Production Of Composites Research Articles

The Impact of Wind-Driven Rain on Surface Waterproofed Brick Cavity Walls

Moisture ingress is a major cause of damage to masonry cavity walls. Products of various chemical compositions are available for wall surface treatment, aimed at reducing/eliminating water ingress. This study presents the results of full-scale wall tests designed to quantify water absorption into uninsulated and insulated brick masonry cavity walls exposed to wind-driven rain (WDR) with and without surface waterproofing. Two different waterproofing products were used: acrylic and silane–siloxane mixture. Untreated and treated walls were exposed to cycles consisting of 10 min wetting at 2.25 L/m2·min every 60 min. The results show that both treatments lead to a reduction in water ingress ranging from 90% to 97%. However, while a more consistent performance was obtained for the silane/siloxane-treated walls under repeated exposure, the results for the acrylic treatment were dominated by the original wall conditions, improved with a reapplication of the treatment. The testing protocol proposed in this study is effective in determining the performance of waterproofing treatments exposed to different levels of WDR. Both treatments prove to be effective in preventing moisture uptake in walls in moderate WDR exposure conditions, while in extreme WDR exposure conditions, the acrylic treatment is less effective.

Recovery of Potassium from Pyrolysis Product of Sugar Fabrication Waste Carbonation Cake and Vinasse Mixture and Production of Adsorbent for Wastewater Treatment

In this study, percolation tests with water were carried out on the products that were subjected to pyrolysis and obtained in order to carbonize the organics in the vinasse carbonation cake mixtures. For this purpose, the mixtures prepared from the concentrated vinasse supplied from Sugar Factory and the carbonation cake supplied from Sugar Factory were heated at 500 °C for 4 h, and the extractability and dissolution rate of potassium into water were determined by leaking water over the products. The ability of the residue to remove methylene blue from the aquatic environment was determined. It should be emphasized that the solid residue from the potassium extraction has a considerable amount (289–370 mg/g) and a basic dye removal capacity greater than that of the raw carbonation cake (208 mg/g). COD value in the extract of the pyrolysis product with a cake/vinasse ratio of 0.5 was determined as 970 mg/l with a significant increase. The methylene blue removal capacity of the extraction residue samples obtained in this group of experiments decreases as the dry cake–vinasse ratio increases. It should be emphasized that the composite product obtained by taking advantage of these results can be actively used in the production of compound fertilizer.

Competitive encapsulation of multiple heavy metals by magnesium potassium phosphate cement: Hydration characteristics and leaching toxicity properties

Magnesium potassium phosphate cement (MKPC) is increasingly used in the solidification/stabilization (SS) of heavy metal (HM) pollutants. However, research on composite HM pollutants remains limited. In this study, four heavy metals (Pb/Zn/Cu/Cd) were individually and simultaneously introduced into MKPC systems with different magnesium/phosphorus (M/P) molar ratios. The introduction of HMs altered the extent of hydration and morphology of MgKPO4·6H2O. Among the MKPC pastes, those with M/P = 2 and 3 had the highest HM solidification efficiency and strength, respectively. The HM solidification efficiency of all specimens exceeded 99 %. In samples with M/P = 3, the codoping of four HMs slightly increased the M/P ratio, thereby increasing MgKPO4·6H2O content and enhancing strength. Pb could generate additional low-solubility precipitates, such as PbHPO4, Pb3 (PO4)2, Pb5 (OH) (PO4)3, and Pb (OH)2, which easily accumulated in pores and were encapsulated by MgKPO4·6H2O, leading to the highest solidification efficiency of Pb by MKPC. Pb and Cu could also form the composite phosphate products Pb2Cu (PO4)3 (OH)·4H2O, thus promoting the S/S effect of Cu. Therefore, the use of MKPC with M/P ratio of 2–3 for the S/S of complex pollutants containing Pb and Cu is a promising approach.

Rein4ced and Dieffenbacher to accelerate production of carbon and steel fiber reinforced thermoplastic bicycle frames

On January 30th, 2024, Rein4ced announced a collaboration between Rein4ced and Dieffenbacher to accelerate production of thermoplastic carbon bicycle frames. This is intended to tighten the integration of product and machine development, propelling the large-scale production of thermoplastic carbon bicycle frames. Expertise in product development and production automation should synergize, facilitating the upscale of robust and agile thermoplastic composite frame production and achieving market demands. Thermoplastic composites are claimed to be able to be efficiently and effectively reused, repurposed, or recycled. Rein4ced's approach aims to elevate the sustainability and manufacturing efficiency of thermoplastic composite bicycle frames.

