the high-voltage gap from the grounded screen was utilized to effectively activate acetylene molecules near the substrate. Scanning electron microscopy was used to study the surface morphology of the treated and untreated substrates. The treated wood material was observed to contain on their surface nano- and micro-nodules of plasma-polymerized acetylene. Capillary rise measurements confirmed changes in the surface wettability of the substrates. The water capillary rise rate and diffusion coefficient were reduced by about 37% and 57%, respectively, for a 15-min treatment of ponderosa pine wood flour. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) rubber based bio-composites filled with silane-modified wood fiber (SiWF) were foamed by using chemical foaming method. The SiWF and the incorporation of dicumyl peroxide (DCP) generated crosslinking in the developed EPDM bio-composite foams, which showed much lower water absorption and improved thermomechanical properties. With SiWF and in situ cross-linking, the tensile strength and modulus of EPDM bio-composite foams exhibited up to 90% and 600% enhancement compared to the unfilled foam, respectively. The compressive strength and modulus individually showed up to 170% and 600% increase. The developed bio-composite foams also displayed lower apparent thermal conductivity than the unfilled EPDM foam over the heating temperature range, showing possible applications as insulation materials. [Display omitted] • Sustainable EPDM based bio-composite foams were designed and synthesized. • Silane-modified bio-composite foams showed much lower water absorption. • The bio-composite foams displayed cross-linking and improved properties. • The bio-composite foams displayed appealing insulation properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In controlled environment horticulture, nutrients are retained in horticultural substrates, resulting in additional export of the nutrients provided through fertigation. To increase feasibility of the circular use of renewable growing media, nutrient retention in the substrate should remain low during cultivation. The aim of the present study was to examine the effect on nutrient retention (1) if nutrient input via fertigation is reduced and (2) if alternative growing media are used. Nutrient dynamics were studied for soilless strawberry cultivation in two full-scale greenhouse trials with the short day cultivar Elsanta and with a new substrate blend with 25% v/v wood fiber and 15% v/v green compost versus a conventional peat-based blend (75/15/10% v/v peat/coir/perlite). The conventional fertigation regime was compared with a reduced fertigation regime, which contained 65% of the standard concentration for N, P K, Mg, Ca and S. The first trial was a nine month autumn-spring cycle; the second trial was a two month autumn cultivation. Peat-reduced blends with or without wood-based biochar resulted in the same fruit yield as the peat-based blends. Trial length and fertigation regime interacted to affect yield, with significantly lower yield in the long trial under reduced fertigation versus conventional fertigation, and higher yield under reduced fertigation in the shorter trial. These findings indicate that nutrient concentrations in the applied fertigation should not be reduced during the long autumn-spring cycle. Ca (76–88%), Mg (70–85%) and N (61–81%) are mainly retained in the spent medium, while K is mainly retained in the aboveground biomass (> 60%). K contents in the peat-reduced substrate clearly decreased during cultivation, the peat-reduced blend may thus be a source of K. Wood-based biochar in the blend (3–10% v/v) showed no effect on either nutrient retention or nutrient balance. [Display omitted] • Peat replacement up to 40% v/v with or without biochar maintained strawberry yield. • Applied Ca (76–88%), Mg (70–85%) and N (61–81%) were retained in all substrates examined. • Applied K (> 60%) was mainly retained in the aboveground biomass. • Fertigation at 65% of standard nutrient application led to lower P and K in spent media. • K content in peat-reduced substrate clearly decreased during cultivation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • G-C 3 N 4 network structure was constructed in N, S co-doped carbon matrix. • Carbonized wood fiber after etching was used as a carbon source. • CN network could regulate polysulfide and improve sulfur utilization. • Resulting NSPCF@CN achieved excellent electrochemical properties as cathodes. Lithium–sulfur batteries (LSBs) have become a dominant potential energy storage and conversion system because of their high theoretical specific capacity and energy density. Nevertheless, the shuttle effect and slow redox kinetics of polysulfides severely impede the wide application of LSBs. Herein, for polysulfide manipulation, a g–C 3 N 4 network structure was creatively constructed in N, S co-doped carbonized wood fiber lumen (NSPCF@CN) using an etching induction strategy. Benefiting from the desirable characteristics endowed by the CN network structure, such as large specific surface area, special interfacial C–N–C bond, the composite with high activity improves the redox kinetics of polysulfides, alleviates the shuttle effect, and reduces the volume change during charging and discharging. As expected, the cathode made from NSPCF@CN–10 and sulfur composite (NSPCF@CN–10/S) possesses a remarkable specific capacity of 1590.8 mAh g−1 at 0.5 C, and a high-rate capability of 976.9 mAh g−1 at 2.0 C. More interestingly, a reversible capacity as high as 781 mAh g−1 over 1000 cycles at 1.0 C is achieved. Density functional theory calculations reveal that the synergistic effect of N, S co-doping and CN network