F. Julian

Universitat de Girona | UDG · Department of Business Administration, Management and Product Design

There is growing emphasis on developing green composites as a substitute for oil-based materials. In the pursuit of studying and enhancing the mechanical properties of these composites, tensile tests are predominantly employed, often overlooking the flexural properties. This study focuses on researching the flexural properties of abaca-fiber-reinfo...

Bio-based polymers, with any of their constituents based on nonrenewable sources, can answer the demands of society and regulations regarding minimizing the environmental impact. The more similar such biocomposites are to oil-based composites, the easier the transition, especially for companies that do not like the uncertainty. A BioPE matrix, with...

Citation: Llorens, J.; Julián, F.; Gifra, E.; Espinach, F.X.; Soler, J.; Chamorro, M.À. An Approach to Understanding the Hydration of Cement-Based Composites Reinforced with Untreated Natural Fibers. Sustainability 2023, 15, 9388. Abstract: The use of untreated natural fibers to reinforce cementitious composites improves their environmental friendl...

FDM (Fused Deposition Modeling) is one of the most used and industrially applied additive manufacturing processes due to its fast prototyping and manufacturing, simplicity, and low cost of the equipment. However, the mechanical properties of the printed products have a large dependence on orientation and interface strength between layers which is m...

The use of bio-based matrices together with natural fibers as reinforcement is a strategy for obtaining materials with competitive mechanical properties, costs, and environmental impacts. However, bio-based matrices, unknown by the industry, can be a market entry barrier. The use of bio-polyethylene, which has properties similar to polyethylene, ca...

This study shows the results of competences’ self-assessment and the initiatives proposed by Industrial Engineering Degree students at the XXXX, to improve them. The development process was carried out in the first course subject of Graphic Engineering. Main objective is to try to improve those worst competencies, obtained in their self-assessment...

Nowadays, the search for new materials with a sustainable character to reduce the production of residues is under continuous research. In this sense, fully biodegradable composites based on polyhydroxybutyrate and different pretreated fibres coming from barley straw have been fabricated, and their resistance to environmental controlled conditions h...

The compatibility between poly(lactic acid) (PLA) and natural fibers to develop bio-sourced, recyclable, and biodegradable composites remains a commonplace issue. This work highlights that, at least in the case of hemp, pulping and bleaching towards delignified short fibers attained remarkable improvements over untreated hemp strands. This approach...

In this work, we developed a software tool for the simplified, automated definition and viewing of loci in the plane, an essential task in the design, engineering and architectural fields. The process was started by identifying the most salient geometric loci in the engineering domain (i.e., tangents). A geometric approach was followed to deal with...

In this study, tensile properties of abaca-reinforced HDPE and BioPE composites have been researched. The strength of the interface between the matrix and the reinforcement of a composite material noticeably impacts its mechanical properties. Thus, the strength of the interface between the reinforcements and the matrices has been studied using micr...

The performance of henequen fibers and polypropylene composites obtained by injection molding with and without coupling agent was evaluated. Henequen fibers are natural non-wood fibers mainly used in textile sector or in thermosetting matrix composites. In this work, henequen fibers have been used as a possible substitute reinforcement material for...

Competency-based education is already adopted by higher education institutions around the world. This study presents the results of an investigation carried out with engineering students. The objective is focused on exploring aspects of innovations in teaching and learning through a competence assessment procedure and some aspects of gamification....

One of the most promising expectations in the design of new materials for food packaging is focused on the development of biodegradable systems with improved barrier character. In this sense PLA reinforced with nanoclay is a potential alternative to the use of conventional oil-derivative polymers due to the synergetic effect of the biodegradable ch...

Packaging consumes around 40% of the total plastic production. One of the most important fields with high requirements is food packaging. Food packaging products have been commonly produced with petrol polymers, but due to environmental concerns, the market is being moved to biopolymers. Poly (lactic acid) (PLA) is the most promising biopolymer, as...

In this study, experimental analysis on the compressive strength of multi-leaf thin-tile masonry is presented. A compressive strength test was carried out on thin-tile, mortar and 48 specimens with two- and three-leaf thin-tile masonry. The results obtained were compared with literature on brick masonry loaded parallel to a bed joint. Based on the...

Glass fibre is the most widely used material for reinforcing thermoplastic matrices presently and its use continues to grow. A significant disadvantage of glass fibre, however, is its impact on the environment, in particular, due to the fact that glass fibre-reinforced composite materials are difficult to recycle. Polyamide 6 is an engineering plas...

Polyamides, also known as nylon, are polymer families with high-performance properties, usually encompassed in the group of “engineering polymers”. Some of the properties to highlight are its high mechanical strength and modulus, chemical resistance, and thermal stability. Furthermore, polyamides are recyclable. Among the most industrially used pol...

