Brief Summary of Minutes of Annual Meeting

The meeting began at 12:30pm with box lunch kindly sponsored by Dr. Robert Shulstad.

Dr. Shulstad’s welcome:

 - Emphasized the importance of team effort, working together, functioning as s a team to address a specific topic.

- Encourage the team members to work together to develop joint proposals for any of the agencies.

- Annual report due 90 days from the annual meeting day (Nov. 10, 2017). The annual report of S-1054 project will be due on February 9, 2018. It is important to write the final report with the first two pages catching the attention of the reviewers. Do not use scientific words, make sure the grammar can be understood.

- Asking for extension of the project is no longer an opportunity. We need to submit a NEW proposal to continue of project.

- If the proposal submitted by the end of March, 2018, Dr. Shulstad will still be our administrative advisor and help us get the approval of the proposal by the reviewer committee.

- Invite industry people to join our proposal will strengthen our team.

- The proposal has to be approved by NIFA by Sept 30, 2018 to continue our project.

- There will be a new administrative advisor for the new proposal. Possible candidate will be a person from Tennessee who are closer to the area within the discipline.

- Dr. Shulstad’s shared two reports for general consumers, “Management of Pesticide Resistance” (WEAR – 60 (2007-2012)) and “Conserving Plant Genetic Resources” (S-009 (2003-2013). USDA officer will contact the chair if they are excited for the project and ask the team to write a report for general consumers.

- Not much inside information about the federal budget available.

- “Textiles” is no longer in the area of USDA, we rely on agricultural products in our current proposal.

Questions and Answers:

Majid Sarmadi commented that there is a 50/50 chance of the approval of the project, if we have the proposal submitted by the end of March, 2018, Dr. Shulstad will still be here to approve the project. We will need to work together to get the proposal done on time! Yiqi Yang asked whether the international universities and industry can participate the project. The answer is YES. The international universities and industry can be listed on the project, but they can not be funded by this project for traveling to attend the annual meeting.

Member Introduction

Suraj proposed to vote the approval of the new remembers: Andrigy Voronov from North Dakota State, and Srikanth Pilla from Clemson University. Yiqi second, all the members approved.

1. Gajanan Bhat, University of Georgia: nonwoven, fibers and composites, especially focused on spun-bonded nonwovens, his lab has nonwoven pilot equipment.
2. Sergiy Minko, University of Georgia: nanofibers and nanocellulose, biomedication- bionanofibers, nanocellulose-textile coating.
3. Andrigy Voronov, North Dukota State: Synthesis of polymers, applications in biomedical and drug delivery, synthesis of polymer from vegegeagble oil, coating, hydrophobic
4. Srikanth Pilla, Clemson University: biomechical, automobile, biorenewable material, has several USDA and NSF funded projects on renewable materials. Renewable plant based, sustainability, nanocellulose based interior and exterior, research automobile research.
5. Suraj Sharma, University of Georgia: polymer, fibers, microencapsulation, biosynthesis, biopolyester, used for biomedical application, coating with nanocellulose. Energy harvesting fabrication.
6. Majig Sarmadi, University of Wisconsin-Madison: plasma chemistry, modify polymers, make surface of polymer compatible together. Making ramie compatible with polypropylene compatible, no phase separation, thermal plastics material, melt flow index. Recycling of water from textile industry, make the water reusable, the paper was published at AATCC. Could not detect any organic compound using photoelectronic.
7. Charles Freeman, Mississippi state university: develop based polymers from cotton seed to produce synthetic leather
8. Patti Annis, University of Georgia: collaborate with Suraj, working on microorganism from carpet.
9. Yiqi Yang, University of Nebraska-Lincoln: biobased materials for textile application, polysaccharide and protein, chicken feather to make fibers, reactive dyeing with oil (soybean oil, cotton seed oil, degradable) to eliminate salts. Poly(lactic acid) stereocomplexation.
10. Chunhui Xiang, Iowa State University: biobased and biodegradable fibers and composites, bacterial cellulose for sustainable textile materials. Fully biobased plastics with insecticide functionality.

Development of new proposal

Proposal Committee:
Co-chairs: Suraj Sharma and Srikanth Pilla
To submit the proposal by the end of March, 2018, each member needs to be committed and contribute timely!

