Prof. Thanate Ratanawilai,
Prince of Songkla University, Thailand
Speech Title: Value-added Composites from Lignocellulose Resources in South
East Asia
Abstract: Lignocellulosic biomass—comprising cellulose,
hemicellulose, and lignin—is the world’s most abundant renewable raw material.
In Southeast Asia, the vast agricultural and forestry sectors generate large
quantities of lignocellulosic residues, including rubberwood flour, oil palm
sawdust, palm fronds, coconut shells, sugarcane bagasse, rice husks, and bamboo
fibers. These underutilized resources present a sustainable opportunity for the
development of value-added composite materials. By blending them with recycled
thermoplastics such as polypropylene, polyethylene, and polylactic acid,
eco-efficient composites can be produced with reduced environmental impact.
This presentation delves into recent progress in the design and manufacturing of
lignocellulosereinforced polymer composites, with a focus on optimizing material
formulations to improve mechanical strength, thermal stability, and resistance
to moisture. Emphasis is placed on surface modification techniques, the use of
compatibilizers, and hybrid filler systems to overcome challenges like poor
fiber-matrix adhesion and high water absorption—particularly critical in the
tropical climates of the region.
Case studies will illustrate real-world
applications in construction materials and consumer products, showcasing how
these composites can achieve both performance and sustainability targets. The
presentation concludes with an overview of current challenges and outlines
future research directions to advance and scale this promising materials
innovatio.
Biography: THANATE RATANAWILAI received the B.Eng. degree in industrial engineering from Prince of Songkla University, Thailand, in 1991. Since 1993, he has been with the Faculty of Engineering, Prince of Songkla University, Thailand. He received the M.Sc. degree in mechanical engineering from National University of Singapore, Singapore, in 1996, and the Ph.D. degree in mechanical engineering from University of Colorado, Boulder, U.S.A., in 2002. He is currently working as a full professor in industrial engineering. Dr. Thanate is a member of the Smart Industry Research Center and a former member of the Center of Excellence in Metal and Materials Engineering, Prince of Songkla University. His research interests are deeply focused on the mechanical and thermal properties of wood-plastic composites, as well as wood drying technology.
Assoc. Prof. Zili Wang
Zhejiang University, China
Biography: Zili Wang is currently an Associate Professor at the School of
Mechanical Engineering, Zhejiang University.His research interests include metal
tube forming, design and manufacturing of metal plastic forming
equipment,reliable prediction of product performance driven by intelligent
algorithms, multi-performance simulation analysis and optimization design,
digital-twin, etc. He has held or participated in 15 national research projects,
and published over 60 SCI papers in journals like Journal of Manufacturing
Systems, Robotics and
Computer-Integrated Manufacturing, Applied Soft
Computing, Advanced Engineering Informatics, Materials & Design, Expert Systems
with Applications, etc. He has been granted 2 US patents, 1 Japanese patent, and
over 30 Chinese invention patents. Dr. Wang is a young editor of Journal of
Intelligent Manufacturing and Special Equipment, and a reviewer for over 20
international journals. He has been selected as a 2023 Outstanding Reviewer for
Future Generations Computer Systems Journal and won a Gold Award at the
Nuremberg Global Invention Exhibition in Germany 2023.
Speech Title: Key Technologies
for the Design and Manufacturing of Complex Pipeline Systems Driven by New
Generation Artificial Intelligence
Abstract: The piping system is known as the
industrial blood vessel and is widely used in multiple fields. The design of a
piping system is the beginning of its entire lifecycle, and its design scheme is
directly related to the operational performance of the entire system during
service. Traditional pipeline system design schemes are often decoupled from
their manufacturing processes and do not design pipeline system schemes from the
perspective of manufacturability. To this end, an intelligent design method for
complex pipeline systems considering manufacturability has been proposed. By
utilizing next-generation artificial intelligence technology, we have connected
the design and manufacturing stages of pipeline systems. Furthermore, for more
complex equipment systems, we propose a new design scheme for free curve
pipelines with spatial G2 continuity. The feasibility of our proposed method has
been validated in multiple important scenarios. Our method opens a brand new
door for the design of complex system pipelines.
2024 Invited Speakers
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Prof. Osman Adiguzel |
Assoc. Prof. Zili Wang |