Applications In Industry Research Articles

Phenolic Bisabolane Sesquiterpene Derivatives from an Arctic Marine-derived Fungus Aspergillus sydowii MNP-2

Background:: Filamentous fungi in the genus Aspergillus are well known for their important roles in production of bioactive secondary metabolites with diversely chemical structures and potential application in pharmaceutical industry. Objective:: The present study aimed to investigate the phenolic bisabolane sesquiterpene (PBS) derivatives from an Arctic marine-derived fungus Aspergillus sydowii MNP-2. Methods:: In this study, antimicrobial activities were carried out according to the broth microdilution assay, nitric oxide (NO) production in mouse macrophages (RAW264.7) and BV2 microglial cells was used to detect the inhibitory effect of compounds in inflammatory reactions, and in vitro inhibitory cell proliferation activity was determined by the cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay. Results:: In this work, chemical investigation of an Arctic marine-derived strain A. sydowii MNP-2 led to the isolation of 11 PBSs (1-11) using various chromatographic methods. Their chemical structures were unambiguously determined by 1H NMR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry analyses as well as comparison with literature data. It is noteworthy that compounds 1, 7 and 11 were firstly obtained from A. sydowii. Antimicrobial assay showed that these chemicals had no potent inhibitory effect on Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Candida albicans with MIC values > 16 μg/mL. Additionally, the inhibition of nitric oxide (NO) production in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)- induced inflammation in mouse macrophages (RAW264.7) and BV2 microglial cells were all below 10% for compounds 4-6 and 8, indicating almost negligible anti-inflammatory efficacy. Among the tested compounds 4-6 and 8 for tumor-cell proliferation inhibition activities, compound 5 demonstrated the strongest inhibitory effect against human acute promyelocytic leukemia cells (HL-6) with a 44.76% inhibition rate. Conclusion:: In the present study, 11 PBS derivatives were purified and characterized from the solidand liquid-state fermentations of the Arctic marine-derived fungus A. sydowii MNP-2. Unfortunately, none of these metabolites had significant antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, or tumor-cell proliferation inhibition activities.

Insights into inhibitory action and interaction of bisdemethoxycurcumin on tyrosinase: Spectroscopic and docking analysis

Bisdemethoxycurcumin (BDMC), a demethoxy derivative of curcumin, has garnered interest for its potential anti-tyrosinase properties, which are crucial for applications in food preservation and cosmetic industries. Despite its recognized bioactive effects, the detailed inhibitory action and interaction of BDMC on tyrosinase and its application in anti-browning processes remain unclear. This study aims to dissect the molecular interactions of BDMC with tyrosinase, elucidate its inhibition mechanism, and assess its efficacy in preventing browning, thereby underpinning its potential as a natural anti-browning agent. Employing a battery of spectroscopic techniques, we characterized the interaction of BDMC with tyrosinase. The anti-browning properties of BDMC were evaluated on fresh-cut apples, and its effect on enzymatic activities related to browning was also investigated. The results indicate that BDMC interacts with tyrosinase in a reversible mixed-type inhibition manner with an IC50 value of 12.5 ± 0.2 μM. Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) results indicated that BDMC presented good binding affinity toward tyrosinase. Fluorescence quenching results showed that BDMC could quench the fluorescence of tyrosinase in a static process. Synchronous fluorescence, circular dichroism spectra, and three-dimensional fluorescence results indicated that interaction of BDMC against tyrosinase resulted in changes of tyrosinase on microenvironment and conformation, thus causing decrease of tyrosinase activity. Copper-chelating results presented that BDMC could chelate to copper with stoichiometric ratio of 1: 2. Molecular docking provided intricate details of how BDMC interacted with tyrosinase. Moreover, BDMC exhibited anti-browning capability on fresh cut apples, and could regulate PPO, POD, and APX activities. The comprehensive analysis proposed in this study consolidated the theoretical basis of BDMC as a tyrosinase inhibitor and supported its potential anti-browning application.

