Wood composites have shown very good performance and substantial service lives when correctly specified for the exposure risks present. The selection of an appropriate product for the job should be accompanied by decisions about the appropriate protection, whether this is by design, by preservative treatment, or by wood modification techniques. This Special Issue, “Advances in Wood Composites II”, presents recent progress in enhancing and refining the performance and properties of wood composites by chemical and thermal modification and the application of smart nanomaterials. Such enhancements and refinements have made wood composites a particular area of interest for researchers. In addition, this Special Issue reviews some important aspects in the field of wood composites, with particular focus on their materials, applications, and engineering and scientific advances, including solutions inspired biomimetically by the structure of wood and wood composites. This Special Issue, as a collection of 14 original contributions, provides selected examples of recent advances in wood composites.

Recent progress in enhancing and refining the performance and properties of wood composites by chemical and thermal modification and the application of smart multi-functional coatings have made them a particular area of interest for researchers. Wood Composites comprehensively reviews the whole field of wood composites, with particular focus on their materials, applications and engineering and scientific advances, including solutions inspired biomimetrically by the structure of wood and wood composites. Part One covers the materials used for wood composites and examines wood microstructure, and wood processing and adhesives for wood composites. Part Two explores the many applications of wood composites, for example plywood, fibreboard, chipboard, glulam, cross-laminated timber, I-beams and wood-polymer composites. The final part investigates advances in wood composites and looks at the preservation and modification of wood composites, environmental impacts and legislative obligations, nano-coatings and plasma treatment, biomimetic composite materials, the integration of wood composites with other materials and carbonized and mineralized wood composites. - Comprehensively reviews the entire field of wood composites in a single volume - Examines recent progress in enhancing and refining the performance and properties of wood composites by chemical and thermal modification and the application of smart multi-functional coatings - Explores the range of wood composites, including both new and traditional products

Wood-plastic composite (WPC) is a non-recyclable composite material lumber or timber made of recycled plastic and wood wastes which has become one of the most dynamic sectors of the plastics industry in this decade. It is used in numerous applications, such as, outdoor deck floors, railings, fences, landscaping timbers, park benches, window and door frames. This book starts with a brief glimpse at the basic structures and properties of WPCs. Aspects such as surface treatment, machinery used and testing types of WPCs are also covered. The following chapters of the book give a view of foam technology, flame retardant properties and colour retardant properties of WPCs. The way morphology affects or controls the physical and mechanical behaviours of the finished materials is discussed. Finally, the authors give an overview of the applications of wood-plastic composites in daily life. The book may serve as a source book for scientists wishing to work in this field.

This book comprehensively covers the different topics of wood polymer composite materials mainly synthesis methods for the composite materials, various characterization techniques to study the superior properties and insights on potential advanced applications. It also discusses the chemistry, fabrication process, properties, applications, recycling and life cycle assessment of wood polymer composites. This is a useful reference source for both engineers and researchers working in composite materials science as well as the students attending materials science, physics, chemistry and engineering courses.

Wood-polymer composites (WPC) are materials in which wood is impregnated with monomers that are then polymerised in the wood to tailor the material for special applications. The resulting properties of these materials, from lightness and enhanced mechanical properties to greater sustainability, has meant a growing number of applications in such areas as building, construction and automotive engineering. This important book reviews the manufacture of wood-polymer composites, how their properties can be assessed and improved and their range of uses.After an introductory chapter, the book reviews key aspects of manufacture, including raw materials, manufacturing technologies and interactions between wood and synthetic polymers. Building on this foundation, the following group of chapters discusses mechanical and other properties such as durability, creep behaviour and processing performance. The book concludes by looking at orientated wood-polymer composites, wood-polymer composite foams, at ways of assessing performance and at the range of current and future applications.With its distinguished editors and international team of contributors, Wood-polymer composites is a valuable reference for all those using and studying these important materials. - Provides a comprehensive survey of major new developments in wood-polymer composites - Reviews the key aspects of manufacture, including raw materials and manufacturing technologies - Discusses properties such as durability, creep behaviour and processing performance

Advances in Sustainable Polymer Composites reviews recent scientific findings on the production and use of sustainable polymers and composites as innovative new materials. The book discusses the importance of sustainable polymers in terms of current practices and how to address environmental and economic issues. Attention is focused on the physical, chemical and electrical properties of these composites. The book also looks at the lifecycle of both single and hybrid polymers and nanocomposites, with chapters covering the latest research findings on sustainable polymer composites with various filler loadings and their improvement on compatibility. From the viewpoint of polymer composites, this book covers not only well-known sustainable future trends in sustainable polymers and composites, but also advanced materials produced from micro, nano and pico-scale fillers that achieve better physical and mechanical results. - Features advanced materials produced from micro, nano and pico-scale fillers - Emphasizes the modeling and prediction of thermal, rheological and mechanical behavior - Covers various types of fillers and different reinforcement agents - Focuses on all aspects of fabrication, characterization and applications - Addresses sustainability approaches and solutions

