Biomass derived from organic waste in industrial processes is an effective method to mitigate the negative impacts of agricultural waste materials. In Sentani, Papua, one such potential biomass source is sago tree waste. This study characterized the waste from the bark, middle, and inner parts of the sago tree to evaluate its biomass energy potential. Scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray (SEM-EDX) analysis of the complete sample revealed that oxygen, carbon, and silicon were the primary elements, with carbon content ranging from 30.75 % to 38.87 %. This indicates that all parts of the sago plant have the potential to be used as biomass fuel. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) results showed that the inner section of the sago had the lowest moisture content at approximately 13.3 %, followed by the outer part at 42 % and the bark at 55 %. The inner section had the highest lignin content, approximately 37 %, and exhibited the slowest thermal degradation in the differential thermal analysis (DTA) profile. The outer and bark parts of the sago were more reactive in stage II of the DTA profile, suggesting a higher concentration of cellulose and hemicellulose compared to lignin, making them suitable for gasification and pyrolysis. The heating value of sago bark was determined to be 12.85 MJ/kg (adb). These findings underscore the potential of sago waste as a renewable energy source, particularly in remote areas.

This research successfully enhances the mechanical properties of the ready-market resin product additively printed by using stereolithography (SLA) reinforced with glass powder. Using Esun Standard Resin (Shenzhen, China), various proportions of glass powder (0%, 1%, 2%, 3%, 4%, 5%, 10%, 15%, and 25%) were mixed to create test specimens. The results indicated that the incorporation of glass powder markedly enhanced tensile strength and hardness. Specimens containing 25% glass powder exhibited a tensile strength of 37.01 MPa and a hardness of 84.5 HV, in contrast to 24.03 MPa and 73.7 HV for those without glass powder. The density rose with the addition of glass powder, attaining 1.338 g/cm³ at 25% concentration. Nevertheless, heightened brittleness and reduced strain values signified a compromise between strength and ductility. Compression testing revealed increased maximum stress but more brittleness with higher glass powder content, while flexural testing demonstrated diminished flexural strength attributed to inadequate filler adherence and dispersion. This study highlights that the addition of glass powder to SLA resins can improve mechanical strength while reducing flexibility and ductility. Enhancing the concentration and dispersion of glass powder is crucial for attaining a balance in mechanical properties, which enhances SLA 3D printing for dependable, high-performance engineering applications.

The study investigates the fabrication and analysis of nickel microparticle-reinforced composites fabricated using the digital light processing (DLP) technique. A slurry is prepared by incorporating Ni-micro particles into a resin vat; it is thoroughly mixed to achieve homogeneity. Turbidity fluctuations are observed, initially peaking at 50% within the first two minutes of mixing and then stabilizing at 30% after 15–60 min. FTIR spectroscopy with varying Ni wt.% is performed to study the alterations in the composite material’s molecular structure and bonding environment. Spectrophotometric analysis revealed distinctive transmittance signatures at specific wavelengths, particularly within the visible light spectrum, with a notable peak at 532 nm. The effects of printing orientation in the X, Y, and Z axes were also studied. Mechanical properties were computed using tensile strength, surface roughness, and hardness. The results indicate substantial enhancements in the tensile properties, with notable increases of 75.5% in the ultimate tensile strength and 160% in the maximum strain. Minimal alterations in surface roughness and hardness suggest favorable printability. Microscopic examination revealed characteristic fracture patterns in the particulate composite at different values for the wt.% of nickel. The findings demonstrate the potential of DLP-fabricated Ni-reinforced composites for applications demanding enhanced mechanical performance while maintaining favorable printability, paving the way for further exploration in this domain.