Major objectives:
1. Soft materials, soft goods,
a) High performance biobased composites materials
b) Fabrics/Textiles
c) Packaging
d) biomaterials
2. Lifecycle, economics analysis
a) Charles Freeman will contact a faculty from Oklahoma State University
3. Education for students and outreach, preparing new generation of renewable and biobased materials.
a) undergraduate
b) graduate
c) outreach
Sub-objectives:
o Polymer science, high performance and sustainable, composite materials, sustainable and renewable materials
o What product can help the agricultural, plant based oil, nanocellulose
o Used agricultural biproducts to develop new materials
o Do something to reduce the food price, lignins, grape seed (to create wine) and oil
o Purify lignin: high and low molecular weight, omega 3 low molecular weight
o Biobased materials: packaging, biocomposites, oil, cellulose, lignin, chemical cellulose
o Genetically modify a plant in a harsh environment
o Cotton ginning – to nanocellulose
o Sweet potato starch to produce PLA
o Non-food application
o New applications of biobased materials to automobile drive the price increase of food
o Agricultural byproducts find better application
o Target multiple products, packaging, biomass
o Gin trash byproduct-short cotton fibers, leaves – convert to useful product, trash to cash. Current process of cotton ginning byproduct is to compound the gin trash as fertilizer.
o Convert wood hard board to wood pulp

Themes:
New generation advanced/commodity materials from agricultural-base- renewable materials
Ask members to add the sub-objectives to each category, then the chair will group all the sub-objectives and form small entities to work on each objectives.
Project discussion and research collaboration
· Within 90 days to submit the yearly report: Each state send the report to Chunhui Xiang by January 15, 2018. Chunhui will send a template and reminder for the report.
· Chunhui Xiang and Yan Vivian Li will lead to work on the two reports: yearly report and end of the project report.
· Submit the report to Dr. Shulstad.
· Look at the format of the RFP of the new proposal
· Look for more reps from NIFA
· To ask Dr. Shulstad for the NIFA reps, the person who graduated from UGA may be helpful.
· Look for the AFRI-NIFA for potential proposals.

Election of 2018 Officers
Chair: Chunhui Xiang
Secretary: Charles Freeman
Next meeting time and location
Location: University of California, Davis
Time: Same as the Fiber Society 2018 Fall Meeting

Lab tour
An official tour to the labs in the Family and Consumer Sciences at UGA was given by Suraj after the meeting was ended.

Respectfully submitted,
Chunhui Xiang (Secretary)

Objective 1 To develop novel biobased polymeric materials

CA: At the University of California, Davis, scientists have continued to design and develop sustainable processes to efficiently convert biopolymers, e.g., proteins, cellulose, lignin, etc., into novel nanomaterials and functional products. Specific progress has been made in novel structure and performance develop of nanocellulose products based on prior accomplishment in isolating cellulose from various agricultural residues and food/beverage by-products such as grape and tomato pomance, cotton linter and rice straw and optimizing the derivation of nanocelluloses in varied geometries and surface chemistries.

A streamlined alkali process (4 % NaOH, 70°C, 5 min, twice) has been shown to be effective in removing most hemicelluloses, lignin and silica from rice straw to give ca. 10% higher yield of cellulose-rich product that led to alkaline cellulose nanofibrils (ACNFs) at ca. 7% higher yield than CNFs from purified cellulose under the same optimal TEMPO oxidation and mechanical defibrillation process. ACNFs were similar in lateral dimensions (1.25 ± 0.47 nm) and crystallinity (68 %), but longer and less surface oxidized (65 %) than CNFs and HCNFs (1.55 ± 0.54 and 1.36

± 0.62 nm, 69 and 68 % CrI, 85 and 69 % surface oxidization, respectively). These ACNFs were also more thermal stabile and self-assembled into finer fibers (94-197 nm) than CNFs (497 nm). This facile alkali pretreatment is not only highly efficient in generating cellulose for preparing ACNFs with attributes similar to CNFs and HCNFs, but, like HCNFs due to their less pristine nature, also present some unique properties that are promising for advanced applications.

CNFs from rice straw have also been assembled into hierarchically macroporous (several hundred micrometer) honeycomb cellular structure surrounded with mesoporous (8-60 nm) thin walls. The high specific surface (193 m2/g) and surface carboxyl content (1.29 mmol/g) of these aerogels were demonstrated to be highly capable of removing cationic malachite green (MG) dye from aqueous media. The rapid MG adsorption was driven by electrostatic interactions and followed a pseudo-second-order adsorption kinetic and monolayer Langmuir adsorption isotherm. The excellent dye removal efficiency was demonstrated by 92 % dye removal in a single batch at 10:5 mg/mL aerogel/MG ratio and 100 mg/L dye concentration and 100 % dye removal through four repetitive adsorptions at a low 1:5 mg/mL aerogel/MG ratio and 10 mg/L dye concentration. The adsorbed MG in aerogels could be desorbed in aqueous media with increasing ionic strength, demonstrating facile recovery of the dye as well as the aerogel for repetitive applications.