Development and tribological investigation of B4C reinforced AA5082 Aluminum alloy cast composites for automotive applications

In this work, AA5082 alloy is used as base alloy to fabricate aluminum composites using fine reinforced particles of boron carbide (B4C). The conventional method of stir casting is employed for the production of composites. The particles are used with varying weight % of 5, 10, 15 and 20 for the composite fabrication. The microstructures of the composites are examined using the Scanning Electron Microscopy and x-ray Diffraction patterns. The hardness of the composites is tested and found to increase from 73 HV in base alloy to 93 HV in the AA5082 composite having B4C proportion of 15%. However, a slight decrease in hardness is also observed at higher wt% of B4C which could be due to agglomeration of particles. Evaluation of yield strength showed an escalation in the strong point with the addition of reinforced particles under the effect of orowan strengthening mechanism. Wear analysis conducted on Tribometer indicates that the escalation of load and sliding distance is proportional to the loss of material in composites whereas, wear declined with the rise of sliding speed. The micrograph examination of the wear tracks reveals the material removal mechanism from the composite as abrasive in nature. Pitting at certain places is also observed.

Numerical study on the tensile properties of a cylindrical specimen with chopped basalt fibre thermosetting resin matrix composites

For several decades, the disadvantages of traditional metallic rock and soil support structures have become increasingly prominent. As a result, it is urgent to seek lightweight, high-strength, durable and green economic substitute products made from the basalt fibre reinforced composites. Combining the two-phase material summing principle of composite material mechanics and the extension and application of Mohr–Coulomb strength criterion, the uniaxial tensile computing model of a cylindrical polymer specimen containing randomly distributed and discontinuous basalt fibres was established in accordance with the numerical simulation software Flac3D. Furthermore, the influence laws and intrinsic mechanism of the number of discrete fibres and different fibre distribution angles on the integral axial tensile properties of a cylindrical specimen with chopped basalt fibre thermosetting resin matrix composites were investigated and elucidated, and the stress–strain curve of basalt fibre thermosetting resin matrix composites were obtained. Consequently, the results have indicated that: i) the axial tensile strength of the polymer system can be enhanced through the incorporation of a moderate quantity of chopped fibres, with the resultant improvement typically not surpassing a 10% increment; ii) when the number of fibres has increased to the quantitative state, namely, the fibre density reaches 1.02 pieces/cm3 or more, the amplification of axial tensile strength of composite material will be controlled; iii) the fibre distribution directions, are maintaining a 0° parallel state to the axial direction of the specimen and the ones of load application, will ensure that the tensile strength of the composite can be sufficiently utilized. As the production process within the composite industry have become increasingly adept, the research results hold substantial value for further promoting the development, testing and optimizing application of various types of high-performance basalt fibre reinforced composite products.

Water Absorption Rate of Kenaf Fiber (KF)/ Hydroxiteapatite (HA) in Simulated Sea Water

Hydroxiteapatie (HA) as a filler is a mixture that is often added to alloy or composite products. This study investigates the development of polyester composites reinforced with kenaf fiber (KF) and hydroxiteapatite (HA) fillers in order to reduce their environmental impact. The strength, decomposability, and low weight of these composites make them ideal for a wide range of applications due to their exceptional mechanical properties. In addition to tensile and bending tests, water absorption tests, and immersion in seawater simulations, the composites were evaluated under demanding conditions. The water absorption rate increased with increasing fiber volume percentages in the composite, primarily due to the water-absorbing properties of the KF and HA particles. In contrast, the KF-15%HA-reinforced composite, which underwent soaking at 50 °C, exhibited the lowest tensile strength of the three composites. Additionally, the temperature at which aging occurs influences the composite's ability to absorb water and its mechanical properties. A filler may improve the mechanical properties of composites made from kenaf fibers, and it can also affect moisture absorption, reducing moisture absorption and increasing adhesion.

