Ageing in general is a process or permanent, irreversible change of relevant properties with time. This definition is applicable to many scenarios and the term relevant properties is of the key importance. To study the ageing (or causes of ageing) is practically impossible in the context of structural materials that are intended to be used sometimes for centuries. Accelerated methods are often used to predict the change of materials properties with time and often, extrapolation is used to do so. Direct validation of accelerated methods to simulate processes of ageing is virtually impossible. This presentation will attempt to shed the ...
Read MoreAs healthcare facilities grapple with personal protective equipment shortages, West Virginia University researchers are going against the grain to help with an earthy, unorthodox resource: wood. At the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Gloria Oporto, associate professor of wood science and technology, had researched woody biomass for food packaging and pharmacy novel applications. Woody biomass are timber-derived products that can be converted to energy through combustion or gasification. Oporto would grow increasingly concerned about reports of the lack of PPE for medical professionals, sparking the question, “Why can’t we use renewable materials, such as wood derivatives to supplement the PPE?” She then reached out ...
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