A facile gelation-crosslinking approach has been devised to fabricate meso- and macro-porous CNF aerogels with multiple improved properties. CNF hydrogels from freezing-thawing were solvent exchanged with acetone then crosslinked with methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI) to produce aerogels with significantly improved compressive Young’s modulus, yield stress and ultimate stress with impressive 1.69, 2.49 and 1.43 scaling factors, respectively. The optimally crosslinked aerogels had nearly tripled specific surface (228 m2/g) and doubled pore volume (1 m3/g) from numerous new 9-12 nm wide mesopores as well as significantly improved thermal stability (43% char residue at 500 C vs. 9.1% for uncrosslinked aerogel). Crosslinking also turned the amphiphilic CNF aerogel to be highly hydrophobic, capable of completely separating chloroform from water via simple filtration. These nanocellulose aerogels show great promise for efficient and continuous separation of oils and hydrophobic liquids from water.

CO: At Colorado State University, PLGA-gentamicin nanoparticles were made using a water-oil method. The nanoparticles were characterized using SEM, TEM, and Nano-Sizer. Molecular acceptors were also synthesized using a typical culture method. The molecular acceptor was grafted to the nanoparticles. The nanoparticles with the acceptor were mixed in a polyethylene oxide solution. The solution was used to develop Nanofibers via a home-built eletrospinning apparatus. One research grant ($25,000) was received from the research council of the College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences at Colorado State University. The grant was to support to develop PLGA-gentamicin encapsulated Nanofibers for controlled drug delivery in wound healing

IA: Iowa State University continued on developing biodegradable nanofibers from fermented tea and biobased materials for textiles and composites. The scientists have worked on development of bacterial cellulose nanocomposites from with enhanced mechanical strength by incorporating electrspun poly(lactic acid) (PLA) nanofibers. The resulted bacterial cellulose with PLA nanocomposites showed improved mechanical properties and lower water absorption, which are the key parameters for textile materials used for regular daily wear.

NE: The University of Nebraska-Lincoln continued its development of biofibers from agricultural by-products, co-products and wastes and biobased materials from bio-polymers. Our main focus this year is on translational and pilot scale formation of biobased materials with excellent properties and low costs for future industrial productions. The scientists continued their research on keratin and soy protein manipulations for various applications focusing on continuous production of 100% protein fibers, and on reuse waste carpets as composites materials. The scientists have worked on development of fabrics and garments from natural cellulosic fibers from cotton stalk blended with cotton. They have made a garment from cotton stalk fibers, blended with cotton and have demonstrated that the materials from cotton stalk fibers have excellent performance properties.

NY: Cornell University has continued to develop biodegradable ‘green’ resins and composites. The primary focus has been to develop self-healing protein and starch based resins for composite applications as well as self-healing green composites.

In the first research self-healing soy protein isolate (SPI) based ‘green’ thermoset resin was developed using SPI encapsulated poly(D,L-lactide-co-glycolide)(PLGA) microcapsules (SPI- PLGA-MCs). In this system, SPI, when released from the microcapsules, acts as the healant. In these studies SPI resin was crosslinked to improve its mechanical properties. SPI-PLGA-MCs were obtained using the water-in-oil-in-water emulsification technique. Effects of various microencapsulation formulation and processing parameters were investigated on size, size distribution, protein loading, encapsulation efficiency, and morphology of the microcapsules as well as the overall self-healing efficiency. Results of these studies showed that SPI-PLGA-MCs with diameters in the range of 0.8 to 1.5 μm resulted in the highest self-healing efficiency. Also, when the microcapsules contained subcapsules within themselves, the self-healing efficiency was reduced. Microcapsules produced using slower homogenization speed of 1,000 rpm were larger with an average diameter of 9.1 µm and contained diverse size of subcapsules inside. These did not result in high self-healing efficiency. Varying PVA concentration showed no significant effect on the SPI-PLGA-MCs size. However, at higher PVA concentration, microcapsules aggregated because the excess PVA on the microcapsule surface acted as glue. One of the reasons for using PVA was to be able to bond the microcapsules to resin which would assure the fracture of the microcapsules in the path of the microcracks. This was indeed the case and resulted in higher self- healing efficiency. The self-healing efficiency at room temperature (RT) for various formulations studied varied between 29% and 53%. The results indicated that the highest self-healing efficiency of 53% was obtained by SPI-PLGA-MCs prepared using 1% PLGA, 5% PVA and homogenization speed of 10,000 rpm.

