The textile industry uses a lot of adhesives to join materials together, and many of these adhesives use petroleum-based ingredients that are harmful to the environment. To replace petroleum-based adhesives with a more environmentally friendly option for the textile industry, this study set out to create and evaluate a hot-melt adhesive derived from cassava starch. By adding kaolin clay as a filler and tannin as a tackifier in different ratios of starch, the created adhesive was enhanced. Tannic acid to starch ratios of 2:1, 6:1, and 10:1 w/w and kaolin to starch ratios of 3:1, 5:1, and 7:1 w/w were used to investigate the effects of clay and tackifier, respectively. The adhesives’s viscosity, moisture content, tensile strength, and shear strength were then measured. The presence of kaolin and tannic acid in starch-based adhesives favored a good interaction between the adhesive’s ingredients. The adhesive’s maximum shear strength was measured at 4.93 ± 0.11 Mpa when dry and 0.263 ± 0.21 Mpa when wet. The current data indicate that the optimal tensile strength was determined to be 3.45 ± 0.22 MPa. This result showed that hot melt adhesives based on cassava starch would be a good environmentally friendly substitute for petroleum-based adhesives, and more study in this field is necessary.

In construction engineering, there is currently a strong emphasis on finding construction materials, mainly the binder which plays a crucial role, that meet multiple criteria, including sustainability, cost-effectiveness, durability, and reduced environmental impact. However, there is a growing interest in exploring alternatives to traditional binders to address the limitations associated with their production and use. One such alternative is the use of naturally occurring materials like clay. Clay deposits are abundant and widely available, making them a sustainable resource for construction applications. Moreover, clay contains significant amounts of silica and alumina, which are key components for inducing pozzolanic reactions that contribute to the strength and durability of concrete. In recent studies, nanoclays (NCs) have emerged as a promising addition to construction materials as supplementary cementitious materials. These nanoparticles possess unique properties that can enhance the performance of concrete. Nanoclays significantly improve the compressive strength, sustainability, and durability of concrete structures. The high surface area and reactivity of nanoclays facilitate better bonding between cement particles, resulting in enhanced mechanical properties. This chapter aims to discuss the state of the art on performance enhancements of building materials that employ different types of nanoclays in place of conventional binders and the future trends.

Cement manufacturing consumes a huge amount of energy and raw materials, resulting in the emission of greenhouse gases responsible for global warming, resource depletion, and environmental degradation. Recently, geopolymer composites emerged as promising alternatives to the traditional cementitious materials for their cost-effectiveness and environmental-friendly processing technology, offering similar technical properties as traditional cements with superior performances. However, geopolymers have relatively low tensile and flexural strengths, fragile breakage, and low ductility, limiting their use in the construction sector. Recent advances in the area revealed that fiber-reinforcing geopolymeric matrices overcome these and other related deficiencies. Various natural fibers have been researched as reinforcement of geopolymer matrices to provide improved tensile and flexural strengths, reduced density, and improved thermal and acoustic insulation properties. This review is intended to analyze and discuss the performance enhancements and macro- and microstructural modifications of geopolymer composites through natural fiber reinforcement.

The increasing demand for sustainable materials has propelled research into biomass-derived adhesives as eco-friendly alternatives to traditional synthetic options. This chapter investigates the enhancement of physicochemical and thermomechanical properties of bio-based adhesives, highlighting their applications across diverse industries, including medical devices, construction, automotive, wood and wood-based panels, and packaging. Bio-adhesives, sourced from renewable materials such as lignin, tannins, and proteins, offer advantages like biodegradability and non-toxicity. However, challenges such as low water resistance, bonding strength, and thermal stability persist. Recent advancements, including the incorporation of nanofillers and cross-linking agents, have shown promise in overcoming these limitations, significantly improving adhesive performance. In medical applications, bio-adhesives must be biocompatible and biodegradable to facilitate wound healing without harmful effects. In construction and automotive sectors, they provide sustainable bonding solutions for lightweight materials, enhancing structural integrity under various environmental conditions. The packaging industry is also benefiting from bio-adhesives derived from proteins like whey and casein, which improve barrier properties while remaining renewable. Despite their potential, the commercialization of biomass-derived adhesives faces challenges such as higher production costs and variable performance. Ongoing research aims to address these issues through physicochemical modifications and the development of standardized testing methods. This chapter underscores the transformative potential of bio-based adhesives, emphasizing their role in promoting sustainability while meeting the rigorous demands of various applications. Ultimately, enhancing the properties of these adhesives can contribute significantly to a more sustainable future in material science.