Swelling Of Fibers Research Articles

Effect of water absorption on thickness swelling of natural fiber reinforced styrene acrylonitrile composite

Effect of water absorption on thickness swelling of natural fiber reinforced styrene acrylonitrile composite

Exploring Water Absorption Behaviors on Mechanical Properties of Wheat Straw-Glass Fiber Hybrid Composites for Sustainable Engineering Solutions

The study explores the enhancement of epoxy composite performance by adding glass fiber and wheat straw, revealing improved tensile strength and hardness compared to unreinforced epoxy. Using a hand-layup procedure, glass fibers and wheat straw are incorporated unidirectionally into an epoxy resin matrix. This study aims to explore how different fiber volume fractions and moisture absorption over two months affect the tensile strength and hardness of hybrid composites. The tensile strength and hardness of weathered specimens are found to be lower values than those of raw samples because of the degradation of the structural integrity of the fibers during water absorption. After being exposed to water, the tensile strength was 20 wt. % fiber composite sample was reduced by roughly 32.43 %. A marginal decline in hardness of 5.63% occurred for 20 wt. % hybrid composite. The morphology of the composites after the tensile test and the interactions between the fibers and the epoxy matrix in the as-cast and weathered samples were investigated using SEM. Perfect fiber-matrix bonding was apparent in as-cast composites. However, fiber swellings and de-bonding in the fiber matrix due to voids and moisture absorption were observed in weathered specimens, which reduced the tensile strength and hardness.

The role of fibre bonds in permanent curl of paper and how it is affected by crosslinking

Irreversible deformation of paper is a challenge for both printer operation and product quality, particularly in inkjet printing with water-based inks. Here we are investigating permanent paper curl, which is the residual curl of paper after drying of the ink (i.e., it is not the immediate paper curl due to wetting). The key aim of this work was to test the hypothesis that permanent paper curl is created by partial opening and rearrangement of the fibre–fibre bonds in the wetted paper layer. In order to test this hypothesis, we produced paper with crosslinked fibre–fibre bonds that do not open in the presence of water. Polyamideamine epichlorohydrin (PAE) and 1,2,3,4-butanetetracarboxylic acid were used as crosslinking agents and properties of the treated paper samples were analysed. Both agents led to significantly improved wet strength of the papers, furthermore we indeed found that the permanent curl of crosslinked papers was strongly reduced. Other curl related mechanisms like differences in fibre swelling, paper hydroexpansion and liquid penetration were not able to explain the reduction in curl. The finding that the creation of fibre–fibre bonds unaffected by water prevents permanent curl of paper after wetting and redrying leads to the conclusion that the mechanism for creating permanent paper curl after wetting is related to the partial opening and rearrangement of fibre–fibre bonds in the wetted paper. Possible pathways to apply these findings to paper production are discussed, for example switchable or temporary wet strength agents.

Enhancing enzymatic conversion of castor stalk through dual-functional ethanolamine pretreatment

Castor stalk from hemp plants is an attractive lignocellulosic feedstock for biomass refining valorization due to its similar chemical composition to hardwoods. In this study, the castor stalk fibers were pretreated with efficient dual-functional ethanolamine to achieve delignification and swelling of the cellulosic fibers, followed by cellulase enzymatic digestion for biomass conversion. Experimental results showed that ethanolamine pretreatment at 160 °C for 1 h effectively removed 69.20 % of lignin and 43.18 % of hemicellulose. In addition to efficient delignification and removal of hemicellulose, the study also revealed that supramolecular structure of cellulose was another major factor affecting enzymatic hydrolysis performance. The lowered crystallinity (60–70 %) and swelled crystal sizes (2.95–3.04 nm) promoted enzymatic hydrolysis efficiency during the heterogeneous reaction process. Under optimal conditions (160 °C, 1 h; enzyme loading: 15 FPU/g substrate), promoted yields of 100 % glucose and over 90 % xylose were achieved, which were significantly higher than those obtained from untreated castor stalk. These findings highlighted the effectiveness of the dual-functional ethanolamine pretreatment strategy for efficient bioconversion of lignocellulosic feedstocks. Overall, this study provides valuable insights into the development of new strategies for the efficient utilization of biomass resources, which is essential for the sustainable development of our society.

