Seng Hua Lee

Universiti Teknologi MARA Pahang Branch Jengka Campus · Department of Wood IndustryFaculty of Applied Sciences

Rice straw lignin (LRS) tends to be dark in color, which makes it less appealing for material applications. Therefore, a bleaching process involving lignin oxidation is of interest. This study aimed to investigate the mechanical and chemical properties of bleached LRS and explore its potential application in PU-based paper coatings. LRS and commerc...

This study investigated the compressive performance of 24 three-layered laminated bamboo specimens made with four different parameters, primarily bamboo species, adhesive type, lay-up pattern, and arrangement of laminated bamboo. The goal for this study was to investigate the compression parallel to the grain performance of laminated bamboo. A tota...

The rising environmental concerns and the growing demand for renewable materials have surged across various industries. In this context, lignin, being a plentiful natural aromatic compound that possesses advantageous functional groups suitable for utilization in biocomposite systems, has gained notable attention as a promising and sustainable alter...

The concept of smoke optical density holds great importance from multiple perspectives. Specifically, alterations in visibility during a fire could impact individuals' ability to evacuate. It is also crucial during a firefighter intervention. Our study involved measuring the smoke optical density of three insulating materials commonly used in const...

This study examined the effectiveness of different washing methods in improving the quality and functionality of rice straw lignin for its application in the synthesis of polyurethane as a coating material for biomedical pulp. The findings demonstrated that lignin subjected to triple washing (LW3) displayed the highest level of purity, as evidenced...

Acoustic velocity (AV) offers a non-destructive means of reliably measuring wood properties, presenting a valuable alternative to the traditional method known for its destructiveness, costliness, and time consumption. This technique is widely used in the timber industry to predict the bending strength of standing trees and logs. Hence, a study was...

This study explores the possibilities of utilisation of coniferous bark as a filler in wood–polymer composites (WPCs), its impact on properties such as the modulus of rupture (MOR), modulus of elasticity (MOE), thickness swelling (TS) and water absorption (WA) after 2 h and 24 h of immersion in water and the significance of this impact compared to...

A hybrid adhesive system composed of phenol-formaldehyde (PF) resin and polymeric methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (pMDI), modified with two types of alkaline catalysts, namely NaOH and CaCO3 at 20% (w/v), was used for manufacturing the oriented strand board (OSB) from sengon (Paraserianthes falcataria L. Nielsen) wood. The catalyst was added at a c...

Aerogels are ultraporous solid materials characterized by numerous distinctive characteristics, such as an ultrahigh specific surface area, ultralow bulk density, ultralow modulus, extremely low thermal conductivity, extremely low sonic velocity or sound speed, extremely low refractive index, and extremely low dielectric constant. Due to these tuna...

Composite materials manufactured from wood and non-wood lignocellulosic feedstocks, as well as waste and residues from the pulp, paper, and wood industry, offer an ecological and cost-effective alternative to traditional petroleum-based materials. Eco-friendly composites, made from renewable wood-based materials, significantly cut down on fossil fu...

Table of Contents, Issue 7, Volume 12, Journal of Renewable Materials

This study aimed to develop new composites and evaluate the physico-mechanical properties and formaldehyde content of flat-pressed three-layer particleboard (FPTP) made of bamboo (as a face material) and rubberwood (as a core material) residue bonded with urea-formaldehyde adhesive. Different ratios of core and face material were adopted to investi...

This study explored the feasibility of Waste Cooking Oil (WCO)‐based Bio‐Polyurethane (Bio‐PU) as an eco‐friendly alternative to petroleum‐derived polyols in plywood adhesives. The objective is to evaluate the impact of varied WCO concentrations and methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI) levels on Bio‐PU and plywood performance. The Bio‐PU's charact...

Table of Contents, Issue 6, Volume 12, Journal of Renewable Materials

Hybrid kenaf/glass fiber reinforced polymer composites have emerged as promising structural materials, garnering significant attention due to their unique blend of natural kenaf fibers and synthetic glass fibers. However, despite their potential, there remains a gap in the comprehensive understanding of their quasi-static mechanical behavior, creep...

Forest waste is a crucial by-product of industries such as sawmills and timber processing facilities. Lignin is extracted from these residues; due to its high abundance, sustainability, inexpensiveness, and good functionality, it is a low-cost, eco-friendly, green, readily available biomass material for hydrogel synthesis. Various techniques, inclu...