Engineering Tk1656, a highly active l-asparaginase from Thermococcus kodakarensis, for enhanced activity and stability

l-Asparaginases catalyze the hydrolysis of l-asparagine to l-aspartic acid and ammonia. These enzymes have potential applications in therapeutics and food industry. Tk1656, a highly active and thermostable l-asparaginase from Thermococcus kodakarensis, has been proved effective in selective killing of acute lymphocytic leukemia cells and in reducing acrylamide formation in baked and fried foods. However, it displayed <5 % activity under physiological conditions compared to the optimal activity at 85 °C and pH 9.5. We have attempted engineering of this valuable enzyme to improve the characteristics required for therapeutic and industrial applications. Based on the literature and crystal structure of Tk1656, nine specific mutant variants were designed, produced in Escherichia coli, and the purified mutant enzymes were compared with the wild-type. One of the mutants, K299L, displayed >20 % increase in activity at 85 °C. H158S substitution resulted in >5 °C increase in the optimal temperature. Similarly, a mesophilic-like mutation L56D, resulted in >5-fold increase in activity at pH 7.0 and 37 °C compared to that of the wild-type enzyme. The substrate specificity of the mutant variants remained unchanged. These results demonstrate that L56D and K299L variants of Tk1656 are the potent enzymes for therapeutics and acrylamide mitigation applications, respectively.

Heteropoly Acid‐Based Ionic Liquid Catalyzes Cellulose into Levulinic Acid in a Bi‐Phase Solvent System

AbstractLevulinic acid is an important chemical intermediate, which has many applications in organic synthesis, industry, agriculture, and medicine. In this word, three kinds of heteropoly acid based ionic liquids ([IMPS]H2PW12O40、[PyPS] H2PW12O40 [TEAPS] H2PW12O40) were used to catalyze the one‐pot conversion of cellulose to levulinic acid. [IMPS]H2PW12O40 has the highest catalytic activity due to its strong Hammett acidity (H0). In addition, the effect of biphasic solvent systems on the conversion of cellulose to levulinic acid was also studied. The results showed that the GVL/H2O system could effectively promote the conversion of cellulose and increase the yield of levulinic acid. The yield of levulinic acid could reach 52.6% and the conversion rate of cellulose was 91.2% at 180 °C for 180 min under the GVL/H2O volume ratio of 1:1 with [IMPS]H2PW12O40 as a catalyst at 1 Mpa N2 and cellulose as raw material. And [IMPS]H2PW12O40 can be recycled up to five times without significant performance loss. This study provides a promising method for efficiently converting cellulose and other biomass resources to levulinic acid extraction.

Part-Scale Microstructure Prediction for Laser Powder Bed Fusion Ti-6Al-4V Using a Hybrid Mechanistic and Machine Learning Model

Laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) Ti-6Al-4V is widely studied for use in structural applications in aerospace and medical industries, but mechanical anisotropy and microstructural inhomogeneity prohibits its wider adoption. Although successful microstructure prediction models have been developed, a remaining challenge is their limited integration across length/time scales and validation by experimental studies. This work proposes a physics-augmented machine learning surrogate model to unite predictions of LPBF temperature, β phase morphology and texture, and α/α’ formation into a single framework that is calibrated and validated with experiments. First, a phase field (PF) model of the martensitic β→α’ transformation is developed and calibrated using data from in-situ synchrotron cyclic heating/cooling studies quantifying the variation of α phase fraction with time. In parallel, an established finite difference-Monte Carlo (FDMC) model predicts the part-scale temperature profile and β grain formation during solidification. A dataset is developed using LPBF cyclic temperature descriptors from the FDMC model as inputs and corresponding α/α’ phase fraction and width from the PF model as outputs. Five machine learning (ML) regression models are tested and optimized, having mean absolute error in testing ≤ 4%, and the k-nearest neighbors (KNN) model is selected as the best performing. The KNN model is called at the nodal level during post-processing of the FDMC model to replace and downscale the response of the PF model. The combined agility and accuracy of the hybrid FDMC-ML model enables part-scale microstructure predictions that can be further used for property predictions to accelerate AM process optimization.

