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In this research, the reinforcing effect of fillers including canola stalk, paulownia and nanoclay, in polypropylene (PP) has been investigated. In the sample preparation, 50 wt% of lignocellulosic materials and 0, 3, and 5 wt% of nanoclay particles were used. The results showed that while flexural and tensile properties were moderately enhanced by the addition of nanoclay in the matrix, notched Izod impact strengths decreased dramatically. However, with increase in the nanoclay content (5 wt%), the flexural and tensile properties decreased considerably. The mechanical properties of composites filled with paulownia are generally greater than canola stalk composites, due to the higher aspect ratio. The thickness swelling and water absorption of the composites significantly decreased with the increase in nanoclay loading. Except tensile modulus, the differences between the type of fibrous materials and nanoclay contents had significant influence on physicomechanical properties. Morphologies of the composites were analyzed using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X‐ray diffraction (XRD), and the results showed increased d‐spacing of clay layers indicating enhanced compatibility among PP, clay, and lignocellulosic material. TEM micrographs also confirmed that the composites containing 3 wt% nanoclay had uniform dispersion and distribution of clay layers in the polymer matrix. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013

Vibrational spectroscopy approaches like FT-IR and FT-Raman, as analytical method, can be used to assess chemical changes in historical wood structures. In this study, wood samples of three historical buildings, in Gorgan, Iran, namely Tekie Estebar, Molla Esmaiel Mosque, and the Esmaieli Buildings were selected. Wood species was determined by their macroscopic characteristics which were hornbeam (Carpinus betulus), oak (Quercus castaneifolia), beech (Fagus orientalis), and elm (Ulmus glabra), as hardwood species, and yew (Taxus baccata) as a softwood species. Also, some samples of oak were collected from northern and southern sides of the Esmaieli Building in order to compare deterioration environmental factors.. The approximate assignment of the experimental bands was completed by comparing. For this purpose, the experimental bands with the calculated band frequencies of cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin. In addition, the reported assignment for softwood and hardwood was used to confirm the vibrational assignments. The results of spectroscopy revealed that biodegradation had occurred in all species. Comparison between the most important vibrational band frequencies related to carbohydrates and lignin in hardwood species suggested that degradation of carbohydrates was greater than lignin, which could be attributed to brown rot and hydrolysis. Reduction of chemical compounds in south oak samples was higher and could be associated with prevailing wind and UV ray in this side. In the only softwood species (yew), because of its highest exposure to frequent raining, deterioration was observed in both carbohydrates and lignin.

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This article presents the application of waste sanding dusts in order to evaluate its suitability as reinforcement for thermoplastics as an alternative to wood fibers. The effects of sanding dust loading and nanoclay content on the physical and mechanical properties were also studied. Overall trend showed that with addition of sanding dusts, tensile and flexural properties of the composites were significantly decreased, due to the reduction of interface bond between the fiber and matrix. It was found that flexural, tensile and withdrawal strength of fasteners were moderately enhanced by the addition of 2 wt% nanoclay in the matrix. However, with increase in the nanoclay content (4 and 6 wt%), the flexural and tensile properties decreased significantly. The results also showed that the withdrawal strengths of screws are much higher than those of nails. At certain amount of sanding dust, with increasing nanoclay loading the withdrawal strengths of fasteners (screws and nails) were considerably decreased. The thickness swelling and water absorption of the composites dramatically decreased with the increase in nanoclay loading. Except thickness swelling, both variable parameters (sanding dust and nanoclay contents) showed significant influence on physico-mechanical properties.