1. Introduction

Edible films from natural ingredients like cassava peels, alginate, and banana peels offer a promising alternative to conventional plastics in food packaging. The present work explores the development of an edible film for packaging; analyzes the impact of varying concentrations of each component on film properties with regard to mechanical strength, water absorption, biodegradability, and antibacterial properties; and optimizes the composition.

2. Methodology

Cassava peel starch and banana peel paste are prepared by a worked-out procedure. Cassava peel paste is mixed with sodium alginate and heated to 80°C. Banana peel paste, glycerol, and essential oil are added and stirred. The mixture in a petri dish is dried in a hot-air oven at 45°C for 48 hours. Biodegradability is assessed using the soil burial method. Solubility is determined by immersing the film in water and measuring weight loss. Mechanical properties are evaluated using a UTM. FTIR spectroscopy is used to identify functional groups in the edible films. Antibacterial tests are conducted using the Kirby Bauer method. The Box–Behnken factorial design is used to optimize the prepared edible films with respect to mechanical properties and solubility.

3. Results and Discussion

It was observed that the solubility of films increased with higher proportions of alginate and glycerol. Samples buried in soil showed rapid degradation within 1-2 days, which was an added advantage of the prepared films. From analysis of variance studies, the desirable combinations of various inputs for high solubility and good mechanical properties were identified. The optimum composition of the sample was determined as being 22g cassava peel starch, 2g sodium alginate, and 3ml glycerol. The computed film properties were also validated experimentally.

4. Conclusions

Successful development of an edible film for packaging was accomplished and we characterized the various mechanical properties, the solubility of edible films, and the influence each ingredient exerted on these properties.

Plastics are widely used in daily life due to their versatility, affordability, and ease of processing. Their extensive applications make it crucial to understand how they respond to mechanical stress, especially in structural or load-bearing contexts. This study investigates the behavior of ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene), a commonly used thermoplastic, under uniaxial tensile loading conditions. The objective is to assess how mechanical stress and accumulated damage influence its performance and durability.

Recent developments in fracture mechanics are applied to polymer structures, with a focus on accurate design and dimensioning to ensure long-term structural reliability. A detailed understanding of how polymers deform, yield, and fail under various loads—particularly in the presence of micro-defects—is essential for predicting their service life and identifying critical failure thresholds.

The research utilizes experimental tensile testing combined with analytical approaches such as non-linear regression and damage modeling. These methods enable precise characterization of the material's mechanical properties and identification of key indicators of degradation. By capturing the evolution of damage during loading, the study provides insight into the points at which maintenance or replacement becomes necessary.

The results contribute to improved design strategies for polymer-based components, ensuring safer and more efficient use in engineering applications; the findings also offer a foundation for future research into the development of more resilient polymer composites tailored for high-stress environments.

A36 steel, also known as S235JR in Europe or ASTM A36 in the United States, is widely used in metal structures due to its good mechanical properties, durability, and weldability. However, one of the major challenges associated with its use lies in predicting service life, particularly in the face of fatigue and progressive damage. It is therefore essential for designers and operators to better anticipate the onset of defects and assess damage progression to ensure structural reliability and safety.

This work aims to estimate the service life of A36 steel through an approach combining experimental tests and theoretical modeling. Fatigue tests were conducted on notched specimens, followed by static tensile tests to measure the reduction in residual ultimate stress. The experimental results allowed us to plot the Wöhler curve (S-N) and determine the constants associated with the Erisman damage law. Subsequently, the Mesmacque law was used to model damage evolution as a function of the fraction of life consumed, taking into account the loading sequence effect.

A comparison between the experimental results and the predictions provided by the analytical models was performed to assess their accuracy and their ability to represent the actual behavior of the material. This study identifies the most appropriate approaches to improve preventive maintenance strategies for A36 steel structures.

In this work, a stringent experimental procedure was developed to accelerate the corrosion of central wires extracted from 19×7 lifting cables so that it should take about a few tens of hours to reproduce several months of service-induced degradation. To an accuracy of 100 mm, the specimens were carefully cut, marked and immersed in a 30% sulfuric acid solution in laboratory maintaining conditions. At scheduled intervals (up to a 40-hour total immersion time), selected samples were taken out of the solution, gently washed, and tested monotonically to failure to measure their residual ultimate force. The tests showed a pronounced,asymptotically approaching decrease in mechanical efficiency with increasing length of exposure. Further analysis of the force-versus-immersion data, using nonlinear regression tools, provided an explicit relationship between the normalized residual strength and the life fraction β, defined as the ratio of the immersion time to the total test duration. In this static environment, the damage curve is divided by using Erismann’s damage law into three different damage regimes: a beginning degradation phase of slow, incipient damage; and intermediate stage of rapidly developing, critical degradation; and a final abrupt degradation zone. To further define the variability of material degradation, a probabilistic damage–reliability model built on a Weibull distribution linked the computed life fraction and the survival probability of any specific stress level. This hybrid methodology – integrating accelerated corrosion protocols with advanced statistical and analytical modelling – provides a strong predictive tool for determining the remaining life of the CWs and facilitates the introduction of focused condition-based maintenance policies.

