Department of Sustainable Biomaterials
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The Department of Sustainable Biomaterials was formerly the Department of Wood Science and Forest Products. The name was changed in 2012.
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Browsing Department of Sustainable Biomaterials by Content Type "Article"
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- Agroforestry in Appalachia-Laurel Fork SapsuckersHammett, A. L. (Tom) (2023)
- Branching Out: Alternative Tree Saps Integrated with AgroforestryHammett, A. L. (Tom) (2023)
- Editorial: In celebration of women in science: glycoscienceRoman, Maren; Chandran, Preethi L.; Haurat, M. Florencia (Frontiers, 2023-05)
- Intra-Ring Compression Strength of Low Density HardwoodsZink-Sharp, Audrey G.; Price, Carlile (Universidad del Bío-Bío, 2006)Engineered wood composites are being crafted with increasingly smaller and smaller components, yet a search of the literature indicates a lack of intra-ring mechanical property data for almost all commercial wood types, particularly the underutilized low density hardwoods. In addition, there is no universally accepted testing regime for determining micromechanical properties of wood samples. As a result, we developed a testing system for determining compression, tension, and bending properties of growth ring regions of wood samples. Our microtesting system consists of a 45.4 kg load stage, motor drive, data acquisition system, motor control, load cell, strain transducer, and software. In this study, intra-ring compression strength parallel to the grain was determined for small samples (a few ml3 in volume) of sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua), yellow-poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera), and red maple (Acer rubrum). It was determined that compression strength is weakly correlated with specific gravity but unrelated to growth rate. Specific gravity was also unrelated to growth rate. Sweetgum values were intermediate between yellow-poplar and red maple.
- Moisture in Sea Containers: What causes the problems and how to solve them?Barber, Bailey (Virginia Tech. Center for Packaging and Unit Load Design, 2018-02-02)The water that is found inside shipping containers come from the air, packages, pallets, and sometimes even the products that are stored in the container. Condensation forms inside the sea container because during shipping, temperature and humidity varies hugely and that variance can occur fairly quickly. This condensation in a sea container can cause extensive packaging damages. There are various solutions to this problem, including ventilation and the addition of desiccants to the container. This white paper explores the causes of this condensation and solutions to prevent any damage.
- Pallets Make the World Go ‘Round: Circular versus linear economies and their effects on the pallet industryBridgeman, Kate (Virginia Tech. Center for Packaging and Unit Load Design, 2019-10)On a fundamental level, the circular economy is a model that portrays economic growth from the perspective of resource constraints. It is more ambitious and more marketing-friendly than a linear economy. The circular economy is a rethinking of how product materials and packaging can be cycled back into supply chains. It is a whole systems approach. Circular economies allow value and supply chains to stay stable while creating revenue through market differentiation as well as new business models. Customers are also happier with the improved products; the products survive longer and can be repaired with more ease than products produced in a linear economy. Applying these concepts to pallets is important for the creation of a sustainable circular economy.
- Phytosanitary Regulation for Packaging (ISPM-15)Treaster, Garrett (Virginia Tech. Center for Packaging and Unit Load Design, 2018-02-02)International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures No. 15 (ISPM 15) is essential for the regulation of wooden pallet and packaging materials. This regulation measure is important in determining how pallet industries and professionals need to handle exporting pallets and packaging materials. This white paper will provide basic information about the governing organization and details about the history of ISPM 15. Furthermore, this paper includes regulated insect species and approved treatments for pallets.
