Advancing Sustainable Materials: Fabrication and Performance of Macadamia Nutshell Composite Cores and Sandwich Structures
Keynote
Paper/Presentation Title | Advancing Sustainable Materials: Fabrication and Performance of Macadamia Nutshell Composite Cores and Sandwich Structures |
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Presentation Type | Keynote |
Authors | Islam, M. M. |
Journal or Proceedings Title | Proceedings of the Precision Global Forum on Polymer Science and Engineering (PPOLY2025) |
Article Number | 4 |
Number of Pages | 4 |
Year | 2025 |
Place of Publication | Tokyo, Japan |
Conference/Event | https://www.reoozveltforum.org/ppoly-2025/ |
Event Details | https://www.reoozveltforum.org/ppoly-2025/ Delivery In person Event Date 10 to end of 12 Sep 2025 Event Location Tokyo, Japan Event Web Address (URL) |
Abstract | The pursuit of sustainable materials in engineering has led to a growing interest in bio-composites derived from natural fibres. This keynote presentation explores the innovative use of powdered macadamia nutshells - an under-utilised by-product of the food industry - in the development of composite cores and sandwich structures. By processing these nutshells into specific particle sizes and integrating them into a suitable resin matrix, we have fabricated composite cores and sandwich panels reinforced with carbon fabric skins. The resulting materials demonstrate enhanced flexural and shear strength, positioning them as promising alternatives to conventional materials in high-performance sectors such as aerospace and automotive. This research highlights the potential of agricultural wastes like macadamia nutshells to contribute to sustainable manufacturing practices, offering a viable pathway for waste utilisation and the advancement of eco-friendly engineering solutions. Future studies will aim to optimise particle sizes, weight ratios, and assess long-term durability, further unlocking the potential of these novel composite materials. |
Keywords | Sustainable materials, fabrication, characterisation, applications. |
ANZSRC Field of Research 2020 | 401602. Composite and hybrid materials |
Byline Affiliations | School of Engineering |
Centre for Future Materials |
https://research.usq.edu.au/item/zz3v0/advancing-sustainable-materials-fabrication-and-performance-of-macadamia-nutshell-composite-cores-and-sandwich-structures
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