Wire ropes are essential components in lifting and handling systems, ensuring both the transmission of mechanical forces and operational safety. Their structure, composed of several strands wound helically around a central axis, provides the ropes with an optimal combination of flexibility, strength, and reliability. Among these components, the central helical strand plays a crucial role in the overall mechanical strength of the entire rope, absorbing a large portion of axial loads and contributing to stress distribution. However, during operation, this strand can suffer progressive damage due to wear, corrosion, or localized mechanical failures, which can lead to premature failure.

The main objective of this work is to study the damage mechanisms of this central strand and assess their impact on its mechanical performance. To this end, static tensile tests were conducted on new strands as well as on strands artificially damaged by shearing 1, 2, or 6 constituent wires, to simulate different levels of degradation. The experimental results made it possible to analyze force-displacement curves, determine mechanical characteristics (strength, stiffness, elongation), and observe failure modes.

Interpretation of these data highlights a clear correlation between the degree of initial damage and the reduction in the strand's structural reliability. This study thus provides new insights into the fatigue and failure behavior of damaged strands and provides a technical basis for implementing more effective preventive maintenance strategies in systems using wire ropes.

The growing demand for micro energy to power sensors, miniature electronics, and other microelectronic devices has drawn a lot of attention to flexible piezoelectric nanogenerators (PENG). The main issues being addressed at the moment are choosing the right materials and using straightforward production methods to provide better electrical performance in addition to good mechanical qualities and flexibility. Herein, we explored the role ferromagnetic manganese cobalt ferrite (MCF) in improving the energy harvesting potentiality of poly (vinylidene fluoride-Trifluoro ethylene P(VDF-TrFE) matrix. Six different piezoelectric composite films composed of (PVDF-TrFE) and various ferromagnetic manganese cobalt ferrite (Mn_0.5Co_0.5Fe₂O₄) content of (0,1,3,5,7, and 10%) were prepared via Dr. Blade cast heating coater technique accompanied by electric field poling. To investigate the optimum effect of the MCF nanoparticle content on the relative fraction of the electroactive β-phase and the crystallinity, X-ray diffraction (XRD) pattern and the Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) were elucidated. Meanwhile, the relative fraction of the β-phase and crystallinity degree for 5% nanocomposite film are 89% and 48%, respectively. Finally, addition of MCF into the PVDF-TrFE matrix influences the piezoelectric properties drastically. Among the fabricated piezoelectric nanogenerators, the nanocomposite film with 5% MCF content reveals the maximum open circuit voltage of 30 V and the maximum current of 6.5 mA in the order of 2 compared to the neat polymer film. It was observed that our fabricated flexible piezoelectric nano-generator is a potential candidate for powering futuristic microelectronic devices.

The industrial processing of innovative packaging papers with enhanced barrier properties has become ever more challenging due to the more stringent regulations on single-use-plastics (SUP), with extended applicability to coated papers. Although traditional packaging papers are based on renewable sources, they do not provide water and oil resistance and require the deposition of extruded polymer films or dispersion coatings that interfere with the paper recycling process. In this study, the impregnation of paper with biowax rendered barrier properties with enhanced water and oil contact angles. However, the close control of processing conditions on an industrial pilot line is critical in producing optimized product quality. Therefore, the effects of material grades and processing conditions were more closely monitored through design of experiments, allowing us to increase product performance and enhance flexibility for processing different material grades. In particular, variations in surface properties of the base paper, wax content, and control of processing temperatures were related to the oil and water contact angles. It was concluded that variations in base paper roughness should be considered for the efficient uptake and impregnation of wax, while contact angles are a good indication of the penetration of wax in the paper bulk. The increase in oil contact angles up to 60° further relates to the enhanced grease barrier properties of the impregnated paper. Although an improvement in water contact angles up to stable values of 116° was obtained, this is not predictive for a similar improvement in oil contact angles, while it perfectly relates to the wax coverage and surface roughness. The relations between performance in barrier properties and wax coverage on both impregnated and non-impregnated paper sides are finally confirmed through a qualitative description by spectroscopic analysis.