structure can effectively improve the adsorption capacity of polysulfide. This approach of constructing the network structure in natural wood fiber lumen provides a new vision for addressing the complex problems associated with LSBs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chemical modifications are widely used to enhance the properties of wood composites and create a strong bonding mechanism for enhancing the dimensional stability, water resistance as well as decreasing carcinogenic formaldehyde emission. Esterification is the most-known modification way to enhance the durability of wood composites, but it does not improve mechanical performance. In this work, we demonstrated a two-step, easy and quick wood surface modification strategy based on microwave heating and UV crosslinking. Firstly, the fiber surface was reacted with methacrylic anhydride, then using methacrylated groups on wood, the fibers are covalently linked. As a proof-of-concept the fibers cross-linked within five minutes under UV radiation using benzophenone solution. Then, the effect of crosslinked wood fiber on the properties of mechanical and swelling of fiberboard were studied. Using SEM, FTIR-ATR, and swelling tests, we investigated the wood-based products' reaction mechanism, morphology, and internal bonding strength. The chemical cross-linking gives stronger bonding, compared to hydrogen bonding, between fibers even in wet conditions, resulting in a cross-linked foam-like structure. Also, wood panels were fabricated, compared to unmodified fibers, the internal bond strength and dimensional stability of fiberboards increased slightly. Overall, these results show that chemical cross-linking of wood fibers can be a fast and promising way to produce multi-functional wood composites. [Display omitted] • Rapid and scalable method for direct crosslinking of wood fibers is proposed. • Wood fibers were efficiently methacrylated using microwave in a few minutes. • Methacrylation closed open pits native to the fibers, improving hydrophobicity. • The modified wood fibers were directly cross-linked via UV irradiation in minutes. • Strength and dimensional stability of modified wood panels was notably improved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aliphatic chains were introduced into the macromolecule of kraft lignin using aliphatic chlorides as esterification reagents. The hydrophobicity of esterified lignin (EL) was enhanced as compared to the original lignin. EL was further used as a macromolecular coupling agent in poly(butylene succinate)/chemi-thermomechanical pulp fiber composites. As a result, the composites with enhanced mechanical performance were obtained, and the tensile strength, impact strength, and bending strength were increased by 25.1, 22.4, and 19.3%, respectively, under 2 wt% EL-treatment (synthesized by palmitoyl chloride, –COCl/–OH = 1.5:1) in comparison with those of the specimen without any coupling agent treatment. Furthermore, the composite prepared with EL-treated fibers shows significant lower water absorption ratio than that of untreated one. A significant increase in storage modulus (E′) was observed upon the incorporation of treated fibers. Furthermore, the improved interfacial bonding between treated fibers and matrix was verified by SEM images. The shear viscosity of composite was increased by the incorporation of EL, but in general, the rheological behaviors of composites are not significantly changed. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Wood cells constitute the main building block in engineered wood-based materials, whose delimiting property frequently is moisture induced swelling. The hygroexpansion properties of wood cells, technically known as fibers, are used as input in predictive micromechanical models aimed for materials design. Values presented in the literature largely depend on the microfibrillar angle, the geometry of the fiber and limiting modelling assumptions. Synchrotron X-ray micro-computed tomography has recently prompted means for detailed measurements of the geometry of unconstrained individual fibers undergoing moisture-induced swelling, which makes it possible to directly quantify the hygroexpansion properties of the cell wall. In addition to a well-defined three-dimensional geometry, the present approach also accounts for large deformations and the fact that cell-wall stiffness depends on the presence of moisture. A mixed numerical-experimental approach is adopted where a finite-element updating scheme is used to simulate the swelling of an earlywood spruce fiber going from the experimental fiber geometry at 47 % relative humidity to the predicted geometry of the fiber in the wet state at 80 % relative humidity at equilibrium conditions. The hygroexpansion coefficients are identified by comparing the predicted and the experimental three-dimensional fiber geometry in the wet state. The obtained values are 0.17 strain per change in relative humidity transverse to the microfibrils in the cell wall, and 0.014 along the microfibrils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Peat, medium grade pine bark, coarse grade pine bark, coir, and wood fiber in general had more nutrient retention and less nutrient drainage than perlite. • Organic substrates showed a similar or better growth rate in comparison to perlite with respect to vegetative and reproductive growth. • Cucumber yield is equal to or greater than perlite when grown with organic substrates. • Pine bark improved essential phytochemicals in fruits of cucumber. The Dutch bucket system is commonly used for production of high-wire crops such as tomatoes, peppers, and cucumbers in controlled environment agriculture. It is a