Construction of glycosylated zein-based colloids to simultaneously improve fucoxanthin’s thermal processing adaptability, digestive stability, and oral bioavailability

Fucoxanthin (FX) is a carotenoid found in marine environments with a range of nutritional functions. However, its application in the food industry has been restricted by its vulnerability to deterioration and absorption challenges. This study employed zein to develop hydrophilic colloids to enhance the thermal processing adaptability, gastrointestinal digestive stability, and oral bioavailability of FX. The findings demonstrated that the using glucose for the grafting modification of zein caused a deviation in its isoelectric point, reduced its water contact angle, and altered its secondary structure, resulting in higher hydrophilicity. Using glycosylated zein (GZ) for FX loading yielded homogenous, stable aqueous GZ-FX complex dispersion solutions with an encapsulation efficiency (EE) > 85.00%, a particle size < 210.00nm, a zeta-potential > -30.00mV, and a polydispersity index (PDI) < 0.30. GZ-based encapsulation notably enhanced the thermal stability of FX, retaining approximately 90.00% and 80.00% of the FX at 65 ℃ and 100 ℃, respectively. During in vitro simulated gastrointestinal digestion, GZ-encapsulation of FX demonstrated a retention increase of 30.63% and a 2.31-fold higher micellization rate. The in vivo absorption results showed that GZ-based encapsulation dramatically increased FX oral bioavailability, while its serum, liver, and kidney response levels were 51.49-fold, 5.13-fold and 6.73-fold higher. This study suggests that glycosylated alcohol-soluble proteins are highly effective carriers for delivering carotenoids, with significant application potential in the food industry.

Providing a Framework to Optimize the Sustainable Construction Material Supply Chain with the Possibility of Horizontal Transfers

The application of Supply Chain Management (SCM) principles has gained considerable attention across various industries to enhance operational efficiency and business performance. In the construction sector, SCM can guide managers in strategic planning and foster collaboration with suppliers, leading to more effective project execution. Despite its importance, limited research has focused on designing sustainable supply chains for construction materials under uncertain conditions. This study aims to bridge this gap by introducing a robust optimization framework that incorporates sustainable development criteria, specifically the minimization of harmful environmental effects and the reduction of worker unemployment. Additionally, the research introduces an innovative concept of horizontal transfers between downstream members, which not only reduces supply deficiencies but also indirectly increases profitability for these members. This article is a part of a Doctoral dissertation. It follows a two-step approach. First, suppliers of construction materials are ranked based on sustainable development criteria using a multi-criteria decision-making method. The best-ranked supplier is then integrated into a mathematical model for optimizing the supply chain design. Given the NP-hard nature of the problem, the CPLEX 12.1 solver with the epsilon constraint method is used to solve small-scale models. For larger-scale problems, three meta-heuristic algorithms are developed: multi-objective ant-lion, multi-objective gray wolf, and multi-objective dragonfly. The results show that while both the ant-lion and gray wolf algorithms deliver comparable average performance, the gray wolf algorithm excels in terms of solution time, making it more effective for real-time problem-solving. This makes the gray wolf algorithm the most efficient choice for addressing large-scale, multi-objective supply chain challenges. This research introduces a novel framework for designing sustainable construction supply chains under uncertain conditions. By focusing on criteria such as minimizing harmful environmental effects and reducing worker unemployment, this study addresses key aspects of sustainable development. Additionally, the innovative horizontal transfer mechanism and the insights into algorithmic performance provide valuable contributions to the field, especially for real-world applications in the construction industry.