Effect of acid soak treatment of the precursor on the structure and properties of polypropylene-based carbon fibers

Polyolefin fibers have received wide attention as the precursor for low-cost carbon fiber, and cross-linking of linear polyolefin by strong acid has been proven to be an effective way to stabilize the precursor fiber prior to carbonization. However, the conventional temperature used in sulfonation process is too high and could result in severe decomposition of the linear chain of the polymer, which further deteriorated the mechanical properties of the as-prepared carbon fiber. Thus, reducing the duration of sulfonation process operated at high temperature may alleviate the degradation behavior, conferring the polyolefin-based carbon fibers with better performance. In this paper, polypropylene (PP) fibers were soaked in sulfuric acid at 50 °C–90 °C, before the conventional preparation protocol of PP-based carbon fiber. The structural evolution from PP to carbon fiber were characterized by Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Raman spectroscopy. The mechanical and conductive properties of carbonized fibers where further measured. The results showed that the soak in sulfuric acid resulted in swelling of PP fibers in diameter direction, as well as reducing the crystallinity of the fibers, both of which were physical transformation, and could be easily controlled by soak temperature. The subsequent sulfonation at conventional temperature was fastened for the soaked PP fibers, and the duration of sufficient sulfonation were almost reduced by half. The obtained carbon fibers exhibited better thermal conductivity and mechanical properties, which were enhanced by 25 % and 40 %, respectively, compared with that without soak pretreatment.

Mechano-chemical, high-consistency activation of kraft pulp in deep eutectic solvent of choline chloride and urea

Deep eutectic solvents (DESs) offer an appealing green medium for the activation of cellulose fibres to promote their swelling, reactivity, hydrolysis, disintegration, and solubility for further processing. Typically, DES treatments are carried out below 5 wt% consistency even though a higher solids content could enhance the fibre activation and reduce the solvent consumption. In this work, a high-consistency (HC) mechano-chemical activation of bleached softwood kraft pulp was elucidated using a simultaneous fibre treatment with DES of choline chloride-urea and a sigma-type kneader or a twin-screw extruder at a solids content of 15–35 wt% and 30 wt%, respectively. Both HC treatments efficiently triggered fibre swelling, which was indicated by an increase in the fibre width, and loosened the cell wall structure which was indicated by an increase in the mesopore volume. Mechano-chemical HC processing generated fibre fines and external fibrillation, while the molecular-level structural alteration or changes in chemical composition were minor; the intrinsic viscosity and the crystallinity of the pulp remained at their initial level and only a small amount of xylan was dissolved. Overall, HC treatment in a twin-screw extruder caused notably more severe morphological changes in the fibres than batch treatment in a sigma-type kneader. Thus, the mechano-chemical HC treatment with DES provides an industrially relevant technology for cellulose modification and opens possibilities to enhance heterogeneous cellulose modification processes in which the highly available surface area of pulp is a key parameter.

Swelling of cellulosic fibers in aqueous systems: A Review of chemical and mechanistic factors

Swelling of cellulosic fibers in aqueous systems: A Review of chemical and mechanistic factors

Advancements in chemical modifications using NaOH to explore the chemical, mechanical and thermal properties of natural fiber polymer composites (NFPC)

Abstract Increasing environmental awareness and concerns about global warming have resulted in a significant demand for sustainable and eco-friendly resources, such as naturally available fibers, that can be suitable alternatives to petroleum/synthetic materials such as glass, carbon and Kevlar in reinforced composites. The exploration of natural fibers as reinforcements in composites is increasing in popularity, particularly in the development of transport and household components. However, natural fibers also have a few limitations that should be addressed appropriately, including lack of compatibility between fiber-matrix, fiber swelling, excess absorption of moisture, resistance to chemicals and fire. Consequently, various processes have been used to improve the fiber surface, to obtain a better fiber–matrix interface. The primary objective of this work is to review the impact that a 5 % NaOH (sodium hydroxide) treatment has on the chemical, mechanical, and thermal properties of natural fiber-reinforced composites (NFRC).