Awareness on deforestation, forest degradation, and its impact on biodiversity and global warming, is giving rise to the use of alternative fiber sources in replacement of wood feedstock for some applications such as composite materials and energy production. In this category, barley straw is an important agricultural crop, due to its abundance and...

This work deals with the design, the engineering of products and the selection of materials destined to the manufacture of a ventilation grille. Additionally, simulates a process of identification and use of agricultural waste for the formulation of composite materials. These materials, once characterized, can be used for the manufacture of new pro...

Natural fiber-reinforced thermoplastic composites can be an alternative to mineral fiber-based composites, especially when economic and environment concerns are included under the material selection criteria. In recent years, the literature has shown how lignocellulosic fiber-reinforced composites can be used for a variety of applications. Nonethel...

The strength of the interphase between the reinforcements and the matrix has a major role in the mechanical properties of natural fiber reinforced polyolefin composites. The creation of strong interphases is hindered by the hydrophobic and hydrophilic natures of the matrix and the reinforcements, respectively. Adding coupling agents has been a comm...

The automotive industry is under a growing volume of regulations regarding environmental impact and component recycling. Nowadays, glass fiber-based composites are commodities in the automotive industry, but show limitations when recycled. Thus, attention is being devoted to alternative reinforcements like natural fibers. Curauá (Curacao, Ananas er...

Newspapers have a limited lifespan, and therefore represent a focus of used and disposed paper. While these refuses have a considerable value and can be easily recycled, a considerable fraction ends in landfill. The authors show the possibility of adding value to used newspaper and enlarge its value chain. Old newspaper incorporates a high amount o...

Most of the decisions taken during the early design and development steps of a new product compromise a large part of its cost, including its environmental footprint and energy consumption. This is of special interest for the automotive industry that has made an effort to increase its sustainability. Adjectives like bio-based, recyclable or biodegr...

With the increasing concerns towards the environment, industries are interested in substituting glass fibers by natural fiber. Nonetheless, filaments or strands from jute, hemp or abaca, are mainly used as reinforcement. Such fibers are, in some cases, more expensive than the glass fibers that are replacing. Grain corn harvest creates a huge amount...

The search of more environmentally friendly material is not an end in itself. Such materials must also show competitive mechanical properties, comparative prices and a good adaptation to the manufacture processes. Nowadays, Glass fibers had been traditionally used as reinforcement of polyolefin for mold injected products. Natural fibers and non-oil...

Bio-polyamides (BioPA) reinforced with natural fibres are one of the most promising bio-based composites. However the principal challenge of polyamides (PA) is their high melting temperature close to the degradation temperature of the natural fibres. Polyamide 11 (PA11) is a 100% BioPA with a melting point lower than cellulose temperature degradati...

The increasing environmental awareness of the society has led to the development of materials with a lower environmental impact. Polylactic acid (PLA) is a biodegradable polymer with higher mechanical properties than PP. The scientific literature shows some interest in PLA reinforced biocomposites, but the published mechanical properties of such ma...

The method described in the present work was assessed through the production of composite materials made of polypropylene reinforced with chemical thermomechanical pulp of hemp core fibers. Composite materials were obtained by extrusion and injection molding, and by the addition of a coupling agent to ensure a good interphase between fiber and matr...

This work has the aim of study the flexural properties of alpha-grass reinforced starch-based composites. The composite materials contain alpha-fibers in the range from 5 to 35 wt%. The reinforcing fibers were submitted to an alkali treatment to create a good interphase between the fibers and the matrix. It was observed that a mild 2.5 hours cookin...

This paper explores the evolution in the tensile strength of orange pruning fiber-reinforced polypropylene composites. The exploitation of these pruning’s can effectively avoid incineration, with the consequence of CO2 emissions and fire risk, while extending the value chain of the agricultural industry. This biomass was subjected to three differen...

Nowadays innovation is a multi-actor process that implies intra-and inter-organisational integration managed through networks and facilitated by Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs). Newest innovation management models consider systemic approaches, flexible, immediate and customized responses, multidisciplinary and complex projects inv...

The research is based on the relationships established between the design processes, the products that are the result of such processes and all the other affected actors. The definition of a Socially Responsible Product (PSR), from the point of view of the companies and the designers, is researched, and also, how that concept affects their working...

A procedure for the evaluation and development of competences using a tool based on information and communication technology tool called Cycloid is presented. The study proposes a feasible way for reducing the gap between higher education, learning and the work market, observing which competences were the most problematic for the students that face...