In the second research area, self-healing green thermoset resin was developed using waxy maize starch (WMS). In this case, self-healing was achieved using waxy maize starch-loaded poly(d,l- lactide-co-glycolide) microcapsules (WMS-PLGA-MCs). The WMS resin was crosslinked using 1,2,3,4-butanetetracarboxylic acid (BTCA). A similar water-in-oil-in-water emulsification technique was used to obtain WMS-PLGA-MCs. Hydroxyl groups on WMS released from WMS- PLGA-MCs can react with the excess BTCA in the WMS resin and effectively bridge the microcrack surfaces, thus healing the crack. Highest self-healing efficiency in fracture stress of up to 51% and fracture toughness of approximately 66%, after 24 h of healing at RT, was achieved by adding 20% WMS-PLGA-MCs by weight. Self-healing starch-based resin developed in this study is not only green and sustainable but the fabrication processes including microencapsulation are water-based and can be easily scaled up. The nontoxic starch based green resin can be useful for fabricating green composites in many indoor applications such as automotive, aerospace and packaging, to replace currently used petroleum-derived composites.

In the third area, self-healing soy protein-microfibrillated cellulose (MFC) reinforced, SPI resin based green (MFC-SPI) composites were developed. In this case a green solvent, ethyl acetate, was used to produce SPI-PLGA-MCs. This process resulted in high protein loading of over 50%. Self-healing MFC-SPI composites with uniformly dispersed MFC (10wt%) and SPI-PLGA-MCs (15wt%) resulted in Young’s modulus of about 1 GPa and strength of 15.2 MPa whereas SPI composites with only 10wt% of MFC showed Young’s modulus of 1.4 GPa and strength of 24.5 MPa. Both these properties were significantly higher compared to pure SPI resin due to the inherent high tensile properties of MFC and its excellent hydrogen bonding with SPI resin. Self- healing mechanism, i.e., bridging of fracture surfaces of the microcracks by the healing agent (SPI), was observed through SEM imaging. Composites with no SPI-PLGA-MCs showed no self-healing as expected. However, self-healing SPI composites showed 27% healing efficiency after 24 h of healing. This self-healing efficiency is much lowered compared to that obtained for the resin (over 50%) for the reason that while the resin can be self-healed fractured fibers, the reinforcing component, cannot.

In the fourth area, a new 1-step process was developed for making green resins based on plant proteins tougher. In this case epoxidized natural rubber (ENR) fibers (ENRFs) were electrospun with diameters ranging from a few hundred nm to a few μm by changing the concentration of ENR solution. A simple 1-step process was developed to directly blend wet electrospun ENRFs into the SPI resin. Surface topography of ENRFs changed from irregular to somewhat bumpy as the ENR concentration increased from 0.1% to 5%. The average diameter of ENRFs also increased from 250 nm to 17 μm with increased concentration. The results indicated that the ENRF (electrospun from 3% concentration) loading from 0 to 20% had a significant increase in the fracture strain of the SPI resin, from 1.7 to 18.8%, over 10 times. This also resulted in increased toughness by a factor of 10. Importantly, tensile strength and Young’s modulus remained almost unchanged. Crosslinking between the epoxy groups in ENR and amine and/or carboxylic groups in SPI and the high aspect ratio of the ENRFs seem to contribute to increased toughness of the SPI resin.

TX: At University of Texas at Austin, research efforts were continuously focused on the development of advanced textile materials using lignocellulose biomass, with specific end uses in energy and healthcare industries. A cellulose-based flexible yarn supercapacitor was produced. Two methods of fabricating complex yarn structure for the supercapacitors were developed. Electrochemical properties of the yarn supercapacitors, in terms of cyclic voltammetry (CV), galvanostatic charge/discharge (GC), electrical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), and capacitance, were measured and analyzed. The research revealed that the unique yarn linear structure could enable to integrate the yarn supercapacitor into various industrial and consumer products such as apparel products, outdoor and sports wears, camp/hike equipment, and specialty rope/cable products.

Research progress was also made in the formation and application of a biobased fibrous membrane with micro- and nano-fiber web structure as a drug delivery carrier. Regenerated cellulose micro-/nano- fiber (CMF) webs were fabricated by dry-wet electrospinning. Ibuprofen (IBU) was used as a model drug loaded on the CMF webs using a simple immersing method. The IBU-loaded CMF biomaterials were characterized in terms of polymeric structure, surface morphology, thermal stability, tribological property, and surface tension. The drug release mechanism was modeled numerically.

