Lignocellulosic Composite Materials

This book comprehensively summarizes important aspects of research in the active field of lignocellulosic (polymer) composites, including polymer materials from or containing cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin. It describes how these materials can be produced from forest products and natural fibers from sources such as jute, flax, sisal, and many more, and even from agricultural residues (like wheat straw, corn stover, or sugarcane bagasse). In times of high demand for renewable green materials, lignocellulosic materials from organic matter produced by trees, shrubs and agricultural crops present a highly attractive feedstock.

The international authors explain different treatment and fabrication methods for the production of lignocellulosic materials. Other chapters address the properties of these green materials or illustrate specific applications, ranging from food packaging and household products to adsorbents and even conductive polymer composites. In thisway, this book offers a broad and comprehensive overview over the entire field of lignocellulosic composite materials.

Part I Introduction: Recent advances in lignocellulosic materials and composites.- Lignocellulosic materials - their characterization and applications in polymer composites.- Synthesis, properties and applications of lignocellulosic nanofibrils.- 

Part II Pretreatments of lignocellulosic materials: Pretreatments of lignocellulosics by physical, chemical, mechanical and green methods.- Retting process as a pre-treatment of natural fibers for the development of polymer composites.- 

Susheel Kalia is Associate Professor & Head of the Department of Chemistry at Army Cadet College Wing of the Indian Military Academy Dehradun. He was visiting researcher in the Department of Civil, Chemical, Environmental and Materials Engineering at University of Bologna, Italy, in 2013, and held a position as Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemistry, Bahra University, Solan, India until 2015. His research interests include polymeric composites, bio- and nanocomposites, conducting polymers, nanofibers, nanoparticles, hybrid materials, hydrogels, and cryogenics, and are documented in more than 65 research papers in international journals, over 80 conference contributions (incl. numerous invited contributions) and several book chapters. Kalia is an experienced book editor, and he has edited a number of successful books (with Springer and other publishers), such as "Cellulose Fibers: Bio- and Nano-Polymer Composites", "Polymers at Cryogenic Temperatures", or "Polysaccharide Based Graft Copolymers". 

Kalia is the main editor of the "Springer Series on Polymer and Composite Materials". In addition he is a member of a number of professional organizations, including the Asian Polymer Association, Indian Cryogenics Council, the Society for Polymer Science, Indian Society of Analytical Scientists, and the International Association of Advanced Materials.