Alpha-grass was studied as the reinforcement in a starch-based polymer matrix. Mater-bi®-Y was chosen as a matrix due to its Young's modulus, in line with that of polypropylene. The test specimens were injection molded and tensile tested. The obtained results were compared to glass fiber reinforced polypropylene. The reinforcing fibers increased th...

Rape is an annual plant, with heights from 0.3 to 1m, and a bright yellow flowering. The rapeseeds are rich in oil and are used for producing vegetable oil and biodiesel. After the harvest, the plant stalks, branches and leaves are left in the fields as agroforestry waste. Branches, leaves, stalks and all the waste can be easily grinded and convert...

The present paper investigates the suitability of old newspapers (ONPs) as a source of reinforcing fibers for composite materials. Different percentages of ONP fibers were compounded with polypropylene (PP). A coupling agent was added to the compound to improve the interface between matrix and reinforcing fibers. Tensile test were performed to obta...

Rape biomass was the raw material for the preparation of thermomechanical fibers, and it was used to reinforce starch-based biopolymer. In this study, the mechanical properties of the produced biocomposites, including flexural strength, Young's and flexural moduli and impact strength, were characterized. Afterwards, the material properties were sim...

This research focuses on the behavior of the tensile and flexural modulus of polypropylene/hemps strands composites. The intrinsic tensile modulus of the hemp strands was computed using Hirsch model and experimental data of the tensile modulus of the polypropylene composites at the 20–50 wt.% hemp strands content. The modified rule of mixtures was...

This paper deals with the product design, engineering, and material selection intended for the manufacturing of an eco-friendly chair. The final product is expected to combine design attributes with technical and legal feasibility with the implementation of new bio-based materials. Considering the industrial design, a range of objectives and trends...

The main objective of this research was to study the feasibility of incorporating organosolv semi-chemical triticale fibers as the reinforcing element in recycled high density polyethylene (HDPE). In the first step, triticale fibers were characterized in terms of chemical composition and compared with other biomass species (wheat, rye, softwood, an...

The behavior of stone groundwood / polypropylene injection-molded composites was evaluated with and without coupling agent. Stone groundwood (SGW) is a fibrous material commonly prepared in a high yield process and mainly used for papermaking applications. In this work, the use of SGW fibers was explored as a reinforcing element of polypropylene (P...

In this work, a original tray made of styrene-acrylonitril was re-designed to be produced with biodegradable composite material from starch biopolymer and corn stalk fibres. Corn stalk fibres were prepared following semichemical process and characterized in terms of yield and kappa number. Biocomposites from starch-based biopolymer containing 15, 2...

Las casas baratas de la posguerra española son grupos de viviendas sociales que se construyeron, a partir de mediados del siglo XX, con una gran simplicidad constructiva. Nuestro objetivo es demostrar la relación entre la carencia de materiales durante la postguerra española (1940-1960) y la calidad espacial, urbanística y arquitectónica, de muchas...

The present paper investigates micromechanics of hemp strands. The main objective of the present work has been the determination of the intrinsic strength of hemp strands. Hemp strands have been used as reinforcement of Polypropylene composites. Different percentages of hemp strands and coupling agents (MAPP) have been tested to obtain a map of the...

The low-cost housing that began to be constructed in the middle of the 20th century in post-war Spain was characterised by its simple construction. Our objective is to demonstrate the relationship between the lack of materials available in post-war Spain (1940-1960) and the spatial, urbanistic and architectural qualities of these houses. Above all,...

The study presented is interdisciplinary names: the presence of place names related with industrial, artisanal or mining activities in rural areas. The main hypothesis refers to this fact; the uniqueness of industrial, mining or craft in a rural area is an important reason to influence their names, a fact that gives archaeological value, rememberin...

Resumen Este artículo refleja el análisis de competencias personales y sociales a partir del estudio de la tensión creativa en estudiantes de ingeniería, utilizando una aplicación informática denominada Cycloid. El objetivo se centra en comparar la tensión creativa de los estudiantes, actuando éstos como jefes de proyecto, siendo su carrera univers...

L’article presenta l’ús de l’eina del portafoli de l’alumne a l’assignatura d’expressió gràfica als nous graus d’enginyeria. Volem presentar els canvis que s’han realitzat a l’àrea de coneixement per adaptar-se a les assignatures basades en el pla de Bolonya. L’ús del portafoli docent de l’alumne s’ha revelat com un mètode valuós per a l’avaluació...

p>Los aspectos estéticos y de diseño de producto son cada vez más importantes en la toma de decisiones de compra por parte del mercado. El conocimiento de la relación entre el carácter del producto y la geometría forma parte del conocimiento tácito de los diseñadores y estilistas, y se ha generado a partir de su experiencia y cultura. Este hecho im...