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This review focuses on the effects on the environment due to the production of polymer‐solvent solutions and the manufacture of polymeric fibers of thicknesses from a nanometer up to a millimeter using these solutions. The most common polymeric fiber manufacture methods are reviewed based on their effects on the environment, particularly from the u...
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... process (Figure 5) incorporates the use of chemical or electrochemical oxidative polymerization to produce fibers of different materials such as metals and polymers. [22] It employs the use of a template (or cross-sectional mold) of the required material and structure to produce polymeric fibers. ...
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... It employs the use of a template (or cross-sectional mold) of the required material and structure to produce polymeric fibers. When producing polymeric nanofibers, a metal oxide template or membrane with submillimeter scaled pores is utilized to extrude fibers by passing the polymeric solution through one side of the membrane to get in contact with the solidifying solution on the other side (as shown in Figure 5). A drawback of this method is that it is incapable of achieving long fiber lengths, although multiple diameters are feasible to obtain by changing the templates. ...
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... Concerns about the environment and the unpredictable nature of the petroleum supply have sparked a strong push toward the development of polymer composites made of recyclable or recycled polymers (Amarakoon et al. 2022). Natural fiber composites are proposed to replace synthetic fiber composites due to several advantages such as biodegradability, renewability, recyclability, abundance, permeability, corrosion resistance, high degree of flexibility, hygroscopicity, non-toxicity, the ability to give up moisture, no release of harmful substances, non-irritation to the skin, no allergic effect, competitive mechanical properties, reduced energy consumption, less abrasiveness (Ramesh 2016). ...
Engineering applications widely use foam-core-based sandwich structures. The study incorporated cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) into a hybrid glass/kenaf fiber-based polymeric sandwich structure with a 65 kg/m3 polyurethane foam core. Four unique face sheets (S1, S2, S3, and S4) were made using glass, kenaf, and CNC. Three-point bending, Charpy impact testing, and free vibration testing were used to characterize sandwich structures. The inclusion of CNC in the matrix of face sheets improved the hybrid composite’s bending strength and impact resistance. One layer of Kenaf fabric and two layers of glass make up the hybrid composite, which is stronger in both flexural strength and impact resistance, with 14.56 MPa and 8.1 J, respectively. These improvements are 44.84% and 57.49% compared to the pure glass/epoxy composite face plate. Nevertheless, the incorporation of Computer Numerical Control (CNC) failed to result in a substantial enhancement in vibration characteristics. Both matrix modification and natural fiber (kenaf) can effectively substitute glass fabric in sandwich structures.
... The global market for polymer fibers is characterized by a significant volume, primarily consisting of synthetic and cellulose-based fibers. Over the past two decades, the production of these fibers has exceeded 80 million metric tons worldwide, with synthetic fibers accounting for more than 90% of this total [113]. These statistics highlight a dramatic increase in the consumption of fossil resources and energy, which are essential for the production, recycling, and melt-processing of polymers. ...
Biomimicry applies the fundamental principles of natural materials, processes, and structures to technological applications. This review presents the two strategies of biomimicry - bottom-up and top-down approaches, using biomimetic polymer fibers and suitable spinning techniques as examples. The bottom-up biomimicry approach helps to acquire fundamental knowledge on biological systems, which can then be leveraged for technological advancements. Within this context, we discuss the biomimetic spinning of silk and collagen fibers due to their unique natural mechanical properties. To achieve successful biomimicry, it is imperative to carefully adjust the spinning solution and processing parameters. On the other hand, top-down biomimicry aims to solve technological problems by seeking solutions from natural role models. This approach will be illustrated using examples such as spider webs, animal hair, and tissue structures. To contextualize biomimicking approaches in practical applications, this review will summarize the use of biomimicry in filter technologies, textiles, and tissue engineering.