Lignin, lignosulfonate, and synthesized phosphorylated lignosulfonate were introduced as green fillers in citric acid-sucrose adhesives for bonding particleboard fabricated from areca leaf sheath (ALS). The characteristics of particleboards were compared to that of ultralow emitting formaldehyde (ULEF-UF). The fillers derived from Eucalyptus spp. k...

This study aimed to analyze the effect of pre-heat treatment on bamboo strand properties and its impact on the properties of the resulting bamboo-oriented strand board (BOSB). Giant bamboo (Dendrocalamus asper (Schult.) Backer) with a density of 0.53 g cm− 3 was converted into bamboo strands. These strands were pre-heat treated at 140 and 160 °C fo...

Vanillin produced from lignin is an environmentally friendly compound having various active structures that can be crosslinked with hexanediamine and epoxidized soybean oil (ESO) to form water resistant composite. Inclusion of ammonium dihydrogen phosphate (ADP) could render the composite flame retardant, but its mechanical properties could be infl...

The increased valorization of renewable and cost-effective lignocellulosic feedstocks represents a viable, sustainable, and eco-friendly approach toward the production of biopellets as alternative energy sources. The aim of this research work was to investigate and evaluate the feasibility of using various lignocellulosic raw materials, i.e., raru...

To obtain a more appealing wood coating with lighter color, bleaching treatment was employed. Bleached and unbleached bio-polyurethane (PU) coating was prepared using liquefied bamboo and was applied to rubberwood. The coated wood surface was examined for adhesion, scratch, abrasion, impact, and resistance to common household chemicals. The results...

To obtain a more appealing wood coating with lighter color, bleaching treatment was employed. Bleached and unbleached bio-polyurethane (PU) coating was prepared using liquefied bamboo and was applied to rubberwood. The coated wood surface was examined for adhesion, scratch, abrasion, impact, and resistance to common household chemicals. The results...

The aim of this research work was to investigate the feasibility of upcycling poplar (Populus spp.) peeler cores as a by-product from the production of plywood in manufacturing lightweight hybrid poplar and beech plywood panels, containing different ratios (60%, 80%, and 100%) of peeler core sections in the core layer. This corresponds to effective...

All the United Nations Member States have adopted the 17 sustainable development goals since 2015. Not only providing a shared blueprint for peace and prosperity for the people and the planet, but the agenda also identifies that the international acts to end poverty, tackle climate change, and preserve our biosphere should be performed together wit...

Malaysian bamboo residues were subjected to a liquefaction process. Bleaching of the liquefied product was carried out to reduce its coloration. Polyurethane (PU) films were then manufactured as a coating material by reacting the -OH groups in the bamboo material with isocyanate (-NCO). The study’s objective was to investigate the effects of bleach...

Sepiolite is a silicate mineral that improves the fire properties in solid wood when mixed with a water-based coating. The present study was carried out to investigate and evaluate the effects of sepiolite addition to acrylic-latex paint on the pull-off adhesion strength, as an important characteristic of paints and finishes used in the modern furn...

This paper investigated the upcycling process of thermoplastic waste polystyrene (WPS) into thermosetting particleboard adhesive using two cross-linkers, namely methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI) and maleic anhydride (MA). The WPS was dissolved in an organic co-solvent. The weight ratio of WPS/co-solvent was 1:9, and 10% of cross-linkers based o...

The objective of this research was to investigate and evaluate the possibility of increasing the thermo-mechanical properties of ramie (Boehmeria nivea L.) fibers by impregnating them with a tannin-based non-isocyanate polyurethane (Bio-NIPU) resin. The resin was created by reacting tannin of Acacia mangium with dimethyl carbonate (DMC) and hexamet...

In general, nanotechnology is being increasingly researched in science and business for a variety of novel uses. Nanomaterials are matters with dimensions between 1 nm and 100 nm, where an extraordinary marvel offers cutting-edge uses. Biodegradable materials may be used to create the nanoparticle grid [1]. One polymer and one or more nanoscale par...

This book highlights recent progress on the advancements toward optimization of major biorefinery processes, including biomass pretreatment and fractionation, saccharification of sugars, and conversion of sugars and lignin into fuels and chemical precursors. The continual improvement of these processes and their integration in the format of a moder...

This book highlights the world distribution of eucalyptus plantations and the recent state of research on the utilization of planted eucalyptus for engineered wood products (EWPs) manufacturing. EWPs such as particleboard, fiberboard, oriented strand board, laminated veneer lumber, plywood, glue-laminated lumber, and cross-laminated lumber are high...