The degradable nature of high-performance, wood-based materials is an attractive advantage when considering environmental factors such as sustainability, recycling, and energy/resource conservation. The Handbook of Wood Chemistry and Wood Composites provides an excellent guide to the latest concepts and technologies in wood chemistry and bio-based composites. The book analyzes the chemical composition and physical properties of wood cellulose and its response to natural processes of degradation. It describes safe and effective chemical modifications to strengthen wood against biological, chemical, and mechanical degradation without using toxic, leachable, or corrosive chemicals. Expert researchers provide insightful analyses of the types of chemical modifications applied to polymer cell walls in wood, emphasizing the mechanisms of reaction involved and resulting changes in performance properties. These include modifications that increase water repellency, fire retardancy, and resistance to ultraviolet light, heat, moisture, mold, and other biological organisms. The text also explores modifications that increase mechanical strength, such as lumen fill, monomer polymer penetration, and plasticization. The Handbook of Wood Chemistry and Wood Composites concludes with the latest applications, such as adhesives, geotextiles, and sorbents, and future trends in the use of wood-based composites in terms of sustainable agriculture, biodegradability and recycling, and economics. Incorporating over 30 years of teaching experience, the esteemed editor of this handbook is well-attuned to educational demands as well as industry standards and research trends.

Adhesive bonding plays an increasing role in the forest product industry and is a key factor for efficiently utilizing timber and other lignocellulosic resources. As synthetic wood adhesives are mostly derived from depleting petrochemical resources and have caused increasing environmental concern, natural product and byproduct-derived adhesives have attracted much attention in the last decades. Although adhesives made from plant and animal sources have been in existence since ancient times, increased knowledge of their chemistry and improved technical formulation of their preparation are still needed to promote their broader industrial applications. The primary goals of this book are to (1) synthesize the fundamental knowledge and latest research on bio-based adhesives from a remarkable range of natural products and byproducts, (2) identify need areas and provide directions of future bio-based adhesive research, and (3) help integrating research findings in practical adhesive application for maximal benefits. This book covers information on a variety of natural products and byproducts and the latest research on formulation, testing and improvement of the relevant adhesives in fifteen chapters written by an international group of accomplished contributors. This book will serve as a valuable reference source for university faculty, graduate students, research scientists, agricultural and wood engineers, international organization advocators and government agency regulators who work and deal with enhanced utilization of agricultural and forest products and byproducts.

Fiber-reinforced composites are exceptionally versatile materials whose properties can be tuned to exhibit a variety of favorable properties such as high tensile strength and resistance against wear or chemical and thermal influences. Consequently, these materials are widely used in various industrial fields such as the aircraft, marine, and automobile industry. After an overview of the general structures and properties of hybrid fiber composites, the book focuses on the manufacturing and processing of these materials and their mechanical performance, including the elucidation of failure mechanisms. A comprehensive chapter on the modeling of hybrid fiber composites from micromechanical properties to macro-scale material behavior is followed by a review of applications of these materials in structural engineering, packaging, and the automotive and aerospace industries.

This new book provides a solid understanding of the recent developments in the field of composites and nanocomposites. It explains the significance of the new fillers, such as graphene and arbon nanotubes in different matrix systems. The application of these materials in biological and others fields also makes this book unique. This detailed study of nanocomposites, their structure, processing and characterization will be of value in all walks of engineering life. The book covers the following topics: • polymer matrix composites • ceramic matrix composites • carbon matrix composites • wood-based composites • biocomposites • ecocomposites • nanocomposites • processing • properties • fracture and damage mechanics • durability • and more Composite materials are solids that contain two or more distinct constituent materials or phases, on a scale larger than the atomic. The term “composite” is usually reserved for those materials in which the distinct phases are separated on a scale larger than the atomic, and in which properties such as the elastic modulus are significantly altered in comparison with those of a homogeneous material. Composites have properties that cannot be achieved by either of the constituent materials alone. Composites are becoming more and more important as they can help improve our quality of life. Composites are put into service in flight vehicles, automobiles, boats, pipelines, buildings, roads, bridges, and dozens of other products. Researchers are finding ways to improve other qualities of composites so they may be strong, lightweight, long-lived, and inexpensive to produce. The science and engineering of composites and nanocomposites draws on traditional characterization and processing technologies. Research describing structures containing nanoparticles seems to rely on methods that are being pushed to the limit of resolution. Preparation of nanocomposites also poses very real processing challenges. The list of questions about the fabrication, characterization, and use of nanocomposites is long despite massive financial and intellectual investment. The magnitude of the effects these small particles impart to the bulk properties of a composite are great enough that the science is likely to continue to grow in importance.