Sawdust Content Research Articles

Low-energy lightweight aggregates by cold bonding of biomass wastes: Effects of raw material proportion adjustments on product properties

• Lightweight aggregates can be produced by cold-bonding of sawdust and wood ashes. • Wood dust particles (<100 μm) significantly degrade the quality of the cold-bonded aggregate. • Adding Portland cement to coat the particles as a final step in cold-bonding does not improve aggregate properties. • Alternative, low embodied energy binders are required to obtain environmental benefits from cold-bonded aggregates. The reported research explored the feasibility of cold bonding as a method to produce low-embodied-energy lightweight aggregates from locally available biomass wastes (wood sawdust and ashes) and cement, using response surface methodology to model the effect of raw material proportions on the properties of the product. The empirical exploration comprised the particle size distribution, saturated surface dry and oven dry density, water absorption capacity, drying shrinkage, short- (7 days) and long-term (70-days) particle crushing strength, and strength variability of the pellets. Aggregates with particle densities below 1.850 g/cm 3 and crushing strengths above 1.5 MPa (comparable to expanded clay aggregates) were obtained. In the experimental region explored, increasing sawdust contents to decrease aggregate density negatively affected all the other aggregate properties tested. However, the negative impact was strongly reduced by increasing the ratio of coarse particles in the sawdust. Intermixing cement in the raw material mixture – as opposed to adding it as a coating to the already formed pellets – resulted in better formed, smaller, and stronger pellets, and reduced strength variability. The response model obtained was validated and used to optimize aggregate properties with the specific set of raw materials and production methods studied.

Preparation and characterization of ultra-lightweight ceramsite using non-expanded clay and waste sawdust

Expanded clay as a high-quality raw material to produce ceramsite is rapidly consumed in the past decades. A novel and green process to prepare the ultra-lightweight ceramsite using non-expanded clay and waste sawdust as raw materials was proposed in the present study, and the physical properties and phase transition mechanism of the ultra-lightweight ceramsite under different raw material formulas and sintering parameters were investigated. The synergistic effects of sawdust and Fe2O3 have a great influence on the expansion properties of ceramsite. The bulk density of ceramsite decreases with the increasing Fe2O3 content and sintering temperature, and it decreases first and then increases with the increase of sawdust content. The generation of gas and vitreous phase by sawdust burning and Fe2O3 reduction can promote the expansion of ceramsite. The typical core-cortex structure of ceramsite is formed, and the compact structure of the external layer significantly reduces the water absorption of ceramsite. The ultra-lightweight ceramsite was obtained with a bloating index of 321%, water absorption of 12.5%, bulk density of 280 kg/m3, and compressive strength of 1.0 MPa under the optimum conditions.

Innovative glass-ceramic foams prepared by alkali activation and reactive sintering of clay containing zeolite (zeolite-poor rock) and sawdust for thermal insulation

Energy-saving through thermal insulation of the buildings is becoming extremely important recently, addressing sustainability-connected challenges. This work examines the potential for producing innovative glass-ceramic foams from zeolite-poor rock and sawdust using alkali activation and reactive sintering techniques. A comprehensive analysis has been conducted for the detailed characterization of raw materials as well as the produced samples. The starting raw materials and the produced samples were investigated based on their chemical constituents, particle size distribution, BET (Brunauer, Emmett and Teller), X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray fluorescence (XRF), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), thermogravimetric (TG), differential thermal analysis (DTA), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and computed tomography (CT). The alkali activation and the mechanism of foaming were systematically discussed. The optimal sintering temperature and the maximum expansion percentage are evaluated using heating microscopy. The findings show that the used alkali-activated raw mixtures have excellent foamability at 850–950 °C. The influence of the sawdust content and sintering temperatures on different technical characteristics such as bulk density, volume expansion, compressive strength, thermal conductivity, morphologies, phase identification, and microstructural properties of the sintered samples were thoroughly examined. The SEM and CT analysis of the produced specimens reveals the formation of foams with different types of pore sizes and distribution. The produced glass-ceramic foams have compressive strengths ranging from 0.3 to 4.5 MPa and thermal conductivities ranging from 0.058 to 0.178 W/mK. Development of these value-added glass-ceramic foams utilizing easily obtainable, low price raw materials should result in economically cost-effective materials with extra environmental benefits.

