The use of wood-based materials in building and construction is constantly increasing as environmental aspects and sustainability gain importance. For structural applications, however, there are many examples where hybrid material systems are needed to fulfil the specific mechanical requirements of the individual application. In particular, metal reinforcements are a common solution to enhance the mechanical properties of a wooden structural element. Metal-reinforced wood components further help to reduce cross-sectional sizes of load-bearing structures, improve the attachment of masonry or other materials, enhance the seismic safety and tremor dissipation capacity, as well as the durability of the structural elements in highly humid environments and under high permanent mechanical load. A critical factor to achieve these benefits, however, is the mechanical joint between the different material classes, namely the wood and metal parts. Currently, this joint is formed using epoxy or polyurethane (PU) adhesives, the former yielding highest mechanical strengths, whereas the latter presents a compromise between mechanical and economical constraints. Regarding sustainability and economic viability, the utilization of different adhesive systems would be preferable, whereas mechanical stabilities yielded for metal-wood joints do not permit for the use of other common adhesive systems in such structural applications. This study extends previous research on the use of non-thermal air plasma pretreatments for the formation of wood-metal joints. The plasma treatments of Norway spruce [Picea abies (L.) Karst.] wood and anodized (E6/EV1) aluminum AlMgSi0.5 (6060) F22 were optimized, using water contact angle measurements to determine the effect and homogeneity of plasma treatments. The adhesive bond strengths of plasma-pretreated and untreated specimens were tested with commercial 2-component epoxy, PU, melamine-urea formaldehyde (MUF), polyvinyl acetate (PVAc), and construction adhesive glue systems. The influence of plasma treatments on the mechanical performance of the compounds was evaluated for one selected glue system via bending strength tests. The impact of the hybrid interface between metal and wood was isolated for the tests by using five-layer laminates from three wood lamellae enclosing two aluminum plates, thereby excluding the influence of congeneric wood-wood bonds. The effect of the plasma treatments is discussed based on the chemical and physical modifications of the substrates and the respective interaction mechanisms with the glue systems.

Aluminium alloys is gathering more interest in research field because of its wide applications in aerospace and automobile industries. Aluminium alloys are used as a base metal in metal matrix composites (MMC's) with ceramic particulates as reinforcement. This improves the properties of aluminium alloys. The purpose of this paper was to study the mechanical properties of Al-Mg-SiC composites manufactured by stir casting method with varying composition of SiC (0%,5%,10%and 15%). Initially XRD and SEM analysis of the samples were done to study the phases present and their distribution along with idea of composition. Then hardness and wear studies were carried out to judge the surface mechanical properties of the composites prepared. It has been found from this study that percentage of reinforcement in the composite causes changes in its hardness and wear properties.

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In spite of being both a one-step solution to several problems associated with woodworking and also energy efficient, the application of microwave (MW) modification in wood research has remained very limited and this promising method has practically no use in wood industries across the globe. Research done so far in this field primarily sheds light on its potential in enhancing wood permeability, treatability and uniform wood drying. While MW treatments are mostly used on wet or green wood, another modification technique, plasma, has potential benefits to synergistically enhance the effects of MW treatment, but so far has not been applied on wet or green wood specimens. This study takes a first step to investigate the effects of plasma treatments (PT) on green wood specimens, as well as combinations of MW and plasma treatments. As a preliminary study, the methodology focuses on water contact angle measurements, since these are most commonly used as indicators for surface modifications in industrial applications. An exponential time dependence was found for the contact angle on the investigated samples of Norway spruce (Picea abies Karst.). Initial contact angles after droplet deposition increased due to drying and migration of organic molecules during treatments. In comparison with the literature, the effect of plasma was significantly less pronounced on wet wood specimens. The initial contact angles showed the lowest statistical variations after MW treatment, whereas plasma increased inhomogeneities. The final contact angles on treated specimens was lowest for PT-only specimens as well as specimens treated with plasma after MW. In contrast to the initial contact angles, the final contact angles showed the lowest variations after PT. Wetting rates were insignificantly improved by plasma, with reduced statistical variations after all treatments.

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Light induced darkening and deterioration of wood used outdoors is undesirable. Photoprotection of wood could be achieved by using additives that reflect or absorb harmful radiation responsible for degradation. Nano metal oxides have strong absorption in the UV range of solar radiation and good transparency in the visible region. They offer unique benefits in protecting coatings and coated substrates from being degraded by UV radiation. However, to exploit the properties of nanoparticles, homogenous dispersion without agglomeration is necessary. In the present work, the photostabilization of rubberwood surfaces coated with cerium oxide (CeO2) was studied. The nanoparticles were surface functionalized with an organic alkoxy silane (3-glycidyloxypropyltrimethoxy silane) to improve the homogenous distribution in coatings, and the modified nanoparticles were dispersed in isopropanol and polyurethane (PU) coating. Rubberwood surfaces coated with dispersed nanoparticles (concentration 0.5 % to 6 % w/v) were exposed to a fluorescent UVA light source (λ=340 nm) at 60 °C in an accelerated weathering tester for 500 h and 1000 h. Colour changes due to UV light exposure were monitored using a spectrocolourimeter. Dispersion of CeO2 nanoparticles in PU coatings (concentration >2 %) restricted the photoyellowing of wood polymers.

Titanium carbide is varying from 3.5 to 14% volume fraction was reinforced by the direct reaction of pure titanium in molten Fe-Cr alloy. To improve precipitation and distribution of titanium carbide in Fe-Cr matrix, a simple casting technique has been developed successfully. A protective layer on the molten metal is used to avoid oxidation of titanium during melting and casting. The kinetic and thermodynamic studies support the precipitation of TiC in molten Fe-Cr alloy at 1600 o C reaction temperature. Based on the amount of titanium and chromium present in Fe-Cr molten alloy, the size and shape of the chromium and titanium carbide particles depends.