Objective 2: to develop and evaluate biobased fibrous products for eco-friendly crop protection

TN: Through a major USDA Specialty Crop Research Initiative (SCRI) grant received by (Project Director) Hayes, Wadsworth, Belasco, and collaborators at the University of Tennessee, Washington State University, and Montana State University, the long-term implications of deploying on soil quality, the soil microbial community, specialty crop production, pests and diseases, and consumers will be investigated via a transdisciplinary approach (http://biodebradablemulch.org). We have investigated the effect of field weathering and simulated weathering of commercially available and experimentally derived biodegradable plastic mulch films, and are currently completing the physicochemical analysis of the mulches. We also further analyzed data (and collected additional data) for a soil burial study of nonwoven fully biobased mulches that provided the change of physicochemical parameters during the time course of biodegradation during a 40 week period.

Objective 3: to develop and evaluate biobased products for health and safety applications

CA: Research conducted at the University of California, Davis, has demonstrated cellulose microfibers to be effective templates to immobilize bacteriophages to broaden their applications in targeting bacterial pathogens in foods and medicine. This study evaluated physical adsorption, protein-ligand binding and electrostatic interactions bound mechanisms so not to chemically nor genetically modifying the phages to enable effective translation of naturally occurring phages and their cocktails for antimicrobial applications. The immobilization approaches were characterized by phage loading efficiency, phage distribution, and phage release from fibers. Overall, the electrostatic immobilization approach bound more active phages than physical adsorption and protein-ligand binding and thus may be considered the optimal approach to immobilizing phages onto biomaterial surfaces.

NE: The University of Nebraska-Lincoln continued its development of biofibers from agricultural by-products, co-products and wastes and biobased materials from bio-polymers for textiles, composites and medical applications.

Objective 4: to develop and evaluate methods to remove dyes and finishing chemicals from textile waste water

NE: The University of Nebraska-Lincoln continued on developing environmentally responsible sizing/slashing agent from soyprotein isolates and soymeal to substitute PVA, which is a major problem for high COD in textile effluent, and on developing novel dyeing systems for cotton, and wool to decrease and eliminate dyeing effluents. NE scientists have focused on utilization of sorghum byproducts and coproducts, mainly husks and distillers grains for textile dyes and protein extractions, and have developed an excellent natural dye from sorghum husk and the best extraction method of proteins from sorghum distillers. They have made major success in extracting dyes from sorghum husks, and dyed wool with excellent properties, including depth of shades, colorfastness. NE scientists also found that the dyes have excellent fluorescent properties, and UV protections.

Milestones

CA: CA researchers have established streamlined processes to isolate cellulose from agricultural crop residues and food/beverage processing waste and develop coupled chemical-mechanical methods to produce varied nanocelluloses, many in near full yields. Unique dimensional attributes and surface chemical and charged characteristics can be targeted by selecting feedstock sources, e.g., cotton linter, rice straw, grape and tomato pomace, etc. as well as specific methods of derivation. These nanocelluloses have shown to be amphiphic, surface-active and capable of self-assembling into thin fibers, films, porous membranes, hydrogels and aerogels, etc.

Developing potential applications of these diverse highly crystalline cellulose structures have generated two provisional patents.

NE: First time in the world, NE scientists have had a breakthrough in their polylactide research, i.e., have made 100% stereo-complexed crystals for PLA fibers with molecular weight up to 6x105. The stereo-complexed structure substantially improved the resistance of PLA plastics against hydrolysis and increased softening points of PLA up to 60C. Such two major improvements provided PLA its possibility to be an excellent engineering plastics for the use at high temperature environments, and for the use in textiles. NE scientists have made major success in extracting dyes from sorghum husks, and dyed wool with excellent properties, including depth of shades, colorfastness. They also found that the dyes have excellent fluorescent properties, and UV protections. NE scientists have made a garment from cotton stalk fibers, blended with cotton and have demonstrated that the materials from cotton stalk fibers have excellent performance properties. A novel green process for hair perming and straightening using environmentally responsible and non-toxic chemical systems is fully developed and ready for industrial utilizations.

NY: NY research group is the first ever to successfully achieve both self-healing green resins based on plant proteins and starches as well as green composites. Self-healing characteristic can extend their useful life and make it easier for them to replace conventional composites derived from petroleum. SPI resin is brittle, but SPI/ENR green resin with higher toughness could be easily used as fully biodegradable thermoset resin in many applications including green composites. The self-healing technique has been further extended to obtain starch based resins that self-heal and provide significant benefits. Similarly the 1-step process for adding electrospun fibers for resin toughening can also be extended to other resins.