Preparation of ultra-lightweight ceramsite from red mud and immobilization of hazardous elements

Red mud is a solid waste containing high alkaline nature and hazardous elements generated during the alumina production process, and its harmless utilization is of great significance to the environment. In this work, the sintering behavior and physical properties of ultra-lightweight ceramsite using red mud and waste sawdust were investigated when the sintering temperatures are between 1075 and 1175 ºC. The results reveal that the red mud is a suitable material to produce ultra-lightweight ceramsite, and the introduction of waste sawdust effectively enhances the expansion process. The bulk density of ceramsite decreases first and then increases with the increase of red mud and sawdust content. The pores are formed by the reduction reactions of Fe2O3 in red mud and the combustion of sawdust. When the red mud content is 50% and the mass ratio of sawdust to Fe2O3 is 0.3, the bulk density of ceramsite is in the range of 295–480 kg/cm3. Furthermore, the leaching concentrations of heavy metals in ceramsite are far below the permissible limit. This study is helpful to realize the harmless and large-scale utilization of red mud.

Interaction of diesel oil contaminants with laterite soil and bentonite treated by sawdust -landfill liner

ABSTRACT Landfill liners blended with industrial by-product seems to outperform the conventional liners. This paper presents the influence of sawdust (SD) admixed with bentonite and locally available lateritic soil on consistency limits, free swell index (FSI), compaction characteristics, unconfined compressive strength (UCS), hydraulic conductivity and leachate characteristics. SD content was varied as 10%, 15% and 20%. Diesel oil contaminants (DOC) and deionised water (DIW) were used as the test fluids. From the test results, consistency limits, FSI, maximum dry density, leachate concentration of heavy metals and UCS decreased, whereas optimum moisture content and hydraulic conductivity increased with increasing sawdust content. Furthermore, the energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometer revealed the absence of calcium in the blends which have resulted in poor cementation and decreased the UCS. X-ray diffraction showed that the presence of cellulose in sawdust and montmorillonite in bentonite adsorb the heavy metals in DOC. Based on the test results, 15% Saw dust content in the blends proves to be the optimum in retaining the heavy metal concentrations, improving the geotechnical properties and qualifying as a landfill liner material.

Structural Performance of Reinforced Cement Concrete Beam with Sawdust

Sawdust materials are important for several reasons. They are cheap, lightweight, and have high insulation properties. Some of this material is incorporated into the concrete as part of the cement binder phase and as gravel. Micro-cracks and defects in concrete are responsible for the low tensile strength of concrete. This study proposes the use of sawdust as a partial replacement for fine aggregate. By volume, the sawdust gradually replaced the sand with a replacement percentage that varied from 0% to 100%. Nine reinforced concrete beams with a cross-section of 90 mm × 150 mm × 1000 mm (width × depth × length) and different replacement percentages were cast and tested after 28 days. All concrete beams are supported, with two simple supports at the ends of the beam and a loading point at the center of the beam to apply load gradually using 100 kN load cells and transverse frames. The addition of sawdust results in a reduction in the flexural strength of concrete beams. The flexural reinforced concrete beam test results were compared to the design strength calculated using British Standards. According to the results of the study, both the compressive and tensile strength of concrete decreased as sawdust content increased. The weight of the sawdust concrete mixture decreased with increased sawdust content. When the replacement percentage of sand was between 5% and 20%, the sawdust concrete mixture showed good results for the structural performance of the reinforced concrete beam.