Mechanical properties for composites with dammar resin reinforced with crushed corn cob

The study focused on the potential use of agricultural waste (corn cob) in the manufacturing of composite materials. In the first stage, composite materials were manufactured and tested using synthetic matrices (epoxy and acrylic) and hybrid matrices based on dammar resin (50% dammar, 60% dammar, and 70% dammar). Since it was observed that the samples had low mechanical properties under tensile and bending loads, the study was expanded to the production of sandwich-type composites with silk fabric facings. It was found that, by utilizing silk fiber, both tensile and bending strength increased from a few hundred percent up to a few thousand percent, compared to the samples that are only reinforced with crushed corn cob.

Synthesis of nanocrystalline W[sbnd]Cu powders via freeze-drying and hydrogen reduction

The preparation of nanocrystalline WCu powders plays a significant role in the production of high-performance WCu composites. The chemical reduction method is a promising approach for industrial nano-powder synthesis. However, the influence of various reduction parameters on the morphology and grain size of the reduced powders, as well as their underlying mechanisms, have remained unclear. In this study, we investigated the effects of reduction steps, temperature, duration, hydrogen inflow rate, and copper content on the grain size of the composite powders and disclosed the related mechanisms. Through optimization of reaction parameters, WCu powders with grain sizes below 50 nm were obtained. Moreover, the utilization of the synthesized nanocrystalline WCu powders as raw materials yielded a bulk W20Cu composite with an ultrahigh hardness of 600 HV30.

Formaldehyde-free mycelium composites production from spent mushroom substrates for particleboard substitution: Physical, antimicrobial, and environmental assessments

Formaldehyde pollution and material shortages are two prominent issues in particleboard production. This study aimed to assess the physical and antimicrobial properties of formaldehyde-free biocomposites produced with mycelium as the adhesive through hot pressing, utilizing spent mushroom substrates. The moduli of elasticity in biocomposites with 20 % chitin-containing substrate and 10 % chitin-containing substrate was determined to be 1383.60 ± 129.31 and 1284.01 ± 66.59 MP, respectively. Following continuous culture for 14 d under 25 °C and moist conditions, the biocomposites produced from chitin-containing spent mushroom substrate, exhibited lower relative abundances of Bacteroides vulgatus and Prevotella copri on the surface of the biocomposites than did 0 % chitin-containing substrate derived biocomposites, which recorded relative abundances of 9.24 % and 9.44 %, respectively. The raw material generation process significantly contributed to various environmental impacts, including land use (44.32 m2 crop eq) and blue water consumption (8.52 m3). The production of biocomposites from spent mushroom substrate is a favourable option for lowering greenhouse gas emissions and reducing the use of toxic chemicals.

Using a Machine Learning Regression Approach to Predict the Aroma Partitioning in Dairy Matrices

Aroma partitioning in food is a challenging area of research due to the contribution of several physical and chemical factors that affect the binding and release of aroma in food matrices. The partition coefficient measured by the Kmg value refers to the partition coefficient that describes how aroma compounds distribute themselves between matrices and a gas phase, such as between different components of a food matrix and air. This study introduces a regression approach to predict the Kmg value of aroma compounds of a wide range of physicochemical properties in dairy matrices representing products of different compositions and/or processing. The approach consists of data cleaning, grouping based on the temperature of Kmg analysis, pre-processing (log transformation and normalization), and, finally, the development and evaluation of prediction models with regression methods. We compared regression analysis with linear regression (LR) to five machine-learning-based regression algorithms: Random Forest Regressor (RFR), Gradient Boosting Regression (GBR), Extreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost, XGB), Support Vector Regression (SVR), and Artificial Neural Network Regression (NNR). Explainable AI (XAI) was used to calculate feature importance and therefore identify the features that mainly contribute to the prediction. The top three features that were identified are log P, specific gravity, and molecular weight. For the prediction of the Kmg in dairy matrices, R2 scores of up to 0.99 were reached. For 37.0 °C, which resembles the temperature of the mouth, RFR delivered the best results, and, at lower temperatures of 7.0 °C, typical for a household fridge, XGB performed best. The results from the models work as a proof of concept and show the applicability of a data-driven approach with machine learning to predict the Kmg value of aroma compounds in different dairy matrices.

