Natural fibres have recently become an attractive alternative to synthetic fibres in the implementation of polymer composite structures. Inherent flaws within natural fibres in terms of their constituent contents (hemicellulose, cellulose, and lignin) reduce the compatibility of these fibres with polymer matrices. In this study, the effects of chemical treatments on hemp fibres and the resulted polyester matrix composite are investigated. The fibres were treated with alkali (0–10% NaOH), acetyl, and silane chemicals. Long unidirectional fibre composites were prepared by vacuum‐assisted resin transfer moulding (VARTM) process. Thermal properties of the fibres were tested using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analyses. The mechanical properties of the composite samples were tested using compression and bending tests. Failure analysis of tested composites was undertaken through Optical Microscope (OM) and Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). The results showed that the treatments of the 4% NaOH reduced interfacial bonding strength and decreased composite properties compared to untreated samples. At higher concentrations (6–10% NaOH), the mechanical properties of the composites increased as a result of greater interfacial bonding. Different trends were observed in the case of alkalised fibres that were further treated with acetyl and silane treatments. It was observed that the treated fibres effectively improved the bonding properties of composites and was in agreement with the micrographs.

This article addresses the effect of nanocrystalline cellulose (NCC) on the mechanical and thermal properties of polypropylene (PP). A new approach was adopted to produce mechanically improved and thermally stable PP-NCC nanocomposite. This approach involved producing optimized PP-NCC nanocomposite by adding NCC nanoparticles to PP matrix at different concentrations by means of injection molding process. The aim of this work was to find the optimum NCC concentration to enhance the mechanical and thermal properties of the PP matrix. The mechanical and thermal behavior of PP-NCC nanocomposite was studied by performing three-point bend, nanoindentation, differential scanning calorimeter (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), scanning electron microscope (SEM), and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy tests. The results showed that the mechanical properties of strength, modulus, and hardness of the nanocomposites increased with the addition of NCC by 6.5%, 19%, and 150%, respectively. DSC results showed that the addition of NCC to PP does not affect the thermal stability (melting temperature). However, TGA showed that upon inclusion of NCC nanoparticles, the thermal stability of the samples improved compared to pure PP except for the 5% added NCC. This is attributed to the presence of NCC rod-like particles that dissipated heat by generating tortuous paths, as depicted in the SEM results and verified by FTIR results.

The aim of this study is to generate energy from the movement of a palm tree branch that has the potential to power wireless sensor nodes by means of wind energy. An experimental investigation of a piezoelectric based energy harvester on a Bismarck (Bismarckia nobilis) palm tree was performed. The branch was placed in the test section of a wind tunnel that provided the airflow speed in a controlled environment. The energy was harvested from a palm tree that was clamped at the end of the stem and induced to vibrate at ambient wind speeds. The results showed that there is a linear relationship between the wind speed and voltage generated; as the wind speed increased, the power output increased. The voltage produced under different wind speeds (2–7 m s ⁻¹ ) with various load resistors were tested to determine the maximum power output. A maximum power output of 0.157 mW was produced when using an optimal load of 1 ΩM, which corresponded to a power density of about 393 mW m ⁻² at airflow speed of 7 m s ⁻¹ . It was also observed that the voltage produced at various flow speeds was enough to generate high levels of power for powering small sensors.

This study reveals the enhancement of mechanical and thermal properties of maleic anhydride-grafted polypropylene (PP-g-MA) with the addition of nanocrystalline cellulose (NCC). A nanocomposite was manufactured by blending various percentages of PP, MA, and NCC nanoparticles by means of a twin-screw extruder. The influence of varying the percentages of NCC on the mechanical and thermal behavior of the nanocomposite was studied by performing three-point bending, nanoindentation, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy tests. The novelty of this study stems on the NCC nanoparticles and their ability to enhance the mechanical and thermal properties of PP. Three-point bending and nanoindentation tests revealed improvement in the mechanical properties in terms of strength, modulus, and hardness of the PP-g-MA nanocomposites as the addition of NCC increased. SEM showed homogeneity between the mixtures which proved the presence of interfacial adhesion between the PP-g-MA incorporated with NCC nanoparticles that was confirmed by the FTIR results. DSC and TGA measurements showed that the thermal stability of the nanocomposites was not compromised due to the addition of the coupling agent and reinforced nanoparticles.

The use of perovskite manganite nanoparticles in magnetic hyperthermia has attracted significant attention due to their tunable magnetic properties and high specific absorption rate (SAR). In this work, we present a combined experimental and theoretical investigation of the frequency- and amplitude-dependent magnetic heating behavior of La_0.51Sr_0.49MnO₃ (LSMO) and Dy-doped La_0.51Dy_0.045Sr_0.445MnO₃ (DLSMO) nanoparticles. The nanoparticles were synthesized via the sol–gel method and characterized by XRD and SEM, while SAR values were experimentally evaluated under varying magnetic field strengths (60–120 Oe) and frequencies (150–300 kHz). In parallel, theoretical modeling based on Néel and Brownian relaxation mechanisms was employed to predict SAR behavior as a function of particle size, magnetic anisotropy, and fluid viscosity. The results reveal that Dy doping enhances magnetic anisotropy, which modifies the relaxation dynamics and leads to a reduction in SAR. The model identifies the optimal nanoparticle size (~18–20 nm) and ferrofluid viscosity to maximize heating efficiency. This combined approach provides a comprehensive framework for designing and optimizing perovskite-based nanoparticles for magnetic hyperthermia applications.