Using CaCl2-H2O2 as the initiator, hydrophobic tannin-acrylic resin (TA) was prepared by grafting acrylic monomers onto tannins through redox reaction. Subsequently, biodegradable TA-polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH) hydrophobic film (TAP) was prepared by blending TA with PVOH at room temperature. The results of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-I...

Pathogens in the field face a variety of environmental challenges. To grow, develop, and produce, almost all plants require favourable environmental conditions.

The genus Eucalyptus belongs to the Myrtaceae family and contains approximately 700 species, which are commonly referred to as gum trees or stringy bark trees. Only two eucalyptus species (Eucalyptus urophylla S.T. Blake and Eucalyptus deglupta Blume) occur exclusively outside of Australia.

According to the Global Forest Resources Assessment (FRA) report that was published by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in the year 2020, the total forest area across the globe is estimated to have amounted to 4.06 billion hectares (ha), which covers 31% of the total land area.

Research on reducing the formaldehyde emission from wood-based materials bonded with urea-formaldehyde (UF) resin has attracted the attention of scientists for years. Many studies investigated the possibility of using amines for this purpose; however, the outcomes of the vast majority of them have shown that the limiting factor is reduced resin rea...

Polylactic Acid (PLA) is a biodegradable polymer, but the cost of PLA is not competitive compared to polyolefins. The development of bioplastic composites by blending PLA with spent coffee grounds (SCG) and thermoplastic starch (TPS) is an effective way to reduce the cost of PLA. This study aimed to investigate and evaluate the feasibility of using...

Recycling medium-density fiberboards (MDF) presents notable technological challenges, primarily due to the deteriorated properties of the recycled wood fibers obtained from MDF waste. On the other hand, the enhanced valorization of recycled wood in the manufacturing of wood composites represents a viable approach for implementing the principles of...

In this study, radiation-induced admicellar polymerization of methacrylic acid (MAA) onto the surface of cellulose nanofibrils (CNFs) was conducted. The aim of the study was to use radiation induced admicellar polymerization of MAA to obtain pH-responsive CNFs. The chemical, physical, and morphological changes of CNF-grafted poly(methacrylic acid)...

Thirteen bamboo species are reported to be in commercial use in Malaysia. However, Buluh madu (Gigantochloa albociliata) did not make to the list. As a species, G. albociliata is cultivated for its delicious bamboo shoot and is demonstrated to possess great potential to produce commercialised products such as laminated bamboo panel. Unlike common b...

Conventional polyurethane (PU) is usually synthesized by a reaction between isocyanate and polyol. The use of isocyanate compounds is associated with significant health and environmental problems. Therefore, it is necessary to develop an environmentally friendly alternative method for manufacturing PUs without isocyanate routes. The aim of this res...

The purpose of this research was to investigate the production and properties of wood plastic pellets (WPP) made from rubberwood sawdust and refuse-derived fuel (RDF). WPP samples were tested for chemical and physical properties and compared to standard wood pellets. The results showed that when using RDF, the elemental compositions of WPP can affe...

The ever-increasing global population necessitates a secure and ample energy supply, the majority of which is derived from fossil fuels. However, due to the immense energy demand, the exponential depletion of these non-renewable energy sources is both unavoidable and inevitable in the approaching century. Therefore, exploring the use of polymer ele...

The depletion of natural resources and increasing environmental apprehension regarding the reduction of harmful isocyanates employed in manufacturing polyurethanes (PUs) have generated significant attention from both industrial and academic sectors. This attention is focused on advancing bio-based non-isocyanate polyurethane (NIPU) resins as viable...

Sungkai (Peronema canescens Jack.), sengon (Falcataria moluccana (Miq.) Barneby & J.W. Grimes), and teak (Tectona grandis L.f.) are some of the main fast-growing species in Indonesia. Limited research data on the physicochemical and thermo-mechanical properties of these wood species represents a significant drawback for their enhanced industrial ut...

The textile industries need an alternative to cotton since its supply is unable to keep up with the growing global demand. The ramie (Boehmeria nivea (L.) Gaudich) fiber has a lot of potential as a renewable raw material, but has low fire resistance that should be improved. In this work, the ob-jectives were to investigate the characteristics of li...

Using alternative raw materials in particleboard (PB) production, such as agricultural biomass and by-products, is a viable approach to address the growing global demand for sustainable wood-based materials. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of the type of hardener and tannin-glioxal (TG) adhesive formulation on the cohesion a...