Enhancing subsequent kraft fiber dewatering properties by using fiber polyamide-epichlorohydrin (PAE) treatment to prepare a dry pulp product,

The energy needed for the dewatering and drying of wet paper web represents around half of the energy consumption of papermaking processes. The present work examined whether the dewatering and drying of paper could be enhanced during a previous pulp drying process by pretreating the fibers with polyamide-epichlorohydrin (PAE). According to the hypothesis, the cured PAE restrains swelling and water absorption of water-wetted fibers by forming a fiber-bound, self-crosslinked polymer-network on the fiber surfaces. The hypothesis was tested by adding PAE to never-dried kraft pulp slurry followed by pulp thickening, drying, and final curing of the PAE-resin. After this, the PAE-treated fibers were dispersed in water, and their water retention values (WRV) and Shopper-Riegler values (○SR) were measured. The PAE pretreatments notably decreased the fibers´ WRV and ○SR, indicating improved water removal of paper web in the paper machine forming and drying section. Compared to chemical crosslinking pretreatments, which also can be used to decrease fibers WRV and ○SR-value, a notable advantage of PAE-pretreatment is milder required curing conditions of the PAE, which makes implementation of the method easier in practice. Due to decreased fiber-to-fiber bonding capability, the PAE-treated specialty fibers could take advantage especially as a bulking aid of paperboard, tissue, and absorbent materials.

A study of biodegradation, water uptake and thickness swelling of animal fibers reinforced unsaturated polyester resin composites

The ever-increasing quantities of trash produced by the poultry and tannery industries, particularly chicken feathers, cow hairs, and waste leather fibers, pose serious challenges to maintaining a pristine natural environment. In this research, the polymer composites were produced by combining 2, 5, 7, 10, 12, and 15 % (by weight) recycled chicken feather fibers (CFF), cow hair fibers (CHF), and leather fibers (LF) with inorganic materials ZnO, Al2O3, CaCO3, and unsaturated polyester resin (UPR) through a hand lay-up process. After cleaning, a portion of the fibers was subjected to a two-hour soak in 0.20 M KOH at 50 °C, followed by five hours of drying at 60 °C, and the remaining half was not attended. This study successfully reduced environmentally hazardous waste from the poultry and tannery industries. The biodegradation of composites was compared in weather, water, brine, soil and compost over a period of 90 days at 25 °C, suggesting that the composites have potential in a variety of settings. Degradation rates varied among the composites, and the leather fibre-UPR composites (LR + UPR + Al2O3) showed the fastest degradation rate under all media and were especially degraded highest percentages (17.8 %) when buried in compost. Degradation percentages in compost media for (CHF + UPR + Al2O3), (CFF + UPR + Al2O3) and (CHF + CFF + UPR + Al2O3)) composites are 16.3 %, 14.8 %, and 13.5, respectively. The helical structure of the composites disintegrated in thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), losing its chain-linkage skeleton and peptide fiber bridges, and dissolving keratin and collagen into carbon dioxide (CO2), hydrogen sulfide (H2S), and hydrogen cyanide (HCN). The results of the water uptake and thickness swelling study for up to 15 days due to water absorption can have positive effects on the mechanical properties of the composite material and found 8.8 % water uptake and 15.8 % thickness swelling both for (LR + UPR + Al2O3) composite.

Advances of natural fiber composites in diverse engineering applications—A review

This paper emphasizes the significant usage of natural fiber as a reinforced composite in the potential engineering field. Mechanical, civil, textile, agricultural, and other engineering sectors have already initiated the utilization of natural fiber in their multiple fields. After going through some processes like treating chemically and synthesizing them accordingly, natural fiber composites are prepared for respective implementation. Unlike other types of composite materials, natural fiber composites have some unique properties like recyclability, adaptability, environmental safety, and easy persuasion. On the other hand, different types of naturally oriented fiber like jute, cotton, silk, linen, hemp, etc. have almost the same kind of mechanical, thermal, and chemical features as traditional composite materials. Additionally; automobile, marine, aerospace, medical, and recreation industries claim a significant realm in this type of material kingdom. Though moisture problems, fiber swelling, and safe reusability are threatening for natural fiber-reinforced composites, more research will certainly reduce these problems. Researchers play a significant role in the permanent solution of different applications of natural fiber composites in every engineering sector.