TN: TN scientists will complete data analysis of investigating the effect of weathering on physicochemical properties of biodegradable plastic mulches by Fall, 2018. The biodegradability of biodegradable plastic mulches in ambient soil and industrial composting (standardized) conditions will be determined by December, 2018.

Peer-reviewed Journal Papers

1. Vonasek, E., N. Nitin, Y.-L. Hsieh, Bacteriophages immobilized on electrospun cellulose microfibers by non-specific adsorption, protein-ligand binding and electrostatic interactions, Cellulose, 24:4581-4589 (2017).
2. Jiang, F., D.M. Dinh, Y.-L. Hsieh, Adsorption and desorption of cationic malachite green dye on cellulose nanofibril aerogels, Carbohydrate Polymers, 173: 286-294 (2017).
3. Jiang, F., Y.-L. Hsieh, Cellulose nanofibril aerogels: synergistic improvement of hydrophobicity, strength, thermal stability via crosslinking with diisocyanate, ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, 9 (3), 2825–2834 (2017).
4. Gu, Jin and Y.-L. Hsieh, Alkaline cellulose nanofibrils from streamlined alkali treated rice straw, ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering, 5: 1730-1737 (2017).
5. Yapor, J. P., Alharby, A., Gentry-Weeks, C., Reynolds, M., Alam, A. K. M. M., & Li, Y. V., Polydiacetylene Nanofiber Composites as a Colorimetric Sensor Responding To Escherichia coli and pH. ACS Omega, 2(10), 7334-7342 (2017).
6. Xiang, C., Acevedo, N., In Situ Self-Assembled Nanocomposites from Bacterial Cellulose Reinforced with Electrospun Poly(lactic acid)/Lipids Nanofibers, Polymers, 9(5),179 (2017).
7. Pan, G.W., Xu, H.L., Mu, B.N., Ma, B.M., Yang, J., and Yang, Y.Q. Complete stereo- complexation of enantiomeric polylactides for scalable continuous production, Chemical Engineering Journal. 328. 759-767 (2017).
8. Song, K.L., Xu, H.L., Xie, K.L., and Yang, Y.Q., Keratin-based biocomposites reinforced and crosslinked with dual-functional cellulose nanocrystals, ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering. 5(7), 5669-5678(2017).
9. Ma, B.M., Sun, Q.S., Yang, J., Wizi, J., Hou, X.L., and Yang, Y.Q., Degradation and regeneration of feather keratin in NMMO solution, Environmental Science and Pollution Research. 24(21). 17711-17718 (2017).
10. Hou, L., Fang, F.F., Guo, X.L., Wizi, J., Ma, B.M. Tao, Y.Y., Yang, Y.Q., Potential of Sorghum Husk Extracts as a Natural Functional Dye for Wool Fabrics. ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering. 5(6) 4589-4597(2017).
11. Mu, B.N., Xu, H.L., and Yang, Y.Q., Improved Mechanism of Polyester Dyeing with Disperse Dyes in Finite Dye Bath. Coloration Technology. 133(5). 415-422(2017).
12. Ma, B.M., Yang, J., Sun, Q.S., Jakpa, W., Hou, X.L., and Yang, Y.Q., Influence of Cellulose/[Bmim]Cl solution on the properties of fabricated PVDF membranes. Journal of Materials Science. 52(16). 9946-9957 (2017).
13. Hou, X.L., Zhang, L., Wizi, J., Liao, X.R., Ma, B.M, and Yang, Y.Q., Preparation and properties of cotton stalk bark fibers using combined steam explosion and laccase Journal of Applied Polymer Science. 134(32). 45058 (8 pages) (2017).
14. Zhao, Y., Xu, H.L., and Yang, Y.Q., Development of biodegradable textile sizes from soymeal: a renewable and cost-effective resource. Journal of Polymers and the Environment. 25(2), 349-358 (2017).
15. Cui, L., Reddy, N., Xu, H.L., Fan, X.R., and Yang, Y.Q., Enzyme-Modified Casein Fibers and their Potential Application in Drug Delivery. Fibers and Polymers. 18(5). 900-906 (2017).
16. Song, K.L., Xu, H.L., Mu, B.N., Xie, K.L., and Yang, Y.Q., Non-toxic and clean crosslinking system for protein materials: effect of extenders on crosslinking performance. Journal of Cleaner Production. 150. 214-223 (2017).
17. Song, K.L., Xu, H.L., Xu, L., Xie, K.L., and Yang, Y.Q. Preparation of cellulose nanocrystal-reinforced keratin bioadsorbent for effective removal of dyes from aqueous solution. Bioresource Technology. 232. 254-262 (2017).
18. Xu, H.L., Song, K.L., Mu, B.N., and Yang, Y.Q. A green and sustainable technology for high-efficiency and low-damage manipulation of densely crosslinked proteins. ACS Omega. 2(5). 1760-1768(2017).
19. Ma, B.M., Chen, W.X., Qiao, X., Pan, G.W., Jakpa, W., Hou, X.L., and Yang, Y.Q., Tunable wettability and tensile strength of chitosan membranes using keratin microparticles as reinforcement. Journal of Applied Polymer Science. 134(14). 44667 (9 pages). (2017).
20. Yang, M.P., Xu, H.L., Hou, X.L., Zhang, J., and Yang. Y.Q., Biodegradable sizing agents from soy protein via controlled hydrolysis and dis-entanglement for remediation of textile effluents. Journal of Environmental Management. 188. 26-31(2017).
21. Liu, C., Xu, H.L., Zhao, Y., and Yang, Y.Q., Rheological properties of soy protein isolate solution for fibers and films. Food Hydrocolloids. 64. 149-156 (2017).
22. Kim J. R. and Netravali, A. N., One-Step Toughening of Soy Protein based Green Resin using Electrospun Epoxidized Natural Rubber Fibers, ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering, 5 (6), pp 4957–4968 (2017).
23. Kim J. R. and Netravali, A. N., Self-Healing Starch-based ‘Green’ Thermoset Resin, Polymer, 117, pp. 150-159 (2017).