As a way to accommodate the rising demand for "green" wood-based products, agricultural waste from Areca (Areca catechu) nut farms, which is generally burned on-site, can be used to raise the value of alternative lignocellulosic raw materials. This research aimed to investigate and evaluate the effect of technical lignin (kraft lignin or lignosulfo...

Rice straw is an agricultural by-product that is considered to have the potential to be processed into pulp and various kinds of its derivative products. Pulping condition is an essential prior step to isolate cellulose from fibers. In this study, atmospheric hot soda pulping (AHSP) and soda pulping (SP) methods were successfully used to manufactur...

Unlike the recycling of particleboards, the recycling of medium-density fiberboards (MDF) is not a widespread industrial practice, and currently, most waste MDF panels are landfilled or incinerated after the end of their life cycle. Therefore, it is of great importance to develop cost-effective methods for MDF recycling. The extraction of resins us...

Nitrocellulose (NC) is a conservative material that is used in a variety of applications, such as coating agents, biodegradable plastics, and propellant main charge. Nitrocellulose raw materials are easily obtained from lignocellulose sources, most notably cotton and wood pulp. The egg carton, a recycled paper waste designed for packaging and trans...

In this study, the effects of resin and wax content as well as board density on the modulus of rupture (MOR) and internal bonding (IB) and thickness swelling (TS), were investigated. Three-layer particleboard was made with rubberwood particles. Different urea formaldehyde (UF) resin contents (%) were applied on the surface/core/surface layer of the...

The initial moisture content (MC) and conditioning environment are among the most important factors that affect the properties as well as formaldehyde emission of particleboard. In this study, a three-layer rubberwood particleboard bonded with urea formaldehyde (UF) resin was prepared. Fine and coarse rubberwood particles with initial MC (of 3, 5,...

The objective of the study is to evaluate the properties of the plywood made from rubberwood veneers thermally treated at various temperatures. Rotary-peeled rubberwood veneers were thermally treated at 160, 170, 180, and 190 °C under 1 bar pressure. 5-ply plywood panels were produced using melamine urea formaldehyde (MUF) resin as binder. Dimensio...

The ongoing transition to a circular bioeconomy and stricter legislative requirements related to waste management has forced the industry to search for a more efficient valorization of agricultural waste and by-products, such as lignin, into functional materials. As a major constituent in black liquor (25–35% of the total organic components), it is...

Composite wood materials, also known as engineered wood products, are fabricated from wood veneer, particles, strands, flakes, or fibers that are bonded together with synthetic or renewable, biobased adhesive systems and designed to meet a wide range of structural and non-structural applications [1-3]. A wide variety of engineered woods are frequen...

A significant precondition for the ongoing movement toward the production of environmentally friendly, high-performance wood-based composites is the industry’s ongoing transformation from a linear to a circular bioeconomy. This transition is a strong prerequisite for this production trend. This Special Issue provides a detailed summary of potential...

The effects of different urea-formaldehyde (UF) resin and paraffin contents on the physical and mechanical properties of medium-density fibreboards (MDF), and their relationship with air and liquid permeability were investigated. The MDF panels were fabricated with three UF resin and three paraffin contents, based on the dry fibres. The physical an...

The primary aim of this research was to investigate and evaluate the effects of thermo-vacuum modification through forced convection on selected chemical, physical, and mechanical characteristics of Siberian larch (Larix sibirica L.) wood. Larch wood boards were thermally-modified, using press-vacuum plant technology, for three hours at a temperatu...

This Special Issue is aimed at collecting high-quality original research and review articles on topics including (but not limited to) the latest approaches in the development of eco-friendly wood-based composites; novel bio-based wood adhesives; approaches to reduce formaldehyde emission from wood composites; binderless wood composites; wood plasti...

Cover Story: This work provides a new strategy for the co-production of dissolving pulp, furfural, and Kraft lignin from Eucalyptus via extremely low acid pretreatment and pulping technologies and catalysis. This new process produced 30.5 g of high-grade dissolving pulp, 5.5 g of furfural, and 21.2 g of lignin per 100 g eucalyptus. Full paper: http...

The ongoing twin transition of the wood-based panel industry towards a green, digital, and more resilient bioeconomy is essential for a successful transformation, with the aim of decarbonising the sector and implementing a circular development model, transforming linear industrial value chains to minimize pollution and waste generation, and providi...

Bamboo Preservation

This study presents opportunities for the utilization of timber by-products with defects for manufacturing engineered wood panels. Three gluing methods were proposed for this waste raw material derived from Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) wood. The methods used for combining and gluing enabled a more complete and complex utilization of wood with d...