Malaysia and Indonesia are well known as prolific producers of batik in Southeast Asia. The history of batik in both countries is deeply intertwined for more than a century. Most available published works related to batik production, challenges, and innovations were discussed within the local batik context of each country. This study aims to identify collectively how far batik, as a creative industry in these countries has progressed since its establishment until the present 21st century. It was notable that batik craftsmanships have been mostly maintained as similar tools and techniques are persistently being used until today in both countries. Significant progress was observed in the design and stylization of the batik design with the use of digital approaches such as fractal geometry. Similar challenging problems faced by both nations were highlighted and clustered into internal and external issues. It was concluded that assimilations of Third Industrial Revolution technology (IR3.0) primarily centered on the use of computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing to improve existing batik production. Emerging studies have shown the positive impact of integrating Fourth Industrial Revolution (IR4.0) technology such as augmented reality (AR) in promoting batik knowledge and transmitting batik as an intangible cultural heritage. The transmission of batik skills to the young generation has been a persistent problem. Thus, a brief framework was proposed to exemplify how IR4.0 technology can innovatively be used to transmit the batik skills via education platform.

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This study was conducted to improve the life-span of the biofilm produced from algae by evaluating the decomposition rate with the effect of cinnamon extraction oil (CEO). The biofilm was fabricated using the solution casting technique. The soil burying analysis demonstrated low moisture absorption of the biofilm, thus decelerating the degradation due to low swelling rate and micro-organism activity, prolonging the shelf-life of the biofilm. Hence, the addition of CEO also affects the strength properties of the biofilm. The maximum tensile strength was achieved with the addition of 5% CEO, which indicated a good intermolecular interaction between the biopolymer (algae) and cinnamon molecules. The tensile strength, which was measured at 4.80 MPa, correlated with the morphological structure. The latter was performed using SEM, where the surface showed the absence of a separating phase between the biofilm and cinnamon blend. This was evidenced by FTIR analysis, which confirmed the occurrence of no chemical reaction between the biofilm and CEO during processing. The prolongation shelf-life rate of biofilm with good tensile properties are achievable with the addition of 5% of CEO.

The preparation of polylactic acid (PLA) and polypropylene carbonate (PPC) blend films by using the solvent casting method is to improve the properties of pure PLA. The blends' mechanical and thermal properties, morphological as well as hydrolytic degradation behavior are evaluated. The tensile test proved that the increase of PPC from 0 wt% to 75 wt% could improve the elongation of pure PLA when the graph showed a significant increase of the elongation from 10% to 1000%. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) supported the significant increase in elongation of the blends when it shows a definite phase separation in 75/25 PLA/PPC, where 25% of PPC has formed islands in the PLA matrix. Differential scanning calorimetry indicates the partial miscibility of the blends where two peaks of the glass transition temperature moved towards each other when the amount of PPC increases. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy revealed a possible intermolecular interaction between two polymers, which affects the miscibility of the blends. Finally, the hydrolytic degradation test indicates that the degradation started from the PLA phase and the blends' degradation rate decrease as wt% of PPC increase.

Phosphate glasses are novel amorphous biomaterials due to their fully resorbable characteristics, with controllable degradation profiles. In this study, phosphate glasses containing titanium and/or iron were identified to exhibit sufficiently matched thermal properties (glass transition temperature, thermal expansion coefficient and viscosity) which enabled successful co-extrusion of glass billets to form a core/clad preform. The cladding composition for the core/clad preforms were also reversed. Fe clad and Ti clad fibres were successfully drawn with an average diameter of between 30~50 µm. The average cladding annular thickness was estimated to be less than 2 µm. Annealed core/clad fibres were degraded in PBS for a period of 27 days. The strength of the Fe clad fibres appeared to increase from 303 ± 73 MPa to 386 ± 45 MPa after nearly 2 weeks in the dissolution medium (phosphate buffered solution) before decreasing by day 27. The strength of the Ti clad fibres revealed an increase from 236 ± 53 MPa to 295 ± 61 MPa when compared at week 3. The tensile modulus measured for both core/clad fibres ranged between 51 GPa to 60 GPa. During the dissolution study, Fe clad fibres showed a peeling mechanism compared to the Ti clad fibres.