Experimental investigation of epoxy matrix and pine sawdust reinforced wood-polymer composite materials

Mechanical, thermal, and water absorption properties of the composites have been studied as a function of sawdust content, using different weight percentage. The characteristics properties of the composites were studied using differential scanning calorimetry and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. Field emission scanning electron microscopy was used to understand the interfacial bonding. The obtained results showed that the 15 wt% composites exhibited the highest tensile strength (7.5 MPa) and flexural strength (8.9 MPa) compared with the 5 wt%, 30 wt%, 40 wt%, and 50 wt% composites. A good interfacial combination was formed between 15 wt% of sawdust and epoxy resin. In terms of the tensile and flexural strength, the differential scanning calorimetry analysis confirmed that matrix modification could improve the mechanical properties and thermal stability of the composites compared to neat resin. The Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy spectrum showed the presence of functional groups pertaining to composites. The absorption data of the composite showed that the water uptake increased as the amount of sawdust in the composite increased. The 5 wt%, 15 wt%, 30 wt%, and 40 wt% sawdust composites also displayed less water absorption behavior (1.534%, 1.871%, 2.492%, and 4.127%, respectively) compared to the 50 wt% composite.

A molecular motor from lignocellulose.

Lignin is the largest natural source of functionalized aromatics on the planet, therefore exploiting its inherent structural features for the synthesis of aromatic products is a timely and ambitious goal. While the recently developed lignin depolymerization strategies gave rise to well-defined aromatic platform chemicals, the diversification of these structures, especially toward high-end applications is still poorly addressed. Molecular motors and switches have found widespread application in many important areas such as targeted drug delivery systems, responsive coatings for self-healing surfaces, paints and resins or muscles for soft robotics. They typically comprise a functionalized aromatic backbone, yet their synthesis from lignin has not been considered before. In this contribution, we showcase the synthesis of a novel light-driven unidirectional molecular motor from the specific aromatic platform chemical 4-(3-hydroxypropyl)-2,6-dimethoxyphenol (dihydrosynapyl alcohol) that can be directly obtained from lignocellulose via a reductive catalytic fractionation strategy. The synthetic path takes into account the principles of green chemistry and aims to maintain the intrinsic functionality of the lignin-derived platform molecule.

Hydrothermal properties of sandcrete blocks produced with raw and hydrothermally-treated sawdust as partial substitution materials for sand

Sandcrete blocks are used predominantly as walling elements for shelter construction in developing countries like Nigeria. Though several researches have revealed that the effect of an incessant rise in the cost of sand suitable for the production of sandcrete blocks could be mitigated by partial substitution of sand with waste materials, information on performance determinants like moisture effect and heat flow processes in relation to such developed blocks are scarce and in most cases, completely lacking in the literature. Also, sawdust is continuously generated in vast amounts but majorly under-utilised and improperly discarded as waste, thereby causing serious environmental problems. This study focussed on the production and appraisal of hydrothermal properties of solid core sandcrete blocks in which sand is partially substituted with sawdust at 0, 10, 20, 30, and 40% loading levels by volume. Water absorption, sorptivity, bulk density, specific heat capacity, thermal conductivity, thermal diffusivity, heat penetration time, thermal lag, and solar radiation absorptivity were determined for the blocks. The results revealed that blocks with raw sawdust (RSD) content are more capable of decreasing wall heat transmission load and improving the energy efficiency of building envelopes compared to their counterparts containing hydrothermally-treated sawdust (TSD). Partial sand substitution with 20% of RSD or 10% of TSD was observed to be optimum in order to meet both the water absorption and bulk density requirements outlined in standard protocols. By utilising sawdust as described in this work, problems associated with its disposal could be minimised while the development of affordable, safe, and sustainable housing is enhanced.

