Comparative Studies of Thermal Conductivity Determination in Synthetic Wood with Recyclable Waste Content Using an Experimental Design Approach

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

In this paper, the authors propose methods to determine the thermal conductivity of synthetic wood to guarantee and optimize its thermal characteristics. It is a well-written and well-organized paper. Some points should be included in the manuscript to improve the publication.

§  In figure 2, all the words in the Ishikawa diagram should be written in the English language.

§  The legend of the figure 3a (“Testarea zonelor de condens”) should be also translated into the English language.

§  The authors have to cross check the text and replace the word ‘simple’ with the word ‘sample’.

§  I believe that the figure 11 needs more details and explanations inside the text.

§  In addition, in the conclusions section the authors summarize the main points of their study. They should emphasize and analyse them in more detail. The authors should explain the obtained conclusions regarding the construction of synthetic wood.

§  The manuscript could be substantially improved by relying and citing more on recent literatures about real-life applications in different fields such as the followings:

o  Francesco Patania, Antonio Gagliano, Francesco Nocera, Antonio Agrifoglio, "An Applied “energy System” (ES) to Produce Energy by Wasted Biomass (Part One)," Design, Construction, Maintenance, vol. 2, pp. 74-83, 2022.

o  Hussein D. Al-Majali, Bilal H. Al-Majali, Ziyad S. Almajali, “Reduced Harmonics Generated and Reactive Volt-Ampere Absorption of HVDC Converter using By-Pass Switch”, WSEAS Transactions on Systems and Control, ISSN / E-ISSN: 1991-8763 / 2224-2856, Volume 15, 2020, Art. #23, pp. 218-227.

o  Patrizia Cinelli, Niccoletta Barbani, Sara Filippi, Giovanna Strangis, Marco Sandroni, Antonio Pratelli, Maria J Lopez, Pablo Barranco, Tomas Cabello, Patricia Castillo, Marie Aline Pierrard, Maurizia Seggiani, "Innovative Biotic Symbiosis for Plastic Biodegradation to Solve their End-of-Life Challenges in the Agriculture and Food Industries," WSEAS Transactions on Environment and Development, vol. 18, pp. 1276-1282, 2022.

Author Response

Dear reviewer,

You find in the attached file the response to your comments/suggestions

Thank you very much

 

 

Author Response File: Author Response.docx

Reviewer 2 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

Dear Editors and authors,

The research article titled "Comparative Studies on Thermal Conductivity Determination of Synthetic Wood with Various Recyclable Waste Content Using a Design of Experiment Approach" by Judele et al. delves into the characterization of thermal conductivity in recyclable waste. To explore this, the authors employ a design of experiments, complemented by thermal imaging and a controlled climate chamber for their investigation. However, there are some concerns in the presentation of the work that should be addressed to enhance its overall quality.

-The introduction section lacks a substantial literature review, making it difficult to discern the scientific gap and the novelty in this submitted research. While some mention of the novelty is made in the discussion (lines 226-236), the actual contribution of the work remains unclear.

-In the methodology section, some pictures of the equipment’s could be removed (thermovision camera, ISOMET, thermographic equipment, electron microscope…)

-The discussion section requires refinement prior to publication. I recommend that the authors expand and elaborate on the relevance of the results obtained to provide a more comprehensive and in-depth discussion.

-Please, ensure that all figures are adequately explained and that the results are compared with the existing literature.

-The entire document requires reorganization. For instance, section 3.5 should be relocated to the methodology section. Additionally, the conclusion needs to be rewritten.

-Kindly provide a comprehensive methodology to ensure precise replication of the work.

-In the conclusion section (lines 367-369), could the authors clarify the basis on which result of the presented work they assert that "Lignin acts as a thermoplastic adhesive, "melting" in the range of 180°C - 230°C and forming a strong binder, achieving an acceptable internal cohesion and it can partially or totally replace the urellit-type adhesive frequently used to obtain wood-type dervats.”

-Minor issues: Please review and rectify any typographical errors throughout the manuscript.

Author Response

Dear reviewer,

You find in the attached file the response to your comments/suggestions

Thank you very much

Author Response File: Author Response.docx

Reviewer 3 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

sustainability-2643073

 

title: Comparative studies for thermal conductivities determination of synthetic wood with various recyclable waste content using design of experiment approach.