24. Kim J. R. and Netravali, A. N., Self-healing Green Composites Based on Soy Protein and Microfibrillated Cellulose, Composites Science & Technology, 143, pp. 22-30 (2017).
25. Kim J. R. and Netravali, A. N., Parametric study of protein-encapsulated microcapsule formation and effect on self-healing efficiency of ‘green’ soy protein resin, Journal of Material Science, 52(6), pp. 3028-3047 (2017).
26. Miles, C., DeVetter, L., Ghimire, S., Hayes, D., Suitability of biodegradable plastic mulches for organic and sustainable agricultural production systems, HortScience, in press 52(1):1–6 (2017).
27. Brodhagen, M., Goldberger, J., Hayes, D.G., Inglis, D.A., Marsh, T., Miles, C., Policy Considerations for Limiting Unintended Residual Plastic in Agricultural Soils, Environmental Science and Policy, 69: 81-84 (2017).
28. Hayes, G., Wadsworth, L.C., Sintim, H.Y., Flury, M., English, M., Schaeffer, S., Saxton, Effect of Diverse Weathering Conditions on the Physicochemical Properties of Biodegradable Plastic Mulches, Polymer Testing, 62, 454-467 (2017).
29. Hayes, D.G., The Relationship Between “Biobased,” “Biodegradability” and “Environmentally-Friendliness (Or the Absence Thereof), Journal of the American Oil Chemists' Society. 94(11), 1329-1331 (2017)
30. Huang, Y. and Chen, J.Y. All-carbon cord-yarn supercapacitor, Journal of Industrial Textiles, 1528083717699370, (2017).
31. Liu, , Nguyen, A., Allen, A., Zoldan, J., Huang, Y., and Chen, J.Y. Regenerated cellulose micro-nano fiber matrices for transdermal drug release. Materials Science & Engineering: C Materials for Biological Applications, 74, 485-492 (2017).
32. Chen, Y, Sun, L., Negulescu, I.I., and Xu, B. Fabrication and Evaluation of Regenerated Cellulose/Nanoparticle Fibers from Lignocellulosic Biomass. Biomass and Bioenergy, 101, 1-8 (2017). 