Elucidation of Microscopic Mechanisms of Tweens on Whipping Capabilities of Aerated Emulsions: Fat crystal-membrane interaction perspective

Aerated emulsions find wide applications in the food industry, with partial coalescence playing a crucial role as the core of such products in whipping capabilities. Although tweens are the most traditional emulsifiers used in aerated emulsions, the microscopic mechanisms of how they work are still not fully understood. This study focused on elucidating the mechanisms of Tweens in fat crystallization, oil-water interface rheology, and fat globule interface membrane properties, clarifying their roles in partial coalescence and whipping capabilities. The fat crystals induced by Tween 20 (T20) faced difficulty in puncturing the interface membrane with a high elastic modulus (5.58 mN/m), which may constrain occurrence and progression of partial coalescence. Tween 60 (T60) and Tween 40 (T40) exhibited strong interactions with proteins, with the interface film formed by T60 having a high elasticity of up to 7.79 mN/m. However, the highest elasticity interface film formed by orogenic behavior from T60 was not conducive to the interaction between fat crystals and the interfacial proteins during the whipping process. T40 not only helps to stimulate fat crystallization and create interface films with appropriate elastic strength but also plays a role in enhancing foam quality as its concentration rises. This is supported by its rheological properties and microscopic structures. The interface membrane formed by Tween 80 (T80) was viscous, leading to a significant partial coalescence but poor foam quality. This study reveals the interaction mechanisms between fat crystallization, interface membrane, partial coalescence, and the structure of aerated emulsions regulated by Tweens.

Binding mechanism and structural characteristics of alloyed protein complex for enhanced solubility of hemp seed protein isolate

Despite the numerous health benefits and high digestibility of hemp seed protein isolate (HPI), its low solubility at neutral pH limits its utilization in the food industry. Therefore, we subjected insoluble HPI and soluble mung bean protein isolate (MBPI) to pH co-shifting under extremely alkaline conditions to form an alloyed protein complex (A-HM). At a mass ratio of HPI:MBPI of 50:50, A-HM exhibited the highest solubility (95.30 ± 0.99 %), and also had high resistance to heat treatment. Native PAGE demonstrated the formation of alloyed protein complexes, and particle size analysis revealed that A-HM exhibited small particle sizes and dispersion in water without aggregation of HPI. Owing to their small size, numerous hydrophobic residues and aromatic ring of HPI were exposed on the surface. Hydrophobic interactions predominantly governed the binding force involved in the formation of A-HM. Our findings may enhance HPI applications in the food industry, particularly in plant-based beverages.

Diffusion mechanisms and corrosion resistance of nanostructured ZrN-Cu coating obtained by hybrid HiPIMS-DCMS

Globalisation has brought numerous benefits regarding the cost-effective transportation of goods. Still, the shipping industry faces challenges such as corrosion, biofouling, and restrictions on heavy pollutant products used in paintings. This study proposes a solution using a multifunctional coating based on zirconium nitride and copper nano-structured coating, applying high-power impulse and direct current magnetron sputtering processes (i.e., HiPIMS and DCMS, respectively). The coating’s morphological, structural, and chemical features were analysed using advanced characterisation techniques (SEM, EDX, STEM, SAED and EELS). Potentiodynamic polarisation (PP) and Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS − up to 30 days) were employed to study the corrosion resistance in saline solution (3.5 wt% NaCl). Besides, activated ZrN-Cu exhibited a corrosion rate decrease from ∼ 354 x 10−4 to 52 x 10−4 mm/yr when compared to its inactivated counterpart. Besides, a ∼ 3.5-fold impedance increasing was exhibited by activated ZrN-Cu after 30 days of exposure to saline solution, meaning an increase in corrosion resistance compared to the non-activated ZrN-Cu. SEM micrographs revealed that the copper diffusion in ZrN-Cu can be provoked by a strong oxidising agent (NaOCl) or by an electrical potential. Based on the chartered evidence, a diffusion mechanism is proposed for the biocidal release (Cu) in the obtained ZrN-Cu films. The present study depicts a solution that offers a controlled biocide release and corrosion resistance, opening the possibility of its application in the maritime industry.