Influence of Sawdust Particle Sizes on the Physico-Mechanical Properties of Unfired Clay Blocks

Sawdust, which is a waste/by-product of the wood/timber industry, can be utilised as a valuable raw material in building material production due to its abundance and low cost. However, the application of sawdust in the manufacture of unfired clay blocks has received little investigation. Furthermore, the impact of different sawdust particle sizes on the properties of unfired clay blocks has not been studied. Therefore, this study screened sawdust at three different particle sizes: SP-a (212 μm &lt; x &lt; 300 μm), SP-b (425 μm &lt; x &lt; 600 μm) and SP-c (1.18 mm &lt; x &lt; 2.00 mm), to examine their effects on the physical and mechanical properties of unfired clay blocks. The density, linear shrinkage, capillary water absorption and flexural and compressive strengths were among the tests performed. Different sawdust percentages, i.e., 2.5%, 5%, 7.5% and 10% of the total weight of the clay, were considered. The tests results show that when sawdust was added to the mixture, the density of the samples reduced for all particle sizes. However, the linear shrinkage increased in SP-a samples but decreased in the other two particle size samples as the sawdust percentage increased from 2.5% to 10%. On the other hand, the capillary water absorption coefficient increased while the strength decreased with increasing sawdust content for all three groups. The highest compressive strength (CS) and flexural strength (FS) were achieved at 2.5% of sawdust content. Furthermore, it was observed that SP-b (CS—4.74 MPa, FS—2.00 MPa) samples showed the highest strength followed by SP-a (CS—4.09 MPa, FS—1.69 MPa) and SP-c (CS—3.90 MPa, FS—1.63 MPa) samples. Consequently, good-quality unfired clay blocks can be manufactured using sawdust up to 2.5% with particle sizes ranging between 600 and 425 μm.

Effectiveness of wood waste sawdust to produce medium- to low-strength concrete materials

This paper investigates the use of sawdust as fine aggregate and its influence on the properties of hardened concrete, and examines the correlation between sawdust content and hydration days. In this study, untreated wood sawdust from a wood factory in Bangladesh is added to concrete mixtures. Concrete mixtures prepared by replacing fine aggregates with sawdust in the ratio of 10%–60% are evaluated for compressive, tensile, and flexural strength along with sulphate resistance for four different hydration periods. In addition, the microstructure of sawdust concrete is studied using scanning electron microscopic images. The micrographs show a wider formation of cracks, openings, and interface gaps in the cement matrix with the addition of sawdust. However, after sulphate immersion, the gaps and cracks are found to contract due to the ettringite filler effect. The addition of sawdust is found to reduce the workability and to have an adverse effect with increasing replacement levels. Similarly, reduced density of the hardened concrete is observed in the case of the sawdust concrete mixtures. Experimental results and cost comparison reveal that ten percent sawdust substitution is found to be optimal and low-cost replacement to natural fine aggregates with respect to the hardened properties, as it yields better performance in comparison with the other replacement ratios. Also, sulphate immersion for a period of 28 days is found to improve the compressive strength, even for mixtures with higher sawdust content. Moreover, a model is developed to predict the compressive and tensile strength of sawdust concrete using regression analysis.

Effect of sawdust addition on the mechanical and water absorption properties of banana-sisal/epoxy natural fiber composites

In this work, the hybrid natural fiber composites (NFCs) were prepared using a standard hand lay-up technique from Banana fiber (B), Sisal fiber (S), and sawdust (SD) with different compositions viz. S-I (B 60%–S 20%–SD 20%), S-II (B 80%–S 5%–SD 15%) and, S-III (B 80%–S 15%–SD 5%) bounded with 80% epoxy resin LY556 and hardener LY953 in the 4:1 ratio as per ASTM standards. All the specimens were made with proper composition of 20 wt% of reinforcing materials and 80 wt% of the matrix material. The mechanical (tensile strength, compressive strength, flexural strength, and impact strength) properties and Brinell hardness of prepared specimens were conducted according to ASTM standards. The tensile, compressive, flexural, and impact strength, as well as Brinell hardness of the prepared NFCs, were found to increase with the increase in sawdust content in the epoxy matrix. Further, an improvement in the water absorption property was registered with the increment of sawdust content in the banana-sisal/epoxy composite. The value of dielectric permittivity increased while that of tangent loss decreased with increasing sawdust content. The improved mechanical, dielectric as well as water absorption properties and better Brinell hardness, foreshadow the industrial promises of the present NFCs a better alternative for synthetic fiber-reinforced composite materials.