Books and Book Chapters

Yang, Y.Q., Yu, J.Y., Xu, H.L., and Sun, B.Z. edited book. Porous Lightweight Composites Reinforced with Fibrous Structures. 368 pp. 4 parts, 13 Chapters. 140 Figures and 39 Tebles. Published by Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg, Germany. (Heidelberger Platz 3, 14197 Berlin, Germany). ISBN 978-3-662-53802-9; ISBN 978-3- 662-53804-3 (eBook). DOI 10.1007/978-3-662-53804-3. Library of Congress Control Number 2016962702. Copyright Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany 2017. https://link.springer.com/download/epub/10.1007/978-3-662-53804-3.epub https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007%2F978-3-662-53804-3.pdf

Xu, H.L., Yang*, Y.Q. 7. Porous Structures from Fibrous Proteins for Biomedical Applications. In Porous Lightweight Composites Reinforced with Fibrous Structures. Yang, Y.Q., Yu, J.Y., Xu, H.L., and Sun, B.Z. edited. Published by Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg, Germany. (Heidelberger Platz 3, 14197 Berlin, Germany). ISBN 978- 3-662-53802-9; ISBN 978-3-662-53804-3 (eBook). DOI 10.1007/978-3-662-53804-3.

Library of Congress Control Number 2016962702. Copyright Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany 2017. pp 159-177. (2017).

Conference Presentations/Abstracts/Posters

1. Xiang, C., Acevedo, N.C., “Biodegradable Bacterial Cellulose Nanocomposites Reinforced with Electrospun Poly(lactic acid)/Lipids Nanofibers”. The Fiber Society 2017 Fall Meeting. Athens, GA, November,
2. Mu, B.N., Xu, H.L., and Yang*, Y.Q. Accelerated Hydrolysis of Cellulosics after Reactive Dyeing. The Fiber Society’s Fall 2017 Technical Meeting and Conference and International Symposium on Materials from Renewables (Advanced, Smart, and Sustainable Polymers, Fibers, and Textiles). November 8-10, 2017. Athens, Georgia, USA.
3. Yang*, Y.Q., Pan, G.W., Xu, H.L., Ma, B.M., Qian, Z.L., and Lao, H.Z. Melt-Spun PLLA-PDLA Fibers with Completely Stereo-Complexed Crystallites. 8th International Conference on Advanced Fibers and Polymer Materials. (ICAFPM 2017 Next- Generation Fibers: Changing Our Life), Session H: Natural Fibers and Biomimetic Polymers. Keynote Speech. Shanghai, China. October 8-10,
4. Xu, H.L., Palakurthi, M., Xu, L., and Yang*, Y.Q. Compression molded composites from waste polyester and cotton textiles. Session of Processing & Properties of Biobased Composites & Blends. 253rd ACS National Meeting & Exposition, San Francisco, CA, United States, April 2-6, 2017, CELL-309. (April 4, 1:55-2:20 pm).
5. Yang, Y.Q., Hou, X.L., Fang, F.F., Guo, X.L., Wizi, J., Ma, B.M., and Tao, Y.Y. Textiles Dyed with Sorghum Husks. The Nebraska Grain Sorghum Board Meeting. Board Room, Nebraska Innovation Campus, 2021 Transformation Drive, Lincoln, NE. November 14, 2017.
6. Yang, Y.Q. Future of Textiles. Junior and senior students from Marian High School. UNL. Nov. 7,
7. Yang, Q. Agricultural Byproducts for a Sustainable Textile Industry. Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, China, May 26, 2017.
8. Netravali, A. N., (Invited Research Seminar), Advanced Green Composites, Sukant Tripathy Memorial Symposium, December 1, 2017, Lowell,
9. Netravali, N., (Invited Presentation), Green Materials: From Sports Gear to Ballistic Application and From Housing to Nanofibers, American Society of Interior Designers (ASID), November, 3, 2017, Ithaca, NY.
10. Netravali, A. N., (Invited Research Seminar), Advanced Green Composites, Åbo Akademi University, August 10, 2017, Turku,
11. Netravali, A. N., (Invited Panel presentation), Hemp: From Textiles to Packaging & Composites to Housing, Hemp Summit, April 18, 2017, Ithaca,
12. Netravali, A. N., (Invited Research Seminar), Self-Healing Green Composites, Ohio State University, April 4, 2017, Wooster, OH
13. Netravali, A. N., (Invited Presentation), Green Composites for Architectural Applications, ‘Matter Design Computation: The Art of Building from Nano to Macro’ Symposium, Preston Thomas Lecture Series, January 10-11, 2017, AAP, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY
14. Netravali, A. N., (Plenary Address), ‘Advanced Green Composites’, 25th International Conference on Processing and Fabrication of Advanced Materials, January 22-25, 2017, Auckland, NEW 

Fact Sheet

1. Ghimire, D.G. Hayes, J. Cowan, D. Inglis, L.W. DeVetter, and C. Miles, 2017, Biodegradable Plastic Mulch and Suitability for Sustainable and Organic Agriculture", Washington State University Factsheet FS103E (2017-2093), in press.