Due to the rapid growth of 3D printing popularity, including fused deposition modeling (FDM), as one of the most common technologies, the proper understanding of the process and influence of its parameters on resulting products is crucial for its development. One of the most crucial parameters of FDM printing is the raster angle and mutual arrangement of the following filament layers. Presented research work aims to evaluate different raster angles (45°, 55°, 55’°, 60° and 90°) on the static, as well as rarely investigated, dynamic mechanical properties of 3D printed acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) materials. Configuration named 55’° was based on the optimal winding angle in filament-wound pipes, which provides them exceptional mechanical performance and durability. Also in the case of 3D printed samples, it resulted in the best impact strength, comparing to other raster angles, despite relatively weaker tensile performance. Interestingly, all 3D printed samples showed surprisingly high values of impact strength considering their calculated brittleness, which provides new insights into understanding the mechanical performance of 3D printed structures. Simultaneously, it proves that, despite extensive research works related to FDM technology, there is still a lot of investigation required for a proper understanding of this process.

Application of lignocellulosic fillers in the manufacturing of wood polymer composites (WPCs) is a very popular trend of research, however it is still rarely observed in the case of rotational molding. The present study aimed to analyze the impact of wheat bran content (from 2.5 wt.% to 20 wt.%) on the performance of rotationally-molded composites based on a linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE) matrix. Microscopic structure (scanning electron microscopy), as well as physico-mechanical (density, porosity, tensile performance, hardness, rebound resilience, dynamic mechanical analysis), rheological (oscillatory rheometry) and thermo-mechanical (Vicat softening temperature) properties of composites were investigated. Incorporation of 2.5 wt.% and 5 wt.% of wheat bran did not cause significant deterioration of the mechanical performance of the material, despite the presence of ‘pin-holes’ at the surface. Values of tensile strength and rebound resilience were maintained at a very similar level, while hardness was slightly decreased, which was associated with the porosity of the structure. Higher loadings resulted in the deterioration of mechanical performance, which was also expressed by the noticeable rise of the adhesion factor. For lower loadings of filler did not affect the rheological properties. However, composites with 10wt.% and 20 wt.% also showed behavior suitable for rotational molding. The presented results indicate that the manufacturing of thin-walled products based on wood polymer composites via rotational molding should be considered a very interesting direction of research.

Wood-polymer composites technologies are gaining more and more attention in the scientific community, positively affecting the increase in their industrial applications, for example, automotive, building, 3D printing, etc. Many research works are focused on the improvement in matrix–lignocellulosic filler interactions to produce highly filled composites with satisfying performance properties. In this field of research, using isocyanates due to their versatile structure and functionality seems to be a very promising approach. This paper aims at reporting on recent advances in compatibilization strategies of wood-polymer composites by isocyanates. Particular attention is focused on the correlation between isocyanate structure, as well as modification conditions on the matrix–lignocellulosic filler interactions and their impact on the structure–property relationships of wood-polymer composites. Furthermore, limitations and future research trends related to applications of isocyanate to wood-polymer composites technologies are also discussed.

In this work lignocellulose biomass liquefaction was used to produce biopolyols suitable for the manufacturing of rigid polyurethane foams. In order to better evaluate the mechanism of the process, pure cellulose was applied as a raw material. The effect of time and temperature on the effectiveness of liquefaction and the parameters of resulting biopolyols were characterized. The prepared materials were analyzed in terms of their chemical structure, rheology, thermal and oxidative stability, and basic physical and mechanical properties that are important from the point of view of polyurethane manufacturing. The optimal parameters for the biopolyol production with a 94 % yield were achieved at 150 °C for a 6-h reaction duration. The obtained polyols were characterized by the hydroxyl number of 643 mg KOH/g and enhanced thermal and oxidative stability compared to the polyols obtained at lower temperatures, which is associated with the altered mechanism of liquefaction. The results of rheological tests, analyzed with the use of Ostwald-de Waele and Herschel Bulkley models, revealed that the prepared biopolyols can be classified as pseudoplastic fluids with the viscosity values similar to those of commercially available products. Rigid foams obtained via partial substitution of petrochemical polyol with prepared bio-based one were characterized by slightly increased apparent density and average cell size comparing to unmodified materials. The best mechanical performance was observed for the sample containing 35 wt% of biopolyol in the polyol mixture, which indicates a synergistic effect between the applied polyols. The applied modification delayed thermal degradation of foams due to changes in thermal decomposition process. In conclusion, the presented work confirms that lignocellulose biomass liquefaction can be successfully applied as a manufacturing method of polyols later used in the production of polyurethanes.