Influence of moisture on the sound absorption properties of wood-based pulp fibre foams

The use of wood fibres, and other biofibres in general, as raw materials to produce sound absorbers has gradually increased lately. The main reason for their increased use is their contribution to reducing CO2 from the atmosphere by binding CO2 into the building structure for decades. Understanding of the ultrastructure of wood fibres is essential as it has a strong influence on the fibre properties, and thus, on the final material properties. In this work, the effect of moisture on the sound absorption properties of wood-based pulp fibre foams has been studied. It is shown that increasing moisture content (> 9%) in pulp fibres leads to greater sound absorption at low-mid frequencies. Fibre swelling, increasing fibre flexibility, and increasing foam bulk density with increasing fibre moisture content are hypothesized as the causes for the increase in sound absorption. Hygroexpansion, mechanical properties as well as moisture absorption capability of different types of pulp fibres are studied and related to their sound absorption properties. It is concluded that, in addition to fibre diameter and bulk density of foams, the elastic properties of the pulp fibres are partially responsible for the improved sound absorption of the foams exposed to greater relative humidity conditions.

Accuracy of hygro-expansive curl predictions for paper sheets based on homogenised 2D and 3D network representations

Paper, a porous-fibrous network, is made up of hydrophilic fibres, which are notably susceptible to deformations due to variations in moisture content. The response of paper sheets to full or partial wetting, based on the water-induced fibre swelling, has mostly been predicted in the past using highly idealised two-dimensional network geometries. The purpose of the present paper is to establish how precisely the two-stage process of determining effective hygro-expansivity under uniform wetting by a two-dimensional model followed by bending analysis using a continuum model predicts the curl of a fully three-dimensional network. In the present multi-scale modelling work, the moisture-induced homogenised sheet scale curl, derived from hygro-elastic deformations using non-uniform moisture profiles, is analysed based on an idealised non-woven three-dimensional fibrous network finite element model. First, the effective paper sheet swelling properties, derived computationally for the uniform wetting condition, are compared with analytically homogenised hygro-elastic properties. Whereas the analytically predicted elastic modulus has an inaccuracy of only ∼5%, the hygro-expansivity coefficient is over-predicted by roughly a third for a network with straight fibres. The difference is smaller if waviness of the fibres and wrap-around in the fibre bonds are taken into account. Fibre alignment turns out to have little influence. Subsequently, paper sheet curl predictions made by the analytical model are compared with that computed from the three-dimensional network model. The inaccuracy of the fully analytical model, based on the two-dimensional network description, relative to the fully detailed three-dimensional computational model with straight fibres is on the order of 40%–50%. The fidelity of the simple model is primarily constrained by the inaccuracy of the effective hygro-expansion coefficient. If the expansivity extracted from the three-dimensional simulations under uniform wetting is inserted, the inaccuracy drops to less than 10%. The continuum bending description hence performs adequately, provided it is based on a reliable estimation of the uniform expansion behaviour of the material.

Valorization of cocoa pod side streams improves nutritional and sustainability aspects of chocolate

Chocolate production faces nutritional, environmental and socio-economic challenges present in the conventional cocoa value chain. Here we developed an approach that addresses these challenges by repurposing the often-discarded pectin-rich cocoa pod endocarp and converting it into a gel. This is done using cocoa pulp juice concentrate to replace traditional sugar from sugar beets. Although swelling of fibres, proteins and starches can limit gel incorporation, our proposed chocolate formulation contains up to 20 wt% gel. It also has comparable sweet taste as traditional chocolate while offering improved nutritional value with higher fibre and reduced saturated fatty acid content. A cradle-to-factory life cycle assessment shows that large-scale production of this chocolate could reduce land use and global warming potential compared with average European dark chocolate production. The process also provides opportunities for diversification of farmers’ income and technology transfer, offering potential socio-economic benefits for cocoa-producing regions.

Alkaline treatment and fractionation of OCC for strength improvement

Abstract The main drawback of recycled fibers is the deterioration of fiber bonding dependent papermaking properties (like tensile, tear and burst indexes) due to the hornification effect, as a results of drying during papermaking. In order to improve the papermaking properties through increasing fiber bonding, an alkaline treatment of Old Corrugated Cardboard (OCC) followed by fractionation were carried out in this investigation. Alkaline treatment dissolved 6.6 % organics (carbohydrates and lignin) and fibers became wider as a results of fiber swelling. The alkali treatment decreased fines from 39.9 % to 28.5 %, consequently, decreased drainage resistance from 26 °SR to 21 °SR. The papermaking properties of OCC pulp increased on alkaline treatment. Fiber fractionation of alkaline treated OCC further increased papermaking properties. At 40 °SR value, the tensile index, burst index and tear index of alkaline treated longer fiber fraction was 49 N m/g, 3.2 kPa m2/g, 7.2 mN m2/g, respectively while it was 40.4 N m/g, 2.1 kPa m2/g and 6.1 kPa m2/g, for non-treated longer fiber fraction, respectively.

