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In the face of fierce competition in the automotive market, severe environmental problems, and the consistent enhancement of consumer demands for vehicle performance, research and development for new automotive materials have increased. Fiber metal laminate (FML) is a representative hybrid composite in recent years but the application of FMLs in the automotive industry is still rare. In order to boost the strengths and applications of FMLs, a lot of effort has been put into enhancing their mechanical properties. In this review article, up-to-date information on the mechanical performance of FMLs for automotive components is presented. The mechanical testing methods, materials selection, structure design, fabrication methods, and the application of hybrid FMLs were explored. The objective of this review article is to study different factors that influence the mechanical properties of FMLs and provide some optimization directions from various aspects. From recent research, there will be great opportunities for hybrid FMLs utilizing natural fibers and bio-polymers in the automotive field in the future.

The challenges highlighted at the 29th Conference of the Parties (COP29) emphasize the importance of using renewable resources in the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry. The building and construction sector is a major contributor to environmental pollution, with most emissions stemming from the extraction, transportation, production, and disposal of construction materials. As a result, developing renewable building materials is essential. In the past decade, bamboo has gained significant attention from researchers due to its strength, sustainability, high yield, and rapid growth. Bamboo in its original form has been used in construction for centuries, and recent innovations have led to the creation of engineered bamboo materials designed for more versatile applications. Researchers have been focused on understanding the physical and mechanical properties of engineered bamboo to assess its potential as a sustainable alternative to traditional building materials. However, modern practitioners are still unfamiliar with engineered bamboo materials, their types, and where they can be used. This article highlights the most widely researched engineered bamboo materials that have been used in the construction of small architectural forms and bigger structures. It provides an overview of common engineered bamboo building materials, namely laminated bamboo lumber, laminated bamboo sheets, parallel strand bamboo, bamboo mat boards, and bamboo particleboards, and their manufacturing processes and applications, offering valuable information for current practitioners and future research.

Due to environmental and financial concerns, there is a growing demand for composite materials in a wide range of industries, including construction and automotive industries. In 2020, the market for wood plastic composites was estimated to be worth $5.4 billion. By 2030, it is expected to have grown to $12.6 billion, with a compound annual growth rate of 8.9% between 2021 and 2030. The fundamental disadvantage of reinforced composites by natural fibers is the different nature of the hydrophilic lignocellulosic and the hydrophobic thermoplastic polymers, although natural fibers would lower total costs. These composites typically fail mechanically as a result of fiber debonding, breaking, and pull-out. In a fiber-reinforced composite, the matrix's function could be described as distributing the force to the added fibers using interfacial shear stresses. A strong connection between the polymeric matrix and the fibers is necessary for this procedure. Weak adhesion at the interface prevents the composite from being used to its maximum potential and leaves it open to attacks from the environment that could damage it and shorten its lifespan. Poor mechanical performance is caused by insufficient adhesion between hydrophobic polymers and hydrophilic fibers in natural fiber-reinforced polymer composites. Consequently, during the past 20 years, a variety of chemical, thermal, and physical methods have been employed to address these issues. These methods largely concentrated on the grafting of chemical groups that could enhance the interfacial contacts between the matrix and natural fibers. This review article aimed to give information on several types of fiber treatments and natural fiber-treated composites with a specific focus on their physical and mechanical properties.

Thermal modification of wood is an environment-friendly alternative method for improving several properties of wood without the use of chemicals. This paper deals with the examination of color and chemical changes in spruce ( Picea abies L.) and oak wood ( Quercus robur F.) that occur due to thermal treatment. The thermal modification was performed at 160, 180, and 210 °C according to thermowood process. The color changes were measured by the spectrophotometer and described in the L * a * b * color system. Chemical changes were examined by wet chemistry methods, infrared spectroscopy and liquid chromatography. During the experiment, oak samples showed smaller color changes than spruce samples at all temperature values. During thermal modification, the content of cellulose, lignin, and extractives increases; however, the hemicellulose content drops by 58.85% (oak) and by 37.40% (spruce). In addition to deacetylation, new carbonyl and carboxyl groups are formed as a result of oxidation. Bonds in lignin (mainly β- O -4) and methoxyl groups are cleaved, and lignin is condensed at higher temperatures.

This study compared two groups of furniture joints, i.e., a so-called ready-to-assemble (RTA) plastic biscuit joint from Lamello©, while the second group consists of four types of eccentric joints with beech dowels. L-shaped specimens were prepared with the help of the selected joints and a three-layer particleboard with dimensions of 150 × 150 × 400 mm. These L-shaped specimens were tested for bending moment capacity under compression and under tension. Cam joints with wooden dowels can withstand high stress. If Lamello© Bisco P-15 joints are added to the plastic Clamex P-14 joint, this joint will achieve 13% higher values for bending moment capacity under compression and 22% under tension. During testing, the worst result was achieved by the Tenso P-14 joint. The best values achieved during the testing of bending moment capacity under compression and under tension were for an eccentric joint with the use of a metal-capped bolt and Euro screw. This joint achieved 147% higher values for bending moment capacity under compression than a standard eccentric joint with a euro screw bolt and 213% higher values for bending moment capacity under compression than the Lamello© and Clamex P-14 joints. This study aimed to determine how the joints differ, how they behave during testing, and what deformations occur.

