Bio-composites have diverse functional demands for many structural, electrical, electronic, and medical applications. An expansion of the composite functionality is achieved by manipulating the material and design scheme. Smart selection of matrix-reinforcement combinations will lead to applications that have never even been considered. Research holds a huge potential to create a wide variety of usable materials by mixing different fillers and modifying the parameters. Apart from selecting the polymer and the filler, the engineer will have to understand the compatibility of the polymer and the filler, dispersion, and bonding behavior making the design of polymer nanocomposite a rather complex system. In this chapter, we have tried to display different functional materials development pursuit.

Biocomposites are composite materials consisting of either a polymer matrix or a filler based on biological resources. They have been widely used in numerous applications such as storage devices, photocatalysts, packaging, furniture, biosensors, energy, construction, the automotive industry, and so on due to their great versatility and satisfactory performance. This book focuses on composites made from natural materials (natural fibers and biopolymers) and relates their physical, mechanical, electrical, structural, and biological characteristics as well as their potential applications in biomedicine, pharmaceuticals, and engineering.

The sustainability of any process lies in the eco-friendly and economical production of products for applications. Bio-based materials are emerging as raw materials for different products and applications. The book covers cellulose, chitosan, silk, collagen and gelatin bio-based materials. It describes their use in biomedical applications, such as orthopaedic implant, drug delivery, tissue culture, biosensor and engineering applications such as fuel cells, energy storage and packaging. It concludes with the use of bio-based materials as precursors for biorefinery, biolubricants, membranes and adsorbents.

This book includes both theoretical conceptualization and practical applications in the fields of product design, architecture, engineering, and materials. The book aimed to inspire scholars and professionals to look at nature as a source of inspiration for developing new project solutions. Moreover, being one of the literature’s first direct associations of bionics with sustainability, the book can be used as a reference for those who seek to know more about the theory of bioinspired applications, as well as new technologies, methods, materials, and processes.

Nanoclay-based Sustainable Materials: Functional Properties, Characterization, and Multifaceted Applications provides a detailed overview of the preparation, processing, and application of earth-abundant nanoclay fillers. The book encompasses the critical applications of nanoclays, comprising emerging themes such as environmental bioremediation, energy harvesting and storage, bio-sensing (both medical and ecological), catalysis, antimicrobial, and biomedical applications, such as drug delivery, tissue engineering and wound healing, nanomedicine, and much more. This book is an important reference source for all those who are working in the research and development sector and need to learn more about nanoclay-based materials for sustainable development. - Features fundamentals and state-of-the-art developments in the field of nanoclays, providing an overview on their classification, preparation and properties - Explores the deployment and application of nanoclays in water treatment, biomedical applications, energy storage and harvesting, and environmental remediation, among others - Discusses advancements of nanoclays and present challenges and future possibilities for innovative applications

As a result of their unique physical properties, biological membrane mimetics such as biopolymers are used in a broad range of scientific and technological applications. This comprehensive book covers new applications of biopolymers in the research and development of industrial scale nutraceutical and functional food grade products. All the major food biopolymers are included, from plant, animal and marine sources. Coverage also includes biopolymer-based drug delivery mechanisms intended for biological applications such as bio-detection of pathogens, fluorescent biological labels, and drug and gene delivery. This is the first interdisciplinary book to address this area specifically and is essential reading for those who produce the functional biopolymer materials as well as those who seek to incorporate them into appropriate nutraceutical, food and drug delivery products.

Advanced Processing, Properties, and Applications of Starch and Other Bio-based Polymers presents the latest cutting-edge research into the processing and applications of bio-based polymers, for novel industrial applications across areas including biomedical and electronics. The book is divided into three sections, covering processing and manufacture, properties, and applications. Throughout the book, key aspects of sustainability are considered, including improved utilization of available natural resources, sustainable design possibilities, cleaner production processes, and waste management. - Focuses on starch-based polymers, examining the latest advances in processing and applications with this valuable category of biopolymer - Highlights industrial sustainability considerations at all steps of the process, including when sourcing materials, designing and producing products, and dealing with waste - Supports the processing and development of starch and other bio-based polymers with enhanced functionality for advanced applications

Nanocarbon polymer biocomposites have gained increased attention from both researchers and manufacturers due to the significant improvement in their physico-mechanical, thermal and barrier properties when compared to conventional materials. Their dimensions, biodegradable character, cost-effectiveness, and sustainability are among the main drivers for increasing demand. However, it is difficult to achieve uniform dispersion between the carbon filler and matrix as it easily forms agglomerations. Production of nanocarbon polymer biocomposites with high mechanical and thermal properties is also limited, but there has been rapid progress in processing possibilities to produce nanocomposites based on various biodegradable fillers. Advanced Nanocarbon Polymer Biocomposites: Sustainability Towards Zero Biowaste collects all these novel scientific findings in one place. It discusses in detail their physical, chemical, and electrical properties and presents the latest research findings on nanocarbon polymer biocomposites with filler loadings and their improvement on compatibility. The book will be of great interest for those researchers who are concerned with the production and use of nanocarbon polymer biocomposites as a new innovative advanced material. - Emphasis on nanoscale fillers and their improvement on compatibility - Evaluates the impact of polymer production through life cycle analysis of both single and hybrid polymers and nanocomposites - A strong focus on sustainability and green chemistry perspectives

Ronja Victoria Scholz assesses the performance of cellulose-based Cottonid for implementation as sustainable construction material. Quasi-static and fatigue tests are performed in varying hygrothermal test conditions using mechanical testing systems in combination with integrable climate chambers. To investigate humidity-driven actuation properties, customized specimen holders are designed. Accompanying microstructural in situ experiments in analytical devices enable a profound understanding of effective material-specific damage and failure mechanisms. The findings are transferred into strength-deformation diagrams as well as Woehler curves, which enable a comparative evaluation of several process-related and environmental influencing factors and can directly be used for dimensioning of Cottonid elements for structural applications. The interpretation of thermoelastic material reponse during loading is used as scientific value for lifetime prediction. Comprehensive investigations on industrial standard materials as well as structurally optimized Cottonid variants provide a scientific basis for categorizing material’s structural and functional performance towards common technical plastics and wood.

This book investigates the enhancement of properties of acacia wood and its surface treatment for high strength bio-composites. It describes the tensile, flexural and impact strength, surface behaviour, morphological analysis, infrared spectral functional analysis, thermal properties analysis and dielectrical properties of acacia wood bio-composites. It reports efforts on the optimization of fabrication techniques to prepare acacia wood reinforced bio-composites based on PLA, PHA, Etc. The book also reports on environmental impact analysis of acacia wood bio-composites. A special chapter is dedicated to the nano-enhancement of acacia wood bio-composites and their possible use in applications in terms of sustainability and economics.