Respiration and Cough in Pompe Disease: Results from a neuromechanical computational model of the respiratory control system

Late Onset Pompe Disease (LOPD) is an incurable, rare progressive genetic disease. It is characterized by glycogen build-up, due to mutations in the gene encoding the lysosomal enzyme acid alpha glucosidase, throughout muscle and neural regions. This accumulation is associated with cell death and muscle fiber swelling, eventually leading to respiratory insuffciency and airway clearance (i.e. cough) deficiency. Impairments in effective airway clearance result from the inability to clear normal pulmonary volume. Emerging evidence indicates significant respiratory neuron dysfunction, altering pulmonary function in humans and animal models. It has been suggested that respiratory and airway clearance insuffciency observed in LOPD may be attributed to medullary motoneurons potentially associated with the respiratory and cough pattern generators (Fuller et al., 2013; DeRuisseau et al., 2009). However, the precise neural mechanisms that suppress breathing and cough are not fully understood. One possible target for LOPD respiratory insuffciencies may be reduced medullary inspiratory neuron activity within this network, which could result in decreased phrenic motoneuron output. Using a stochastic neural network simulator that consisted of discrete “integrate and fire” populations, we simulated a systematic decrease in three medullary inspiratory neuron populations: inspiratory driver (I-Driver), inspiratory decrementing (I-Dec), or inspiratory augmenting (I-Aug) neurons. We simulated breathing and three cough trials. By targeting these populations, we expected global decreased neural bursts, suppressed inspiratory motor drive, and/or suppressed expiratory motoneuron output. Simulations indicated that when the I-Dec motoneuron population decreased by 25%, it resulted in apnea and abolished cough. Reducing the I-Aug motoneuron population by 20% resulted in longer inspiratory phase durations (TI) and a decreased respiratory rate. During cough, there was a decrease in the duration and amplitudes of the expiratory motoneuronal activity associated with decreased cough receptor and pulmonary stretch receptor afferent feedback. When the I-Driver motoneuron population was reduced by 25%, TI decreased and I amplitude increased during respiration. During cough, lumbar and phrenic motoneuron discharge duration and amplitude decreased. These results are consistent with previously reported in vivo data. Overall, our simulation data support the plausibility of glycogen storage dysfunction impairing medullary neuronal and premotoneuronal excitability within the inspiratory network. Our results also suggest that some neurons may be more sensitive to glycogen storage than others within the brainstem inspiratory network. Supported by NHLBI L30HL165496, NIH T32 HL 134621 and 3OT2OD023854. This is the full abstract presented at the American Physiology Summit 2024 meeting and is only available in HTML format. There are no additional versions or additional content available for this abstract. Physiology was not involved in the peer review process.

Enhancing hemp fiber performance: insights into chitosan treatment and structural evolution

Hemp fiber, recognized for its eco-friendliness, wide availability, and biodegradability, stands as a renewable resource with promising applications. To fully harness its potential, it is crucial to study the relationship between chitosan concentration and both the mechanical and thermal properties of hemp fiber. Understanding these effects can provide a direction to improve the properties and functionalities of hemp fiber, which are essential for many applications, including textiles and construction and automotive materials. Chitosan is known to enhance the antimicrobial and adsorption properties of fibers by changing the chemical properties of the fiber surface. However, up to now, a very limited number of studies have focused on the exact effect of chitosan on the mechanical and thermal stability properties of hemp fibers. Here, the effect of treatment with different concentrations of chitosan solutions is investigated to enhance the properties of hemp fibers and the treated hemp fibers are characterized. It is found that chitosan solution treatment can effectively improve the various properties of hemp fibers. The chitosan treatment improved the surface roughness of hemp fibers. The tensile strength and flexibility of hemp fibers were enhanced. The CSHF-1.5% sample exhibited the highest tensile strength of 616.11 MPa and the lowest tensile modulus of 15.61 GPa. The fiber swelling rate increased to 24.73% at a chitosan solution concentration of 1.5%. The results of thermogravimetric analysis and differential scanning calorimetry analysis demonstrated the effectiveness of chitosan solution treatment in enhancing the thermal stability of hemp fibers. These findings propose a promising method for a significant modification of hemp fiber's mechanical and thermal stability.