Dimensional change of red phosphorus into nanosheets by metal–organic frameworks with enhanced dispersion in flame retardant polyurea composites

Red phosphorus (RP) is a promising polymeric flame retardant due to its abundance of flame-retardant elements. Unfortunately, the irregular size of RP leads to poor dispersion in polymer matrices, which greatly limits its wide application in flame-retardant polymer materials. Here, RP is transformed into a two-dimensional (2D) lamellar structure by a simple green method, while ZIF-67 nanoparticles are grown in situ and uniformly embedded in them. The 2D porous RP@ZIF (2D RP@ZIF) composites exhibit excellent flame-retardant properties and mechanical properties in polyurea (PUA) matrix. The peak heat release rate, total heat release, the peak of smoke production rate and total smoke production of PUA composites added with 5 wt% 2D RP@ZIF decreased by 48.0 %, 54.2 %, 20.4 % and 22.2 %, respectively. Due to its well compatibility, the elongation at break and tensile strength of PUA composites were 308.02 % and 9.21 N in the mechanical test, respectively. Compared with previous work, this is the first time that a 2D RP hybrid flame retardant has been prepared by metal organic framework and applied to flame retardant PUA.

Solid waste recycling and organic particulate hybrid nanocomposite technologies for sustainable infrastructure—A comprehensive review

Solid waste has become a major environmental concern globally in recent years due to the tremendous increase in waste generation. However, these wastes (e.g., plastics and agro-residues) can serve as potential raw materials for the production of value-added products such as composites at low cost. The utilization of these waste materials in the composite industry is a good strategy for maintaining the sustainability of resources with economic and environmental benefits. In this report, the environmental impacts and management strategies of solid waste materials are discussed in detail. The study described the benefits of recycling and reusing solid wastes (i.e., plastic and agro-waste). The report also reviewed the emerging fabrication approaches for natural particulate hybrid nanocomposite materials. The results of this survey reveal that the fabrication techniques employed in manufacturing composite materials could significantly influence the performance of the resulting composite products. Furthermore, some key areas have been identified for further investigation. Therefore, this report is a state-of-the-art review and stands out as a guide for academics and industrialists.

The Dynamic Evolution Model of the Chemical and Carbon Isotopic Composition of C1-3 during the Hydrocarbon Generation Process.

A new approach is presented in this paper for the dynamic modeling of the chemical and isotopic evolution of C1-3 during the hydrocarbon generation process. Based on systematic data obtained from published papers for the pyrolysis of various hydrocarbon sources (type I kerogen/source rock, type II kerogen/source rock, type III kerogen/source rock, crude oil, and asphalt, etc.), the empirical evolution framework of the chemical and isotopic composition of C1-3 during the hydrocarbon generation process was built. Although the empirical framework was built only by fitting a large amount of pyrolysis data, the chemical and isotopic composition of C1-3 derived from the pyrolysis experiments all follow evolution laws, convincing us that it is applicable to the thermal evolution process of various hydrocarbon sources. Based on the simplified formula of the isotopic composition of mixed natural gas at different maturities (δ13Cmixed), δ13Cmixed = X×niA×δ13CiA+Y×niB×δ13CiBX×niA+Y×niB, it can be derived that the cumulative isotopic composition of alkane generated in a certain maturity interval can be expressed by the integral of the product of the instantaneous isotopic composition and instantaneous yield at a certain maturity point, and then divided by the cumulative yield of alkane generated in the corresponding maturity interval. Thus, the cumulative isotopic composition (A(X)), cumulative yield (B(X)), instantaneous isotope (C(X)), and instantaneous yield (D(x)) in the dynamic model, comply with the following formula during the maturity interval of (X0~X). A(X) = ∫X0XCX×DXdxB(X), where A(X) and B(X) can be obtained by the fitting of pyrolysis data, and D(x) can also be obtained from the derivation of B(X). The dynamic model was applied on the pyrolysis data of Pingliang Shale to illustrate the quantitative evolution of the cumulative yield, instantaneous yield, cumulative isotope, and instantaneous isotope of C1-3 with increasing maturity. The dynamic model can quantify the yield of methane, ethane, and propane, as well as δ13C1, δ13C2, and δ13C3, respectively, during the hydrocarbon generation process. This model is of great significance for evaluating the natural gas resources of hydrocarbon source rock of different maturities and for identifying the origin and evolutionary process of hydrocarbons by chemical and isotopic data. Moreover, this model provides an approach to study the dynamic evolution of the isotope series of C1-3 (including reversed isotopic series), which is promising for revealing the mechanism responsible for isotopic reversal when combined with post-generation studies.