- Predicting the Effect of Pallet Overhang on the Box Compression StrengthKim, Saewhan; Horvath, Laszlo; Molina, Eduardo; Frank, Benjamin; Johnson, Steven; Johnson, Alonda (2023)Unit loads, consisting of pallets and corrugated boxes, are one of the primary forms of storage and distribution of packaged products. The corrugated box’s compression strength can easily be affected by environmental parameters, such as pallet overhang, which reduce a box’s effective compression strength. The effects of overhang on box compression strength have been investigated by multiple researchers, but each previous study used its own unique set of different sizes of boxes made from different materials, limiting the broad comparability of the results and challenging strong statistical analysis. The current study, performed on behalf of the Fibre Box Association and ICPF, aimed to investigate the effects of pallet overhang on box compression strength using four different sizes of corrugated boxes, made from two different board combinations, in order to compare existing values in the Fibre Box Handbook, and potentially explore the possibility of developing a more universal model for predicting the effects of pallet overhang. The four sizes of boxes, for each nominal 32 ECT C-flute and nominal 48 ECT BC-flute corrugated materials, were examined in over a dozen single-side overhang configurations and five adjacent-side overhang scenarios. Compression tests were conducted in compliance with the TAPPI 804 standard. A range of multiple linear and nonlinear regression models based on these test results were developed for this study. These models provide the estimated change in a box’s compression strength due to any overhang, compared to a no-overhang scenario, by percentage. As expected from earlier work, effective box compression strength decreases as the magnitude of overhang increases. Significant differences were found when the same overhang was investigated on the width versus the length side of the boxes. It was also observed that the magnitude of the adjacent-side overhang effect on box compression strength is not simply related to the combination of short and long sides’ overhang effects, but it has a unique effect that is most likely related to the loss of additional box corner support as compared to single side box overhang. The box size relative to the amount of overhang was also a statistically significant factor affecting effective box compression strength in the tested overhang scenarios. This work also indicated the need for further research refining the first-order model and extending it to other materials, box sizes, and box aspect ratios.
- Properties of Shredded Wood PalletsWhite, Marshall S.; McLeod, John A. II (Virginia Tech. Center for Packaging and Unit Load Design, 2018-02-02)About 321 million wooden pallets are repaired every year in the United States. During the pallet repair process, unusable pallets are ground into mulch that is often used for animal bedding or other sensitive applications. The objective of the research conducted for this paper was to characterize the physical and chemical properties of wood particles produced from mechanically-ground, discarded wooden pallets with the goal of identifying known contaminants.
- Structure and properties of flax vs. lyocell fiber-reinforced polylactide stereocomplex compositesZhang, Huihui; Li, Qiao; Edgar, Kevin J.; Yang, Gesheng; Shao, Huili (Springer, 2021-07-28)A commonly used natural cellulose fiber (flax) and a regenerated cellulose fiber (Lyocell) were used at 20 wt% to reinforce polylactide stereocomplex (sc-PLA) composites. Composites were prepared by melt compounding cellulose fibers and an equivalent proportion of PLLA/PDLA, followed by injection molding. The structures and properties of these two kinds of cellulose fiber/sc-PLA composites were compared and evaluated. The results showed that the total crystallinity and stereocomplex crystallite content of composites could be increased by reinforcing with cellulose fibers, and Lyocell fibers were more effective in accelerating crystallinity and the formation of stereocomplex crystallites than flax fibers. Mechanical properties of Lyocell fibers were much poorer than those of flax fibers, and the interfacial adhesion values of Lyocell/sc-PLA composites were inferior to those of flax/sc-PLA composites. Lyocell/sc-PLA composites showed higher impact strength and similar tensile strength vs. flax/sc-PLA composites, but the Young’s modulus values of Lyocell/sc-PLA composites were lower than those of flax/sc-PLA composites. The Vicat softening temperatures of both flax/sc-PLA and Lyocell/sc-PLA composites were increased to nearly 100 °C higher than that of PLLA. Lyocell/sc-PLA composites showed the highest Vicat softening temperature of ~ 170 °C.
- Understory Botanicals and Eatables: A Guide to Educational Resources for Appalachian Agroforestry by the Livelihoods Knowledge Exchange NetworkHammett, A. L. (Tom) (2023)The purpose of this series is to describe particular production systems for small holdings in Appalachian cove forests. In this scenario, we will describe how to use the forest understory to grow forest botanicals for nutrition and health uses, and as a source of income. There are numerous examples of understory plants that can be grown in the region - each of which can contribute to income and nutrition and sustain the landscape. Agroforesters recognize and celebrate the historical legacy these plants represent for residents in the region.
- White Paper — Effect of Pallet Fastener Quality on Pallet DurabilityWright, Owen; Guyre, Luke (Virginia Tech. Center for Packaging and Unit Load Design, 2020-09-23)In this paper, the authors consider how fasteners, such as nails, affect the durability of wooden pallets.