Thermal modification is an environment-friendly technology for improving various wood properties, especially the dimensional stability, decay resistance, and color homogeneity. In this work, four tropical wood species (African padauk, merbau, mahogany, and iroko) were thermally modified by the ThermoWood process. The influence of heat treatment on the color and chemical changes of wood was studied by spectrophotometry, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and wet chemistry methods. As the temperature increased, a decrease in lightness (L*) and a simultaneous decrease in chromatic values (a*, b*) were observed, indicating darkening and browning of the wood surface. As a result of the heat treatment, the relative content of hemicelluloses decreased the most in merbau and mahogany, while the thermal stability of iroko and African padauk was higher. All examined wood species showed a strong correlation between the lightness difference value (ΔL*) and the content of hemicelluloses (r = 0.88-0.96). The FTIR spectroscopy showed that the breakdown of C═O and C═C bonds in hemicelluloses and lignin plays an important role in the formation of chromophoric structures responsible for the color changes in the wood.

This study investigates the influence of basket weave fabric structure and fibre combination on the thermal properties, flammability, and impact performance of intra-ply reinforced hybrid composites. The objective is to evaluate the effect of varying the number of threads in the basket weave pattern (ten threads 5 x 5, six threads 3 x 3, and two threads 1 x 1) and different fibre combinations (Kevlar-Glass (KG) and Kevlar-Basalt (KB)) on composite performance. The composites were fabricated using a handloom weaving process followed by compression moulding. Thermal stability was assessed using Thermo Gravimetric Analysis (TGA), flammability was examined via the UL-94 horizontal burn test, and impact performance was evaluated using the Charpy impact test. The results indicated that KG composites exhibited superior thermal stability, with higher final residue percentages and lower mass loss during degradation. The impact performance was significantly influenced by both fibre combination and weave structure, with KG5 x 5 and KB5 x 5 laminates achieving the highest impact strengths of 2160 kJ/m2 and 2040 kJ/m2, respectively. Flammability tests showed that all composites had a burn rate below 10 mm/min, meeting standard safety criteria. The findings highlight the potential of these hybrid composites for high-performance applications requiring impact resistance and thermal stability, such as aerospace and protective equipment industries.

Limitation in practical applications of biopolymer–fiber composite is mainly at higher temperatures. Thus, this study highlights the effects of fiber orientation on the durability of polylactic acid (PLA) reinforced with unidirectional (UD) continuous kenaf fibers at elevated temperatures. PLA and long kenaf fiber were fabricated using the hot-pressing method and stacked at fiber orientations of 0°, 45°, or 90°, relative to the tensile force. Dynamic mechanical analysis of the composites shows excellent anti-shock and temperature-resistant properties of the composite. UD PLA–kenaf composites with a 0° fiber orientation showed an ultimate tensile of ∼190 MPa and a flexural strength of ∼235 MPa, and the strength of the composite was able to retain up to 120°C temperature. The debonding behavior of the fiber from the matrix (fiber pull-out) supported by microscopy proved that interfacial failure occurs from the local strains, which initiate cracking. Interfacial failure and stress transfer have caused a remarkable reduction in composite strength when fibers were oriented at 90°. Hence, this current improvement in the performance of the UD PLA–kenaf fiber composite may potentially replace conventional synthetic fibers, especially for structural automotive applications.

The incorporation of nanofillers into structures has revolutionised the field of civil engineering. By enhancing mechanical, thermal, and functional properties, nanofiller-reinforced cemented structures offer solutions to challenges in durability, strength, and sustainability for modern construction. This article reviews the advances in nanofiller-reinforced fibre-reinforced polymer laminates, emphasising their role in civil applications, such as structural reinforcement, seismic retrofitting, and long-term durability improvements. The study also explores challenges in manufacturing, scalability, and environmental impact, providing directions for future research and large-scale adoption.

This article deals with volatile organic substances (VOCs) and odours that can be released into the indoor environment from synthetic leathers that are part of upholstered furniture. The primary task of this study was to provide a detailed analysis of selected synthetic leathers and assess their emission characteristics, including odour substances. VOC emissions were determined using the test chamber method (ČSN EN ISO 16000-9) at a temperature of 23oC and a relative humidity of 50%. The emitted compounds were adsorbed by standard stainless steel tubes with Tenax TA sorbent. VOCs were analysed by thermal desorption and gas chromatography with mass spectrometry The properties of odours were tested using a Sniffer 9000 device, which was directly connected to a gas chromatograph with a flame ionization detector. The dominant substances (with the highest concentration) that were emitted by samples of tested synthetic leathers include toluene (118.2 µg.mMINUS SIGN 3), 1,2-propanediol (46.2 µg.mMINUS SIGN 3), and limonene (153.0 µg.mMINUS SIGN 3). Ohio synthetic leather produced the most unpleasantness hedonic tone (-4) from all evaluated materials.