Enhanced fatigue SN curve generation for gear bending fatigue life prediction using multi-objective optimization algorithms

This study presents a comprehensive methodology for fatigue life prediction and SN curve generation in gear systems, integrating specimen and product-level testing, simulations, and multi-objective optimization. The approach addresses the discrepancy between specimen-based testing and actual product performance through a novel multi-fidelity framework. To solve the proposed multi-objective optimization problem, several optimization algorithms were compared and analyzed, demonstrating the effectiveness of each approach in balancing different objectives. A key innovation is the development of an empirical formulation-based surrogate model, enabling efficient optimization while significantly reducing computational demands. The methodology covers both specimen and product-level testing along with simulations, offering a holistic solution for accurate fatigue life prediction. Extensive validation through experiments and comparison with commercial software confirms the reliability and practical applicability of the method. This approach provides a sustainable and efficient solution for SN curve generation and fatigue life prediction in automotive gear train development, allowing for continuous improvement as new data becomes available. Its practicality and accuracy make it particularly valuable for early-stage design optimization and large-scale applications in the automotive industry.

Genus Paeonia polysaccharides: A review on their extractions, purifications, structural characteristics, biological activities, structure-activity relationships and applications.

The Paeonia genus, the most distinctive representative of the Paeoniaceae family, holds significant edible and medicinal value. Its plants are rich in chemical constituents, including polysaccharides, phenols, terpenes, and flavonoids. Among these, Paeonia polysaccharide (PPS) is a key bioactive component, exhibiting diverse biological activities such as anti-cancer, anti-depressant, anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, immunomodulatory activities and therapeutical effect of diabetic kidney disease. Additionally, PPS possess favorable physicochemical properties including low toxicity and high biocompatibility. Recent studies increasingly demonstrate that PPS can enhance the sensory quality of food products during processing, and confer specific functional benefits through targeted biological activities indicating substantial potential for application in the food industry. The biological activity, emulsifying capacity, and film-forming properties of PPS also render them promising additives in cosmetic formulations, suggesting opportunities for further development. Despite their potential, challenges remain, particularly in optimizing extraction and purification techniques to improve PPS yield and preserve bioactivity. Therefore, a comprehensive review of the latest research advancements and future prospects is essential to deepen the understanding and facilitate the development of PPS.

Variability of the chemical composition of Dendrocalamus giganteus in relation to growth stage

Bamboo is a renewable bioresource with extensive applications, from construction to textiles, and is essential for bioenergy and eco-friendly practices. Despite its potential use in biorefineries, the utilization of abundant species like Dendrocalamus giganteus is hindered by a lack of comprehensive knowledge regarding its chemical composition at various growth stages. In this study, we addressed this gap by quantifying the holocellulose, lignin and extractive contents of D. giganteus from the tropical forests of Bangladesh. We examined the composition across different ages and heights, assessing the solubility of holocellulose, lignin and extractive contents, with a view to enhance the use of D. giganteus in biorefinery industries. We analyzed chemical composition and assessed the solubility using both hot and cold water, as well as conducting 1 % NaOH (caustic soda) solubility tests following the TAPPI (Technical Association of the Pulp and Paper Industry) standards. The holocellulose, lignin, and extractive content increased with the increase age of the bamboo. These components also increased with increasing height, regardless of age. The solubility in water and NaOH, on the other hand, decreased with the increasing age and height positions. The top of 4-year-old bamboo exhibited the highest levels of holocellulose (70.2 %), lignin (29.7 %), and extractive components (6.9 %), but the lowest solubilities in hot water (6.18 %), cold water (3.58 %) and caustic soda (22.48 %). These findings suggest that D. giganteus has potential applications in specific industries, such as pulp and paper, nanocellulose, bioethanol, biochemicals and bio-based composites.

A Mini Review Of Modern Composites For Advanced Applications

The field and scope of composites is constantly widening with the introduction of new materials and manufacturing technologies. Unknown properties of different engineering, non-engineering and bio-materials are regularly explored for the development of modern composites that show immense potential in future for applications in domestic, automotive, defence and aerospace industries. Some fundamental aspects, processing techniques, properties and applications of such composites are reviewed in the paper

Carbon fiber and carbon fiber composites—creating defects for superior material properties