Construction of cellulose nanofiber/carbon nanotube synergistic network on carbon fiber surface to enhance mechanical properties and thermal conductivity of composites

Drawing inspiration from the robustness and resilience of spider silk, this study harnessed a combination of polydopamine (PDA), cellulose nanofibers (CNFs), polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), and aminated carbon nanotubes (CNTs) to create a synergistic network through hydrogen and covalent bonding on the surface of carbon fibers (CFs). This strategy significantly bolstered the interfacial properties of the resulting composites. The enhancements in flexural strength, flexural modulus, interlaminar shear strength (ILSS), tensile strength, and interfacial shear strength (IFSS) were measured at 47.8 %, 75.2 %, 54.3 %, 55.6 %, and 51.8 %, respectively. These improvements are attributed to the formation of robust covalent and hydrogen bonds among PDA, CNF, PVA, and aminated CNTs. Furthermore, the thermal conductivity of the CF composites saw a 59.7 % increase, owing to the CNFs and CNTs. These nanofillers are instrumental in forming an efficient thermal conductivity pathway within the resin matrix, which contributes to the improved thermal conductivity. This study introduces a straightforward, eco-friendly, and innovative approach for the production of high-performance CF composites.

Cementitious Composites with Cellulose Nanomaterials and Basalt Fiber Pellets: Experimental and Statistical Modeling

The production of high-performance fiber-reinforced cementitious composites (HPFRCCs) as a durable construction material using different types of fibers and nanomaterials critically relies on the synergic effects of the two materials as well as the cementitious composite mixes. In this study, novel HPFRCCs were developed, which comprised high content (50%) slag by mass of the base binder as well as nano-silica (NS) or nano-crystalline cellulose (NCC). In addition, nano-fibrillated cellulose (NFC), and basalt fiber pellets (BFP), representing nano-/micro- and macro-fibers, respectively, were incorporated into the composites. The response surface method was used in this study’s statistical modeling part to evaluate the impact of key factors (NS, NCC, NFC, BFP) on the performance of 15 mixtures. The composites were assessed in terms of setting times, early- and late-age compressive strength, flexural performance, and resistance to freezing-thawing cycles, and the bulk trends were corroborated by fluid absorption, thermogravimetry, and microscopy tests. Incorporating NS/NCC in the slag-based binders catalyzed the reactivity of cement and slag with time, thus maintaining the setting times within an acceptable range (maximum 9 h), achieving high early- (above 33 MPa at 3 days) and later-age (above 70 MPa at 28 days) strength, and resistance to fluid absorption (less than 2.5%) and frost action (DF above 90%) of the composites. In addition, all nano-modified composites with multi-scale fibers showed notable improvement in terms of post-cracking flexural performance (Residual Strength Index above 40%), which qualify them for multiple infrastructure applications (i.e., shear key bridge joints) requiring a balance between high-strength properties, ductility, and durability.

Aluminium 8-Hydroxyquinolinate N-Oxide as a Precursor to Heterometallic Aluminium-Lanthanide Complexes.

A reaction in anhydrous toluene between the formally unsaturated fragment [Ln(hfac)3] (Ln3+ = Eu3+, Gd3+ and Er3+; Hhfac = hexafluoroacetylacetone) and [Al(qNO)3] (HqNO = 8-hydroxyquinoline N-oxide), here prepared for the first time from [Al(OtBu)3] and HqNO, affords the dinuclear heterometallic compounds [Ln(hfac)3Al(qNO)3] (Ln3+ = Eu3+, Gd3+ and Er3+) in high yields. The molecular structures of these new compounds revealed a dinuclear species with three phenolic oxygen atoms bridging the two metal atoms. While the europium and gadolinium complexes show the coordination number (CN) 9 for the lanthanide centre, in the complex featuring the smaller erbium ion, only two oxygens bridge the two metal atoms for a resulting CN of 8. The reaction of [Eu(hfac)3] with [Alq3] (Hq = 8-hydroxyquinoline) in the same conditions yields a heterometallic product of composition [Eu(hfac)3Alq3]. A recrystallization attempt from hot heptane in air produced single crystals of two different morphologies and compositions: [Eu2(hfac)6Al2q4(OH)2] and [Eu2(hfac)6(µ-Hq)2]. The latter compound can be directly prepared from [Eu(hfac)3] and Hq at room temperature. Quantum mechanical calculations confirm (i) the higher stability of [Eu(hfac)3Al(qNO)3] vs. the corresponding [Eu(hfac)3Alq3] and (ii) the preference of the Er complexes for the CN 8, justifying the different behaviour in terms of the Lewis acidity of the metal centre.