hydroponic system that utilizes containers typically filled with perlite as the substrate. Perlite provides good aeration however has higher leachate in the systems. Furthermore, demand for regional and sustainable substrates is increasing. Our preliminary study showed growth parameters in vegetative and early fruiting stages of cucumber grown with five regionally accessible substrates are comparable to perlite. Thus, the current study evaluated the performance of five organic substrates in comparison to perlite in the Dutch bucket system for the full production cycle of cucumber (Cucumis sativus 'Picolino F1'). The substrates evaluated were sphagnum peat, medium grade pine bark (Bark-M), coarse grade pine bark (Bark-C), coir, and wood fiber. Leachate rates in Bark-M, coir, and peat were lower than perlite by 18.0%, 24.0%, and 38.1%, respectively. Plant leaf area indicated better vegetative growth of cucumber with wood fiber, but pine bark had higher yield and fruit quality than perlite. Bark-M resulted in greater yield and fruit vitamin C content, which were 23.9% and 48.3% higher than perlite, respectively. On the other hand, although Bark-C had a similar yield to perlite, its fruit mineral nutrient content including nitrogen (except wood fiber), phosphorus, potassium, calcium (except Bark-M and wood fiber), sulfur (except Bark-M and wood fiber), iron (except Bark-M), zinc, boron, copper (except wood fiber), and manganese (except Bark-M), as well as total anthocyanin and total phenols were highest among all substrates. In summary, organic substrates investigated could provide equal or higher cucumber yields and quality than perlite in the Dutch bucket hydroponic system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The investigation of phase transition in powdered materials by dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) is not straightforward because powders are difficult to prepare in a solid compact form without altering their structure and properties. In this study, a material pocket (MP) method has been applied to provide physical support to powdered samples for DMA testing (MP-DMA). Poplar wood strips and four types of wood particles [native wood flour (WF), α-cellulose (αC), holocellulose (HC), and particles without hemicelluloses (HR)] were treated with an ionic liquid (IL), 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride ([Emim]Cl), to a weight percent gain (WPG) of 36%. Results show that all four [Emim]Cl-treated wood particles exhibited three apparent transition peaks over the measured temperature range. Paracrystalline cellulose, hemicelluloses, and lignin all exhibited a glass transition temperature ( Tg) at approximately 85°C due to the plasticizing effect of [Emim]Cl. The transition peak at a higher temperature may be due to the melting of crystalline cellulose in [Emim]Cl. MP-DMA is an effective tool for direct monitoring the phase transition of powdered lignocellulosics. This provides new insight into the interactions of ILs and cell wall polymers, and the method established can be easily extended to other systems based on powdered samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Growing media (GM) are the main driver of Basil N- and P- use efficiencies. • Peat provided the best growth conditions under organic fertilization. • Microbial N competition limited basil growth in woody-based GM. • Organic fertilizer localization and PGPR inoculum weakly alleviated N limitation. • Peat will be difficult to replace especially with woody constituents in GM. Sustainable production in soilless cultivation systems may be achieved by using recycled organic materials as constituents of growing media (GM) and as organic fertilizers. Synchronizing nutrient releases from organic fertilizer mineralization with plant needs in containerized production is difficult to manage for greenhouse growers. This is further amplified by the diversification of GM constituents, driving microbial activities. We aimed to evaluate how the plant can adapt its nutrition to different organic fertilization strategies and ensure its growth depending on the GM and organic fertilizer types. Ocimum basilicum L. was grown for 60 days in a greenhouse in pots filled with three different GM: 100% peat (Peat); 70% peat and 30% coir fiber (GM1); and 50% coir pith, 25% composted bark, 25% wood fiber (GM2). Two contrasted organic fertilizers were used (horn and a granular fertilizer), mixed to the GM, localized in the pot, or combined with Bacillus sp. inoculation as plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR). Standard mineral fertilization mixed to the GM was also used as a control treatment. We investigated basil growth (height, biomass, leaf area, chlorophyll and flavonol contents) as well as nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) use efficiencies, from their uptake by the roots to their allocation to the plant organs. Basil performances were mainly affected by the GM type. Peat provided optimal conditions for plant development. In GM1, basil maximized the utilization of available N and P taken up from the GM and reached the highest biomass production. Basil performances were especially low when it was grown on GM2 because of a strong competition for N between microbes and the roots. The fertilizer type, its localization and PGPR inoculation did not affect basil growth or nutrition in peat; these treatments had only little effect on basil grown on GM1 and GM2, and affected its performances differently depending on the GM type. This study provides evidence that fertilization must be thoughtfully managed depending on the GM in organically fertilized systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]