AbstractRecent years have seen a rise in the use of carbon fiber (CF) and its composite applications in several high-tech industries, such as the design of biomedical sensor components, 3D virtual process networks in automotive and aerospace parts, and artificial materials or electrodes for energy storage batteries. Since pristine CF have limited properties, their properties are often modified through a range of technologies, such as laser surface treatment, electron-beam irradiation grafting, plasma or chemical treatments, electrophoretic deposition, carbonization, spinning-solution or melt, electrospinning, and sol–gel, to greatly improve their properties and performance. These procedures cause faulty structures to emerge in CF. The characteristics and performances of CF (thermo-electric conductivity, resistivity, stress tolerance, stiffness and elasticity, chemical resistivity, functionality, electrochemical properties, etc.) vary greatly depending on the modification technique used. Thus, the purpose of this review is to demonstrate how the insertion of faults can result in the production of superior CF. The characteristics of CF defects were examined using a variety of analytical techniques, such as defect-forming chemistry, molecular organization, and ground-level chemistries like their crystallinities. Finally, some future work is also included. Graphical abstract

Biotransformation of ginsenoside compound K using β-glucosidase in deep eutectic solvents.

Ginsenoside compound K (CK) holds significant potential for application in the pharmaceutical industry, which exhibits numerous pharmacological activity such as cardioprotective and antidiabetic. However, the difficult separation technique and limited yield of CK hinder its widespread use. The study investigated the process of converting ginsenoside CK using β-glucosidase. It aimed to determine the specific site where the enzyme binds and the most favorable arrangement of the enzyme. Molecular docking was also employed to determine the interaction between β-glucosidase and ginsenosides, indicating a strong and spontaneous contact force between them. The effectiveness of the conversion process was further improved using a "green" deep eutectic solvent (DES). A univariate experimental design was used to determine the composition of DES and the optimal hydrolysis conditions for β-glucosidase to convert ginsenoside Rb1 into ginsenoside CK. The employment of β-glucosidase enzymatic hydrolysis in the synthesis of rare ginsenoside CK applying the environmentally friendly solvent DES is not only viable and effective but also appropriate for industrial use. The characterization methods confirmed that DES did not disrupt the structure and conformation of β-glucosidase. In ChCl:EG = 2:1 (30%, v/v), pH 5.0 of DES buffer, reaction temperature 50 ℃, enzyme substrate mass ratio 1:1, after 36h of reaction, the CK yield was 1.24 times that in acetate buffer, which can reach 86.2%. In this study, the process of using β-glucosidase enzymatic hydrolysis and producing rare ginsenoside CK in green solvent DES is feasible, efficient and suitable for industrial production and application.

Automated anthropometric measurements from 3D point clouds of scanned bodies

Anthropometry plays a critical role across numerous sectors, particularly within healthcare and fashion, by facilitating the analysis of the human body structure. The significance of anthropometric data cannot be overstated; it is crucial for assessing nutritional status among children and adults alike, enabling early detection of conditions such as malnutrition, obesity, and being overweight. Furthermore, it is instrumental in creating tailored dietary interventions. This study introduces a novel automated technique for extracting anthropometric measurements from any body part. The proposed method leverages a parametric model to accurately determine the measurement parameters from either an unstructured point cloud or a mesh. We conducted a comprehensive evaluation of our approach by comparing perimetral measurements from over 400 body scans with expert assessments and existing state-of-the-art methods. The results demonstrate that our approach significantly surpasses the current methods for measuring the waist, hip, thigh, chest, and wrist perimeters with exceptional accuracy. These findings indicate the potential of our method to automate anthropometric analysis and offer efficient and accurate measurements for various applications in healthcare and fashion industries.

