{"689956":{"#nid":"689956","#data":{"type":"event","title":"PhD Proposal by Elnaz Jamshidi","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EElnaz Jamshidi\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003EAdvisor: Prof. Kyriaki Kalaitzidou\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003Ewill propose a doctoral thesis entitled,\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EStructural Insulated Panels with Adhesive-free Oriented Strand Boards and\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EBio-based Thermal Insulation Core\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EOn\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWednesday, May 13, 2026, at 10:00 a.m.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E4211 Conference Room MRDC\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003Eand\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EVirtually via MS Teams or Zoom\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ELink:\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/teams.microsoft.com\/meet\/283808438267064?p=W0aj0ooOXQb9FqlBGE\u0022\u003Ehttps:\/\/teams.microsoft.com\/meet\/283808438267064?p=W0aj0ooOXQb9FqlBGE\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMeeting ID: 283 808 438 267 064\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EPasscode: TE3Wn2LK\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ECommittee\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u2022 Prof. Kyriaki Kalaitzidou - School of Materials Science and Engineering (advisor)\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u2022 Prof. Valerie M. Thomas - H. Milton Stewart School of Industrial and Systems Engineering\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u2022 Prof. Karl Jacob - School of Materials Science and Engineering\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u2022 Prof. Carson Meredith - School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u2022 Dr. Robert J. Moon - USDA Forest Products Laboratory\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAbstract\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EStructural insulated panels (SIPs) are widely used in building applications because they provide an\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003Eefficient combination of structural support, low weight, and thermal insulation. Despite these\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003Eadvantages, conventional SIPs typically rely on petroleum-based foam cores and wood composites bonded with formaldehyde-based adhesives, which raise environmental and health concerns. The development of sustainable alternatives is therefore important for reducing dependence on fossil derived materials and improving the environmental profile of structural building components. This research addresses that need through the development of bio-based SIPs composed of adhesive-free oriented strand board (OSB) facings and renewable insulation core materials. A major focus of this thesis is the fabrication of adhesive-free OSB by activating native lignin in wood strands through an alkaline-hydrothermal treatment. The process involves NaOH soaking, autoclaving, and hot pressing, and is intended to promote interfacial bonding without the addition of synthetic resin. Preliminary studies have demonstrated the feasibility of this approach, with optimized processing conditions producing bonding strengths comparable to formaldehyde-bonded controls. Chemical and surface characterization further suggest the formation of a lignin-rich interphase, supporting the hypothesis that mobilized native lignin contributes to adhesive-free bonding. These findings establish a strong foundation for using treated wood strands as sustainable structural facings in SIP systems. In parallel, this research investigates bio-based insulation core materials derived from natural fibers and renewable binders, including lignin-based systems. Particular attention is given to the influence of composition, density, and processing conditions on thermal conductivity, porosity, moisture response, and mechanical integrity. Understanding these relationships is essential for identifying core materials that provide both effective insulation and sufficient structural compatibility with the panel facings. The optimized core materials will then be integrated with adhesive-free OSB facings to fabricate complete SIP structures. Overall, this work seeks to establish a pathway toward formaldehyde-free, high-performance structural panels derived from renewable resources and to contribute to the broader development of safer, more sustainable materials for the construction industry.\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EStructural Insulated Panels with Adhesive-free Oriented Strand Boards and\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EBio-based Thermal Insulation Core\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Structural Insulated Panels with Adhesive-free Oriented Strand Boards and Bio-based Thermal Insulation Core"}],"uid":"27707","created_gmt":"2026-04-23 11:55:57","changed_gmt":"2026-04-23 11:56:33","author":"Tatianna Richardson","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","field_event_time":{"event_time_start":"2026-05-13T10:00:00-04:00","event_time_end":"2026-05-13T12:00:00-04:00","event_time_end_last":"2026-05-13T12:00:00-04:00","gmt_time_start":"2026-05-13 14:00:00","gmt_time_end":"2026-05-13 16:00:00","gmt_time_end_last":"2026-05-13 16:00:00","rrule":null,"timezone":"America\/New_York"},"location":"4211 Conference Room MRDC and Virtually via MS Teams or Zoom","extras":[],"groups":[{"id":"221981","name":"Graduate Studies"}],"categories":[],"keywords":[{"id":"102851","name":"Phd proposal"}],"core_research_areas":[],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[{"id":"1788","name":"Other\/Miscellaneous"}],"invited_audience":[{"id":"78771","name":"Public"}],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}}}