This work presents a preliminary investigation into the development of electrospun nanofibers composed of polyacrylonitrile (PAN) blended with a bio-based polymer. The aim is to explore the feasibility of combining a synthetic, process-stable polymer with a renewable, potentially biocompatible component to create hybrid nanofibers suitable for various biomedical applications. Various blend ratios were prepared and processed using electrospinning to evaluate general spinnability, fiber formation, and morphological characteristics. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) was employed for surface analysis, showing continuous, bead-free fibers with morphology influenced by the composition and nature of the polymer blend. The integration of a bio-based polymer is expected to improve the material’s biological performance while maintaining the structural benefits of PAN, offering a significant advancement in dual-functionality nanofibers. These nanofibrous materials could be relevant for future applications in fields such as wound care, filtration, or tissue-related systems, providing a promising avenue for further innovation. At this stage, the study focuses on the basic processing and structural characteristics, serving as a foundation for further investigation and development. Planned future work includes extended physicochemical characterization and comprehensive evaluation of application-specific properties, essential for practical deployment and usability. This approach supports the development of adaptable, functional nanomaterials based on sustainable components for future medical or bioengineering use, thus contributing to more sustainable and eco-friendly solutions in nanotechnology.

Food safety, quality deterioration and postharvest losses are growing issues and smart packaging has emerged as a critical solution to address these challenges. The global smart packaging market is currently valued at USD 24.28 billion and is projected to grow to USD 34.35 billion by 2030 with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.12%. This study aimed to develop a biofilm based on jackfruit seed starch (JSS) incorporated with beetroot extract (BE) as a freshness indicator. Jackfruit seed starch was selected as the primary polymer matrix due to its high amylose content that enhances film-forming ability and structural integrity. Beetroot, which is rich in natural betalain color pigment, contributes to pH sensitivity. Four formulations of films were developed by the casting technique: Control without BE, F1 (10 ml BE), F2 (7 ml BE), and F3 (4 ml BE). The F2 formulation had a lower water activity value, moisture content value, and water vapor transmission rate, constituting (0.627 ± 0.003), (10.596 ± 0.106%), and (11.636 ± 0.082%), respectively, compared to F1, F3 and C. The lowest water solubility (33.33 ± 0.00%) was also shown by F2, compared to F1 and F3 films. Among all formulations, F2 had the highest hardness of 422.40 g. Thus, F2 showed more excellent physical and mechanical properties than F1 and F3. The F1 formulation exhibited the highest biodegradability (94.837 ± 0.552%), followed by C (91.513 ± 0.189%), F2 (92.0033 ± 0.1150%), and F3 (88.050 ± 0.437%). The pH sensitivity of the extract and film was confirmed using standard buffer solutions from pH 1 to 13. F1 showed reddish purple at (pH 1), red at (pH 6), and brownish yellow at (pH 13). Therefore, F1 had more pH sensitivity. Consequently, the developed biofilm serves as an eco-friendly, smart film for meat packaging, sustainable waste valorization and plastic reduction initiatives.

More research is being conducted on the substantial environmental impacts of industrial packaging systems, including the depletion of material resources, greenhouse gas emissions, and the buildup of post-consumer waste. Growing worldwide supply chains and stricter sustainability regulations have raised the demand for environmentally friendly packaging options. This study critically examines the environmental impact of industrial packaging by integrating the most recent improvements in life cycle assessment (LCA) methodologies, ecological footprint (EF) assessments, material advancements, and circular economy models. The evaluation assesses the sustainability performance of both conventional and alternative packaging materials, including plastics, aluminum, corrugated cardboard, and polylactic acid (PLA). The findings demonstrate that, although renewable, corrugated cardboard still carries a notable environmental footprint, installing solar energy systems can reduce this footprint by more than 12%. When manufactured from renewable feedstocks and properly composted, PLA-based trays have potential effective environmental performance. There are still major challenges in spite of these developments. Ecological overshoot in industrial zones, where EF may exceed high biocapacity, waste disposal infrastructure shortcomings, and economic trade-offs are some of these. Transportation-related pollutants and the limited scalability of bio-based materials further impede widespread adoption. Studies suggest that employing sustainable industrial packaging could alter supply chain practices and reduce environmental impacts. To achieve this promise, cross-sector collaboration, standardized policy frameworks, and the integration of advanced environmental standards into packaging design and decision-making are required.