Transient hygro- and hydro-expansion of freely and restrained dried paper: the fiber-network coupling

The transient dimensional changes during hygro-expansion and hydro-expansion of freely and restrained dried, softwood and hardwood sheets and fibers is monitored, to unravel the governing micro-mechanisms occurring during gradual water saturation. The response of individual fibers is measured using a full-field global digital height correlation method, which has been extended to monitor the transient hydro-expansion of fibers from dry to fully saturated. The hygro- and hydro-expansion is larger for freely versus restrained dried and softwood versus hardwood handsheets. The transient sheet-scale hydro-expansion reveals a sudden strain and moisture content step. It is postulated that the driving mechanism is the moisture-induced softening of the so-called ”dislocated regions” in the fiber’s cellulose micro-fibrils, unlocking further fiber swelling. The strain step is negligible for restrained dried handsheets, which is attributed to the ”dislocated cellulose regions” being locked in their stretched configuration during restrained drying, which is supported by the single fiber hydro-expansion measurements. Finally, an inter-fiber bond model is exploited and adapted to predict the sheet-scale hygro-expansion from the fiber level characteristics. The model correctly predicts the qualitative differences between freely versus restrained dried and softwood versus hardwood handsheets, yet, its simplified geometry does not allow for more quantitative predictions of the sheet-scale hydro-expansion.

Efficient zero wastewater and salt-free of cotton fiber dyeing via hydrophobic organic chemical/water two-phase dyeing system

For cotton fabric dyeing, a significant quantity of salt and water are typically consumed in the conventional water dyeing bath. In this study, an environmentally friendly alternative was investigated that could eliminate water waste and salt usage, as well as reducing chemical consumption. This method, which employs a hydrophobic organic chemical/water two-phase dyeing system, solely involves fiber swelling, dye dissolution, and the use of alkaline agents. By substituting the water required for heat and mass with an organic chemical, 71.43% dye reduction can be achieved in dye consumption compared to traditional water-based dyeing method. Benefiting from the natural affinity between dyes and cotton fibers, without any interaction with hydrophobic organic chemicals, reactive dye can diffuse into the fiber surface, which can achieve above 98% dye uptake and 90% fixation rate. The K/S value of the dyed cotton fabric is much higher than that of conventional water bath at the same dye concentration, and it is the highest when the water content is 120 %. Moreover, the uniform distribution of dye and the color fastness of the dyed fabric are comparable to traditional water-based dyeing. Due to the influence of intermolecular forces, the aggregation of dye is changed to varying degrees in different hydrophilic and hydrophobic cotton fiber dyeing systems, which further influences the dyeing quality. This study not only improves the utilization of dye but achieves salt-free, no wastewater emission and reduces the dyeing cost, providing an economical and sustainable dyeing method for the industrial dyeing of cotton fabric.

Glueless formaldehyde-free biocomposites with high strength based on the three-dimensional structure of wood fibres

The efficient utilization of small-diameter shrub resources holds significant potential in averting forest resource waste and mitigating carbon emissions. Herein, glueless biocomposites were prepared using waste small-diameter Buxus megistophylla via alkali pre-treatment and thermal molding. Instead of simple hot-pressing, the biocomposites were prepared using thermal molding, which allows the release of edge stresses in a high-pressure environment. After alkali pretreatment, the flexural and tensile strength of the biocomposites increased by 66.08% and 74.12%. Alkali pre-treatment forms reactive alkali-cellulose, facilitating fiber bonding. Structural disruption leads to fiber swelling, increasing surface area and hydrogen bonding, especially on cellulose. This process disrupts and reconstitutes crystalline regions, enhancing crystallinity. Lignin liberated from the lignin-hemicellulose polymer transitions to a molten state, serving as an adhesive to fortify fiber bonds, creating a 3D lattice structure and hydrophobic surface (Water contact angle 85°). Furthermore, these biocomposites, being adhesive-free and non-emitters of harmful gases like formaldehyde, hold promise as sustainable materials for architectural decoration and furniture applications.