LC-MS-based metabolomics for the profiling of bioactive compounds in tree peony flower buds with multiple bioactive potentials

Tree peonies (Paeonia suffruticosa) are important pharmaceutical and oilseed crops widely cultivated in China. Tree peony flowers, as important by-products of the industrial crops, are conventionally used as folk medicine with health-promoting effects on human. However, the in-depth understanding of biologically active compounds in tree peony flowers is scarce. In this study, an in-depth analysis of bioactive compounds in tree peony flower buds (TPFBs) from 74 cultivars was conducted using an integrated LC-MS-based metabolomic approach. Ninety-two metabolites were tentatively identified in TPFBs. The quantitative results revealed that TPFBs were abundant in bioactive compounds. Among these, paeoniflorin, albiflorin, cynaroside, and pentagalloylglucose (PGG) emerged as the primary chemical markers of TPFBs, showing significant variations based on genotype. Each extract of TPFB exhibited potent antioxidant, antibacterial, and anti-neuroinflammatory activities. Notably, TPFB extract showed the highest effectiveness in inhibiting L. monocytogenes among all tested bacteria. Cynaroside was predicted to serve as a pivotal component in TPFB for its anti-neuroinflammatory effects by interacting with toll-like receptor 4 (TRL4) and interleukin-1beta (IL-1β). This study offers novel insights into the bioactive compounds and bioactivities of TPFBs, which lays theoretical basis for the application in pharmaceutical industry.

Numerical investigation on machining of additively manufactured CFRP composite with different build orientations and layer widths

Additive manufacturing (AM) is now a widely researched manufacturing technology in the past two decades to adopt in industry for its added advantage of customization and adopting complex geometries with comparatively low buy-to-fly ratio. Carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) composite has found applications in different high-performance industries for its greatest benefit of high strength-to-weight ratio. Additive manufacturing of CFRP composite (AM-CFRP) opens up the possibility of enhancing mechanical strength using different printing orientations and enables producing complex shapes maintaining sustainable manufacturing perspective. However, Limitation of AM parts of having surface irregularities and questionable dimensional accuracies. To use AM-CFRP parts in high precision assembly or industrial applications, post processing machining is often required to meet the customers’ specification of geometrical tolerances and acceptable surface finish. In this study, the influence of AM parameters on machinability of AM-CFRP composite has been evaluated using finite element analysis (FEA) based numerical simulation. The slot milling operation was simulated with a tungsten carbide end milling tool and AM-CFRP workpiece with four different printing directions, i.e., 0°-90°, 45°-135°, 0°-90°-45°-135°, two different layer widths, i.e., 50 µm and 100 µm, and two in-fill patterns, i.e., solid and perforated structures. The machinability of the 3D printed CFRP has been analyzed based on cutting forces, stress at first contact and maximum stress generation, and temperature increases at the interface during slot milling of AM-CFRP under different AM parameters. Evolution of failure mechanisms of AM-CFRPs under various machining conditions, such as, delamination, matrix rupture etc., have been discussed and chip and burr formation mechanisms have been analyzed. Finite Element analysis (FEA) package ABAQUS/Explicit was used to model 3D micro slot milling operation of AM-CFRP workpiece with appropriate damage and constitutive models, such as, damage initiation, progression and cohesion in adjacent passes and layers.

Assessment of recycling and repair methods for discontinuous glass fiber reinforced vitrimer composites with reclaimed parts

In the context of fiber-reinforced polymer composites, the pursuit of sustainability is of paramount importance to promote environmentally responsible practices. Vitrimer materials have recently gained significant attention for their potential to enable repair and recycling, rendering them an attractive choice for manufacturing eco-friendly composites while maintaining mechanical strength akin to a thermoset resin like epoxy. This study specifically focuses on glass fibers, and delves into the examination of mechanical properties using both chemical and mechanical recycling methods for quasi-isotropic, randomly dispersed discontinuous glass fiber-reinforced vitrimer composites. It places specific emphasis on the optimization of factors to promote sustainable production. The findings indicate that chemical recycling methods are remarkably effective, resulting in the almost complete restoration of mechanical properties when appropriately selected process parameters are applied. Additionally, this study investigates diverse repair techniques, with the overlap repair method exhibiting the highest degree of recovery. These findings underscore the remarkable potential of glass fiber reinforced vitrimer composites, characterized by their high mechanical properties, for applications in various industries, particularly in structural contexts. Overall, this study highlights the significant reduction in composite waste achievable through recycling and repair strategies, aligning with the broader goal of advancing sustainability within the domain of engineering and manufacturing.