Potential of Lignocellulosic Waste for Laccase Production by Trametes versicolor under Submerged Fermentation.

&lt;b&gt;Background and Objective:&lt;/b&gt; Laccase is one of the ligninolytic enzymes classified as a multicopper oxidoreductase group that has the ability in oxidizing phenolic compounds and has widespread use in both food and non-food industries. This enzyme is extracellularly secreted by white-rot fungi, &lt;i&gt;Trametes versicolor&lt;/i&gt; (L.) Lloyd in the media containing lignocellulose, for example, kapok banana peels and sawdust. The objective of this study was to evaluate lignocellulosic substrate that able to produce the highest activity of the laccase from the &lt;i&gt;T. versicolor &lt;/i&gt;(L.) Lloyd. &lt;b&gt;Materials and Methods:&lt;/b&gt; Three substrate variations used in this work included the cultivation media with the addition of either kapok banana peels or sawdust and without using both materials. The inducer (CuSO&lt;sub&gt;4&lt;/sub&gt;) was added to each substrate variation and the laccase activity was subsequently measured. &lt;b&gt;Results:&lt;/b&gt; The qualitative test result for laccase detection showed that &lt;i&gt;T. versicolor &lt;/i&gt;(L.) Lloyd&lt;i&gt; &lt;/i&gt;was able to produce this enzyme indicated with a reddish-brown surrounding fungal colony. The fungi cultivated in media with the content of sawdust and 1 mM CuSO&lt;sub&gt;4&lt;/sub&gt; yielded the highest laccase activity, reaching 573.6 U L&lt;sup&gt;&lt;/sup&gt;&lt;sup&gt;1&lt;/sup&gt; with an OD value of 0.5567&lt;i&gt; &lt;/i&gt;and a pH of 5.3 after 7 days of incubation. Meanwhile, the addition of kepok banana peels and 1 mM CuSO&lt;sub&gt;4&lt;/sub&gt;, showed the maximum laccase activity (297.7 U L&lt;sup&gt;&lt;/sup&gt;&lt;sup&gt;1&lt;/sup&gt;) with the OD value of 0.6932 and a pH of 5 after incubation for 6 days. &lt;b&gt;Conclusion:&lt;/b&gt; The white-rot fungi of &lt;i&gt;T. versicolor&lt;/i&gt; (L.) Lloyd&lt;i&gt; &lt;/i&gt;could produce optimal laccase activity by adding sawdust substrate and 1 mM CuSO&lt;sub&gt;4 &lt;/sub&gt;inducer on submerged fermentation.

BIOETANOL SERBUK KAYU SENGON (Paraserianthes falcataria (L.) Nielsen) DALAM RANGKA ENERGI ALTERNATIF TERBARUKAN

The purpose of this study is to analyze the volume volume of bioethanol and ethanol content produced from sengon wood powder waste. The method used is factorial RAL 3 x 3 x 3 using data analysis according to the Kolmogorov-Smirnof procedure. Based on the results obtained from measuring the volume of bioethanol from fermentation of sengon sawdust waste (Paraserianthes falcataria (L.) Nielsen), the highest volume was found in the A3B1 treatment of 11.091 ml with the highest average value of 9.006 ml and the lowest volume in the A1B1 treatment combination. amounting to 5,243 ml with the lowest average value of 8.191 ml. The bioethanol content of fermented sawdust from sengon wood sawdust ranged from 7.185% - 9.896% with the combination of A1B2 treatment having the lowest bioethanol content value and the combination of A3B1 treatment had the highest bioethanol content value so that the highest average value was 9.261% and an average value the lowest was 8,690%.Keywords : Bioethanol; Sengon Wood; Bioethanol Volume; Bioethanol Content