Patterned immobilization of polyoxometalate-loaded mesoporous silica particles via amine-ene Michael additions on alkene functionalized surfaces

Polyoxometalates (POM) are anionic oxoclusters of early transition metals that are of great interest for a variety of applications, including the development of sensors and catalysts. A crucial step in the use of POM in functional materials is the production of composites that can be further processed into complex materials, e.g. by printing on different substrates. In this work, we present an immobilization approach for POMs that involves two key processes: first, the stable encapsulation of POMs in the pores of mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSPs) and, second, the formation of microstructured arrays with these POM-loaded nanoparticles. Specifically, we have developed a strategy that leads to water-stable, POM-loaded mesoporous silica that can be covalently linked to alkene-bearing surfaces by amine-Michael addition and patterned into microarrays by scanning probe lithography (SPL). The immobilization strategy presented facilitates the printing of hybrid POM-loaded nanomaterials onto different surfaces and provides a versatile method for the fabrication of POM-based composites. Importantly, POM-loaded MSPs are useful in applications such as microfluidic systems and sensors that require frequent washing. Overall, this method is a promising way to produce surface-printed POM arrays that can be used for a wide range of applications.

Biochar-concrete: A comprehensive review of properties, production and sustainability

The utilisation of biochar in concrete has attracted considerable attention due to its potential in enhancing the properties and sustainability of this construction material. This in-depth review delves into various aspects of biochar-concrete composites. It commences by defining biochar and exploring its production methods, physical and chemical properties. Additionally, the review provides an overview of concrete, emphasising its composition, properties and the challenges associated with traditional production methods. The incorporation of biochar in concrete brings forth several benefits, such as improved strength and durability, enhanced thermal properties and the potential for carbon sequestration. The paper examines the production process of biochar-concrete composites, covering aspects like incorporation methods, biochar selection, mixing techniques and quality control measures. Furthermore, the sustainability aspects of biochar-concrete are evaluated, considering its environmental impact, life cycle assessment, carbon footprint reduction and economic feasibility. The review also addresses the challenges and future perspectives of biochar-concrete composites, along with opportunities for research and development. This comprehensive review presents valuable insights into the properties, production and sustainability of biochar-concrete composites. It serves as a guide for further advancements in the realm of sustainable construction.

Composition and antioxidant properties of water lily (Nymphaea nouchali) tuber and development of composite biscuits

Various parts of plant like flower, leaves, and seeds are valued as food and medicine, they are usually considered as underutilized and disregarded food item. This study was conducted to analyse the composition and antioxidant properties of water lily tuber (WLT) and assess the possibilities of utilizing such tuber as food supplement for the development of value added food products. The major compositions were moisture, ash, fat, protein, fiber and total carbohydrate content measured about 8.04%, 3.11%, 2.8%, 8.57%, 9.78%, and 67.7% respectively. Antioxidant activity, vitamin C, and total phenolic contents were found as 87.7%, 5.78% and 0.188 mg GAE/g respectively. Consequently, water lily tuber (WLT) was also utilized for the development of composite biscuit by incorporating with 20% and 30% of tuber powder. Nutrient composition and sensory evaluation of the composite biscuits were studied to develop the most acceptable formulation of water lily tuber (WLT) incorporated biscuits. From the composition of finished products, it was found that fat, protein, and fiber content were increased with the incorporation of water lily tuber (WLT) powder as compared with control and 30% incorporated biscuit rated highest content of fat (27.29%), protein (9.52%) and fiber (2.74%). On the other hand, more carbohydrate content (65.03%) was found in 20% water lily incorporated biscuit and from the sensory evaluation it was found comparatively more acceptable than 30%. From the overall observation it was found that water lily tuber (WLT) could be utilized as a good natural source of nutrients and antioxidant components in the development of composite food products and as functional ingredient in the food industries.