A combined experimental and finite element analysis () investigation was performed to study the effect of incorporating poly(propylene carbonate)(PPC) and curcumin on the mechanical properties of poly(lactic acid) (PLA). In addition, the chemical interaction and morphological changes brought upon by each subsequent additive were also observed. The addition of PPC at 30 wt% into PLA causes a decrease in strength and modulus by 51% and 68% respectively whilst inducing higher elongation by 74%.  The resultant decrease in strength and modulus of the PLA/PPC blend was recovered by adding a low weight percentage (1 wt%) of curcumin. The images of the fractured surfaces via scanning electron microscope () revealed the brittle-ductile-brittle progression of PLA due to the addition of PPC and curcumin which corroborates the findings from the tensile test. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy () revealed that the addition of PPC by 30 wt % resulted in chemical interaction between the carbonyl groups of PLA and PPC  as the C=O peak of PLA slightly shifted to a lower wavenumber. The presence of curcumin peaks however was found to be difficult to be identified in the PLA/PPC/curcumin blend. The simulated results for the stress-strain profile using FEA agreed well with the experimental tensile test profile with a relatively low percentage error of less than 6%. Therefore, it was concluded that for these compositions, the developed model can be used for further simulation works to design biomedical devices. ABSTRAK: Gabungan penyelidikan secara eksperimen dan analisis unsur terhad (FEA) telah dijalankan bagi mengkaji kesan campuran poli (propilen karbonat) (PPC) dan kurkumin pada sifat mekanikal poli (asid laktik) (PLA). Tambahan, interaksi kimia dan perubahan morfologi pada setiap penambahan berikutnya turut diperhatikan. Penambahan PPC pada 30 wt% ke dalam PLA menyebabkan pengurangan pada tenaga dan modulus sebanyak 51% dan 68% masing-masing sementara menyebabkan kenaikan pemanjangan sebanyak 74%. Hasil pengurangan pada tenaga dan modulus campuran PLA/PPC diseimbangkan dengan mencampurkan peratus kurkumin kurang berat (1 wt%). Melalui mikroskop imbasan elektron (SEM), didapati imej permukaan retak menunjukkan PLA berturutan rapuh-mulur-rapuh disebabkan penambahan PPC dan kurkumin di mana ianya menyokong dapatan kajian ini melalui ujian kekuatan tegangan. Spektroskopi Inframerah Jelmaan Fourier (FTIR) menunjukkan dengan penambahan PPC sebanyak 30 wt %, interaksi kimia antara kumpulan karbonil PLA dan PPC pada puncak C=O PLA telah berubah sedikit kepada nombor gelombang lebih kecil. Walau bagaimanapun, kehadiran puncak kurkumin adalah sukar dikenal pasti dalam campuran PLA/PPC/kurkumin. Dapatan hasil simulasi pada profil strain-tekanan menggunakan FEA adalah sama dengan ujian kekuatan tegangan dengan peratus ralat yang agak rendah iaitu kurang daripada 6%. Oleh itu, komposisi model yang dibangunkan ini adalah sesuai bagi meneruskan kerja-kerja simulasi iaitu bagi mereka bentuk alat biomedikal.           

Halloysite nanotubes (HNTs) have recently been the subject of extensive research as a reinforcing filler. HNT is a natural nanoclay, non‐toxic and biocompatible, hence, applicable in biomedical fields. This review focuses on the mechanical, thermal, and functional properties of polymer nanocomposites with HNT as a reinforcing agent from an experimental and theoretical perspective. In addition, this review also highlights the recent applications of polymer/HNT nanocomposites in the biomedical fields.