Parameters of Trucks and Loads in the Transport of Scots Pine Wood Biomass Depending on the Season and Moisture Content of the Load

Transport of wood biomass is one of the key operations in forestry and in the wood industry. An important part is the transport of shredded wood, where the most common forms are chips and sawdust. The aim of the research was to present the variability of the total weight of trucks (gross vehicle weight, GVW), the weight of the empty trucks (tare), and loads of chips and sawdust in different periods of the year. Changes in specific parameters were analyzed: GVW; tare weight; trailer capacity; use of the trailer load capacity; bulk volume and bulk density of wood biomass loads; solid cubic meter (m3) and weight of 1m3 of the load; and load weight depending on the season, with simultaneous measurements of wood chips and sawdust moisture. More than 250 transports from four seasons of the year were analyzed in the research. It was found that the total weight of trucks (GVW) was at a comparable level, on average from 39.42 to 39.64 Mg with slight differences (with SD 0.29 and 0.39). The weight of empty trucks was 16.15 Mg for chip-bearing trucks and 15.93 Mg for sawdust-bearing trucks (with SD 0.604 and 0.526). The type of wood material has an influence on the transported volume. The average quantity of load in the bulk cubic meter was 64.783 m3 for wood chips (SD 3.127) and 70.465 m3 (SD 2.516) for sawdust. Over 30% differences in the volume of transported wood chips and approximately 18% for sawdust were observed. The use of the loading capacity of the trailer was on average 72.58% (SD 5.567) for the transport of wood chips and 77.42% (SD 3.019) for the transport of sawdust. The sawdust bulk density was from 0.3050 to 0.4265 Mg⋅m−3 for wood chips and 0.3200 to 0.3556 Mg⋅m−3 for sawdust. This parameter is significantly dependent on moisture content, and the determined correlation functions can be used for estimating and predicting bulk density. The abovementioned absolute moisture content of chips and sawdust also depends on the season, which also affects the selected parameters of wood biomass loads.

Densification of torrefied Pinus radiata sawdust as a solid biofuel: Effect of key variables on the durability and hydrophobicity of briquettes

The integration of torrefaction and densification is a promising method to produce solid biofuels with high durability, hydrophobicity and energy density if suitable operating conditions are achieved. Variables including the torrefaction temperature, moisture content, briquetting pressure, briquetting time have been optimized based on durability and water resistance tests. Compared with torrefaction at 280 °C for 10 min, torrefaction at 300 °C for 6 min was preferred as it could achieve similar energy recovery (85.7%) with higher heating value (22.35 MJ/kg) using less torrefaction time. A moisture content of torrefied sawdust at 8–10% and a densification pressure at higher than 38 MPa were optimal to make briquettes with higher durability as suggested by drop and tumble tests, while the briquetting holding time had shown no significant difference. Briquettes made of the torrefied sawdust (300 °C for 6 min) with 10% of moisture content showed the highest water resistance as indicated by the moisture absorption test. In general, rapid torrefaction at 300 °C for 6 min with subsequent densification with 10% moisture content and 38 MPa densification pressure is recommended to produce a solid biofuel from radiata pine sawdust with volumetric energy density (17.2 MJ/L) close to sub-bituminous coal.

Possibility of using sawdust in sawdust concrete

According to GOST 19222-84, the dependence of the physical-mechanical characteristics of sawdust concrete on the specific gravity of wet sawdust of coniferous species and ash-slag mixture in the composition was studied. A one-factor experiment was carried out in the laboratory of the Department of Reproduction and Processing of Forest Resources, Federal State Budgetary Educational Institution of Higher Education “Bratsk State University” in order to justify the specific share of wet sawdust in the composition of sawdust concrete, to determine the necessary number of observations and repetitions of the experiment. As a variable factor, the proportion of wet sawdust of coniferous species in the composition is assumed. The proportion varies from 17% to 37% in increments of 5%. The applicability of wet sawdust of coniferous species for the production of heat-insulating building materials is established. Samples of building materials were made; the necessary laboratory tests were carried out. The range of variation of sawdust content in the composition for sawdust concrete is determined (from 17 to 32%).