Microfibers are abundantly found in nature as contaminants and have harmful environmental consequences. Furthermore, various countries have paid attention to microfibers, considered the environment's most abundant form of pollutant. Microfibers are the primary marine pollutant in the world. Thousands of research studies have addressed the detrimental impact of these micropollutants on aquatic and terrestrial habitats, the food chain, and human health. Annually, around 2 thousand tons of microfibers are discharged from numerous sources into the water. Such microfibers are released from each piece of clothing throughout domestic laundry. Microfiber particles and washing machine wastewater are released into urban drainage systems next to lakes and rivers, eventually blending with ocean water. Ocean streams carry these tiny particles because of their low density. According to reports, environmental pollution caused by cleaning synthetic apparel at home is among the causes of primary microplastics in the aquatic environment. If fiber materials are not employed or handled correctly, they will, directly and indirectly, lead to severe microfibre environmental pollution. As microfibers are exposed to the natural environment, they fragment into smaller strands. Many technologies are now for removing microfibers, including physical, chemical, and biological methods. Because of membrane fouling and the need to replace old filter membranes, filtration technology has a range of removal efficiencies and a relatively high cost. Adsorption and magnetic separation are straightforward removal techniques, but adding additional sorbents can result in secondary contamination. Chemical residues provide a similar issue in the treatment of coagulation and oxidation. Similarly, biodegradation and bioreactors frequently have low degradation efficiencies. Future biodegradable plastic development, integrated environmentally friendly methods, recycling traditional plastic, and zero pollutant removal technologies were the final green plastic reduction techniques proposed. It is impossible to stress how crucial technical advancement is to enabling integrated water management. Water and wastewater treatment with nanotechnology has the potential to advance treatment effectiveness and increase water supply through the safe use of water sources. Here, we examine current advances in wastewater and water treatment using nanotechnology. Topics of discussion encompass potential nanomaterials, characteristics, and mechanisms that permit applications, benefits, and drawbacks compared to existing techniques, obstacles to commercialization, and research needs.
The shellfish processing industry is one of the largest growing industries across the globe with a market size of around USD 62B. However, it also leads to a significant environmental issue as it produces >80,000 tons of waste shells globally. Unfortunately, the slow degradation of this waste causes it to accumulate over time, posing a serious threat to the marine environment. The key solution to this problem is to recycle this sea waste into a valuable product like chitin which is further used to produce chitosan. Chitosan is a natural biopolymeric substance obtained via N-deacetylation of the chitin. The chitosan-based nanoparticles are further useful for the fabrication of biopolymeric nanocomposites which are used in various biomedical applications specifically in drug delivery. Here, we review the recent advancements in the development of chitosan-based nanocomposites as a biocompatible carrier for drug delivery, specifically focusing on gene delivery, wound healing, microbial treatment, and anticancer drug delivery. By providing a valuable and up-to-date resource, this review illuminates the current state of research concerning chitosan's pivotal role in the biomedical domain as an efficacious drug delivery agent.
The field of submicrometer polymeric production currently has a predominant research focus on morphology and application. In comparison, the sustainability of the manufacture of submicrometer polymeric fibers, specifically the energy efficiency, is less explored. The principles of Green Chemistry and Green Engineering outline frameworks for the manufacture of “greener” products, where the most significant principles in the two frameworks are shown to be centered on energy efficiency, material wastage, and the use of non‐hazardous materials. This study examines the power consumption during the production of Polyethylene oxide (PEO) and Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) submicrometer fibers under magnitudes of the key forming parameters to generate fibers via pressure spinning. The energy consumption, along with the fiber diameter, and production rate during the manufacture of fibers is predominantly attributed to the characteristics of polymeric solutions utilized.
As a facile, efficient, and low‐cost fiber manufacturing strategy, pressurized gyration/rotation (PG) is attracting tremendous attention. This review provides a comprehensive introduction to the working setups, fundamental principles, processing parameters, and material feed properties of this technology. The characterizations of products prepared by this technology and their wide application fields are summarized. The development potentials and broader application prospects of PG are discussed. PG holds significant promise for the scale‐up of ultrafine fiber manufacturing.