 

The content provided in the manuscript requires significant revision and improvement. While the paper touches upon an important and potentially innovative topic related to the development of synthetic wood using recyclable materials and its thermal characteristics, there are several areas where clarification, expansion, and reorganization are necessary to enhance its quality and comprehensibility.

 

Comments:

1. How does the thermal conductivity of synthetic wood compare to that of natural wood, and what are the implications for its potential as a replacement material?
2. Can authors elaborate on the specific types and proportions of recyclable waste materials used in the synthesis of synthetic wood and their impact on its thermal characteristics?
3. What are the environmental benefits of using biomass waste in the production of synthetic wood, and how does it contribute to sustainability in construction and other industries?
4. Could authors explain the process of lignin acting as a thermoplastic adhesive in synthetic wood production, and how does it affect the material's properties, including thermal conductivity?
5. Are there any limitations or challenges associated with the incorporation of recyclable materials into synthetic wood, particularly concerning its thermal performance and structural integrity?
6. What are the potential applications of synthetic wood, considering its properties such as thermal conductivity, mechanical resistance, and resistance to water absorption?
7. Could authors provide insights into the cost-effectiveness of producing synthetic wood in comparison to traditional wood and other alternative materials for construction purposes?
8. How does the thermal conductivity of synthetic wood change with variations in material thickness, and how does this affect its suitability for insulation applications?
9. What are the long-term durability and aging characteristics of synthetic wood, especially regarding its thermal properties, when exposed to environmental factors?
10. Can authors explain the significance of using a finite element method for modeling heat transfer in synthetic wood, and how accurate is this numerical approach compared to experimental testing?
11. Are there any emerging technologies or innovations that can further enhance the thermal properties of synthetic wood or streamline its production process?
12. How does the use of infrared thermography contribute to the assessment of synthetic wood's structural integrity and thermal performance, and are there any specific challenges or limitations associated with this technique?
13. What are the implications of the variable thermal conductivity values obtained for different samples of synthetic wood in terms of its suitability for specific construction and insulation applications?
14. How does air humidity impact the thermal conductivity of synthetic wood, and what measures can be taken to mitigate potential fluctuations in its thermal performance under varying environmental conditions?
15. Could authors discuss the potential for scaling up the production of synthetic wood on an industrial level and its impact on waste reduction and resource conservation?
16. What is the role of porosity and density in determining the thermal conductivity of synthetic wood, and how do these characteristics vary with different combinations of recyclable materials?
17. Are there any regulatory or standardization considerations for synthetic wood materials, particularly regarding their thermal properties, that may affect their adoption in the construction industry?
18. How do the thermal characteristics of synthetic wood compare to other traditional insulating materials, and what advantages or disadvantages does it offer in terms of energy efficiency?
19. Can authors explain the significance of the temperature range (180°C - 230°C) at which lignin acts as a thermoplastic adhesive in synthetic wood production, and how does it impact the material's overall performance?
20. What future research or developments do authors envision for synthetic wood, especially in terms of expanding its range of applications and further optimizing its thermal and structural properties?

Author Response

Dear reviewer,

You find in the attached file the response to your comments/suggestions

Thank you very much

Author Response File: Author Response.docx

Round 2

Reviewer 1 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

The paper can be published in its present form.

Reviewer 2 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

Dear authors

I recommend the publication of the paper.

Reviewer 3 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

The manuscript titled "Comparative Studies for the Determination of Thermal Conductivity in Synthetic Wood with Varying Recyclable Waste Content Using a Design of Experiment Approach" has been thoroughly improved to address all the comments and suggestions received. I am delighted to confirm that the manuscript now meets the high standards necessary for publication. The revisions have substantially enhanced the manuscript's clarity, language, data presentation, statistical analysis, and overall organization, making it a valuable contribution to the field of material science. With its systematic approach and focus on thermal conductivity in synthetic wood with varying recyclable waste content, this work is poised to benefit researchers, professionals, and practitioners in the field, particularly those interested in sustainable materials and recycling practices. We wholeheartedly recommend the publication of this manuscript, confident that it will augment the existing body of scientific knowledge in this domain.