Evaluation of Mechanical and Water Absorption Properties of Alkaline-Treated Sawdust-Reinforced Polypropylene Composite

Sawdust is a natural composite obtained from natural resources such as shrubs and trees and in a large amount from the wood industry as a waste. This study aimed to evaluate the mechanical and water absorption properties of alkaline-treated wood sawdust-reinforced polypropylene composite. The composites were manufactured by the melt-mixing method followed by compression molding with amounts of wood sawdust ranging from 10, 20, 30, and 40 to 50 wt. % by volume. The produced composites were characterized for their mechanical and water absorption characteristics. The results indicated that increasing the amount of wood sawdust content up to 40% improves the tensile, flexural, impact, and compressive strength of the composites but after the wood sawdust contents reach 40%, the mechanical properties of the composite were decreased. Water absorption rate has increased with an increase in the wood sawdust proportion; this is due to the presence of –OH groups on the surface of wood particles. From the result of this study, it can be also concluded that the optimal mechanical and water absorption properties were attained at 40% wood sawdust content. Therefore, sawdust can be used as filler and reinforcement in the PP matrix, which will reduce cost and give environmental benefits.

Engineering Properties of Waste Sawdust-Based Lightweight Alkali-Activated Concrete: Experimental Assessment and Numerical Prediction.

Alkali activated concretes have emerged as a prospective alternative to conventional concrete wherein diverse waste materials have been converted as valuable spin-offs. This paper presents a wide experimental study on the sustainability of employing waste sawdust as a fine/coarse aggregate replacement incorporating fly ash (FA) and granulated blast furnace slag (GBFS) to make high-performance cement-free lightweight concretes. Waste sawdust was replaced with aggregate at 0, 25, 50, 75, and 100 vol% incorporating alkali binder, including 70% FA and 30% GBFS. The blend was activated using a low sodium hydroxide concentration (2 M). The acoustic, thermal, and predicted engineering properties of concretes were evaluated, and the life cycle of various mixtures were calculated to investigate the sustainability of concrete. Besides this, by using the available experimental test database, an optimized Artificial Neural Network (ANN) was developed to estimate the mechanical properties of the designed alkali-activated mortar mixes depending on each sawdust volume percentage. Based on the findings, it was found that the sound absorption and reduction in thermal conductivity were enhanced with increasing sawdust contents. The compressive strengths of the specimens were found to be influenced by the sawdust content and the strength dropped from 65 to 48 MPa with the corresponding increase in the sawdust levels from 0% up to 100%. The results also showed that the emissions of carbon dioxide, energy utilization, and outlay tended to drop with an increase in the amount of sawdust and show more the lightweight concrete to be more sustainable for construction applications.

Sawdust reinforced polybenzoxazine composites: Thermal and structural properties

In this study, Mangifera Indica tree sawdust reinforced bisphenol-A aniline based benzoxazine composites were prepared by varying the sawdust from 20 wt% to 45 wt%. Thermogravimetric analysis of composites revealed excellent compatibility between polybenzoxazine and sawdust from the remarkable growth in char yield from 22% (neat resin) to 36% (for highly filled) and glass transition temperature from 151 to 165°C. Ultimate weight loss of the composites evaluated from the Derivatives of TG plots. Limiting oxygen index values of the composites reported considerable growth i.e., from 28 to 32 along with the increase in filler content. Differential scanning calorimetry results showed that sawdust particles have an insignificant effect on curing temperature (219°C) for the raise in sawdust content. Structure of the sawdust, benzoxazine monomer, polybenzoxazine and composites were studied using Fourier transformation infrared spectroscopy. Overall, polybenzoxazine composites with sawdust as filler showed improved thermal properties when compared with pure polybenzoxazine.