🚨 𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐩𝐚𝐩𝐞𝐫 𝐩𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐝!

✔️ This study presents an innovative approach for the development of 𝐡𝐢𝐠𝐡-𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐩𝐨𝐥𝐲𝐦𝐞𝐫 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐬 for construction applications, using 𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐞 (𝐏𝐢𝐧𝐮𝐬 𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫) modified through a two-step process combining 𝐥𝐨𝐰-𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐦𝐢𝐜𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 and 𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐲𝐥 𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐜𝐫𝐲𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐠𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧.

💠 The research investigates the influence of the combined MW + MMA treatment on 𝐩𝐨𝐥𝐲𝐦𝐞𝐫 𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐨𝐫𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧, 𝐰𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐲, 𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐢-𝐬𝐰𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐞𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐲, 𝐦𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞, 𝐝𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲, and 𝐦𝐢𝐜𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐦𝐨𝐝𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬.

🌲 The results show that microwave pre-treatment enhances wood permeability, facilitating MMA penetration and leading to improved polymer incorporation. This combined treatment significantly improves the dimensional stability, water repellency, and overall technological performance of maritime pine, highlighting its potential as a 𝐬𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐡𝐢𝐠𝐡-𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚𝐝𝐯𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐝 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬.

📖 Two-Step Modification of Maritime Pine via Microwave and Methyl Methacrylate Treatments to Develop High-Performance Wood Polymer Composites for Construction Applications
👨‍🔬 Fernando Júnior Resende Mascarenhas, André Luis Christoforo, Rogério Manuel Santos Simões, Alfredo Manuel Pereira Geraldes Dias, André Eduardo Palos Cunha and Francisco Antonio Rocco Lahr
📘 Polymers
🔗 buff.ly/DJIxD4i

#ISISE #SMCT #FP #ucoimbra #Dec #SerQ #Arise #WOODPOLYMERCOMPOSITES #microwavetreatment #methylmethacrylate #pinuspinaster #woodmodification #WoodScience #constructionmaterials #SustainableConstruction #MaterialInnovation #Durability #polymers ... See MoreSee Less

⏰ Final week to apply

The deadline to apply for the 15 PhD positions in REFFRACTEUR is approaching fast.

If you are interested in research on refractory materials, circularity, digitalisation, AI, and decarbonisation for Europe’s high-temperature industries, do not miss this opportunity.

📅 Application deadline: 8 June 2026

More information and application:
buff.ly/IcJbjbK

Please share with suitable candidates before the deadline.

#ISISE #HorizonEurope #MarieCurie #MSCA #DoctoralNetwork #ResearchJobs #PhD #PhDPositions #IndustrialPhD #Science #Materials #MaterialsScience #Ceramics #Refractories #Sustainability #Digitalisation #AI #IndustrialDoctorate #DigitalTwins #CircularEconomy #Decarbonisation ... See MoreSee Less

Open PhD position | REFFRACTEUR Doctoral Network

We are recruiting a Doctoral Candidate for PhD14: Physics-informed digital twins for design, monitoring and optimal operation of steel ladle refractories.

This PhD will focus on building a physics-informed digital twin that converts operational data into real-time, uncertainty-aware forecasts of ladle lining temperature, wear, and remaining useful life. The project will combine harmonised industrial data, explainable machine learning, reduced-order models, FEM-based physics, and web-based dashboard tools for monitoring and predictive maintenance.

The position is part of REFFRACTEUR, a European Industrial Doctoral Network training researchers at the interface of materials science, process engineering, digitalisation, and sustainability.

Main locations:
Stahl-Holding-Saar, Völklingen, Germany — 18 months
University of Minho, Guimarães, Portugal — 18 months

Profile: Materials Science, Engineering or similar background, strong analytical skills, interest in thermomechanical analysis, data-driven modelling, digital twins, and excellent English communication skills.

Apply by June 8th: buff.ly/oV0bZsc

Due to MSCA mobility rules, residents of Germany cannot apply for this specific position.

#PhDposition #DoctoralNetwork #MSCA #HorizonEurope #reffracteur #digitaltwin #machinelearning #PredictiveMaintenance #refractories #steelindustry #SustainableIndustry #universityofminho #SHS ... See MoreSee Less

Open PhD position | REFFRACTEUR Doctoral Network

We are recruiting a Doctoral Candidate for PhD11: Thermo-hygral-mechanical modelling and optimisation of dry-out and early-age behaviour in castable refractory linings.

This position will focus on the development and validation of THM-FEM models for the dry-out of castable ladle linings, comparing natural and accelerated schedules. The research will combine numerical modelling with experimental campaigns using embedded and surface sensing to track moisture transport, temperature, internal stresses, pore-pressure damage, creep, and early-age microcracking.

The PhD will be carried out within the European Industrial Doctoral Network REFFRACTEUR, focused on digital frameworks for resilient and carbon-neutral industry.

Main locations:
University of Minho, Guimarães, Portugal — 18 months
RHI Magnesita, Leoben, Austria — 18 months

Profile: Engineering or similar background, strong skills in constitutive modelling, multiphysics numerical modelling, programming, and excellent English communication skills.

Apply by June 8th: buff.ly/oV0bZsc

Due to MSCA mobility rules, residents of Portugal cannot apply for this specific position.

#ISISE #HMS #matich #sc #dice #PhDposition #DoctoralNetwork #MSCA #HorizonEurope #reffracteur #refractories #FEM #thermomechanicalmodelling #SustainableIndustry #universityofminho #rhimagnesita ... See MoreSee Less