The main goal of the dissertation is to suggest several types of bio-based composites, notably particleboards, made from alternative materials (bio-waste, waste, plants´ residues) as an alternative to the currently produced wooden particleboards. The thesis provides a review and synthesis of the state-of-the-art literature. In the first part the literature is summarized and basic economical and ecological aspects of wood replacements for particleboards by using alternative materials are discussed. Further, mechanical properties data of suggested alternative particleboards are compiled, to give state-of-art insights in alternative particleboards developments. In the state-of-art, the compiled literature data are analysed through Ashby plots and give suggestions on what particleboards properties should be optimized. This evauationhave also proved that particleboards made from plants stalks, wood prunings and other wastes eg. waste tea leaves, peanut hulls, walnut shells could be economically viable alternative for the industry. The second part of this dissertation is concerned with designing and developing particleboards from the alternative resources available in Central Europe: (1) In total, 16 types of particleboards were produced from stalks coming from cup plants, Miscanthus, sunflower and topinambour. These particleboards are specified by standard mechanical tests and the effects of resin content and resin type were studied. Also chemical analysis were performed to determine the cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin contents. Structure of the Miscanthus particleboard were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). (2) Particleboards were also made and evaluated with different wastes. Particleboard made from BSG (Brewer´s spent grain) were characterized by their mechanical properties, chemical comosition and microscopic structure (SEM). Further, polyethylene terephtalate (PET) waste was added to wooden particleboards. Here, in addition to mechanical properties also microscopic structure and bond failures were analysed using SEM, with air-plasma treated PET particles studied by chemiluminescence and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) for their altered surface chemistry. The final section presents eight particleboard types made from recovered painted wood, as reclaimed from window frames. The effect of painted particles on the physical and mechanical properties were evaluated. With respect to possible applications the most important finding is that all particleboards from plants stalks fulfilled minimal requirements of class P1 in EN 312, which is for general purposes in dry conditions. Furthermore, a three-layer particleboard with spruce surface layers, and a core-layer made from cup-plant would provide a regular appearance of the panel surfaces. Particleboards having 10 % BSG also fulfilled the P1 requirements of EN 312. The particle-particle bonding was found to be a weak point in a entire internal bonding systém. To improve internal bonding experiments with plasma-treated beech wood particles bonded by PVAc was performed. Results have shown a significant improvment of internal bonding due to the plasma treatment. Consequently, the identical plasma treatment was applied to PET particles, which were mixed with wood in the particleboards. Bonding was here improved as well, with the IB higher compared to the untreated control. It was shown that plasma treatment has potential to compensate for declined IB of particleboards using alternative sources. In final part of this thesis, particleboards from reclaimed wood from painted window frames were produced. Results have shown that particleboards using painted-reclaimed wood as well as cleaned reclaimed wood deliver a performance comparable with regular wooden particleboards, as well as reduced thickness swelling.

Dizertační práce se zabývala syntézou a studiem kompozitních materiálů pro potenciální lékařské využití. Teoretická část je zaměřena na biomateriály, zejména na kompozity složené z polyvinylalkoholu a hydroxyapatitu(PVA/HA). Byly připraveny kompozitní membrány složené z polyvinylalkoholu s různým hmotnostním zastoupením hydroxyapatitu - 0%, 10%, 20%, 30%, 40% a 50%. Hydroxyapatit (HA) byl připraven srážecí metodou z hydrogenfosforečnanu amonného a tetrahydrátu dusičnanu vápenatého ve vodném alkalickém prostředí. Vzniklá suspenze se smísila s roztokem polyvinylalkoholu, který byl připraven rozpuštěním ve vodě o teplotě 85° C. Jednotlivé směsi byly odlity do formy a sušeny po dobu 7 dní při teplotě 30 ° C, vzniklé 0,5 mm tenké membrány byly analyzovány ATR-FTIR spektroskopií k identifikaci funkčních skupin v kompozitu, dále byla provedena XRD analýza. Zkouška tahem a TGA měření byly realizovány k určení vlivu HA na mechanické vlastnosti, respektive změnu tepelné odolnosti kompozitů ve srovnání s čistým PVA. Byla provedena zkouška bioaktivity v simulovaném krevním roztoku (SBF) po dobu 2h, 7 a 28 dnů. SEM byla použita k charakterizaci povrchové mikrostruktury biocompositních membrán před a po ponoření do SBF. Na povrchu testovaných membrán vznikla vrstva apatitu, která je charakteristická pro bioaktivní materiály. Bylo zjištěno, že s rostoucím množstvím HA částic docházelo ke vzniku aglomerátů v kompozitu, které vznikly mimo jiné jako důsledek růstu krystalů HA během sušení membrán. Bioaktivita rostla s delším působením SBF na vzorky.

The aim of this Master’s thesis is to investigate the preparation and structure of nanofibres of inorganic and organic biomaterials. Nanofibres of polycaprolactone, chitosane and their composites with hydroxyapatite particle were prepared by centrifugal force spinning process, which uses centrifugal forces for nanofibres spinning. Designed nanofibres can be used in bone tissue engineering. Experimental activity has started with synthesis of hydroxyapatite nanoparticles and preparation of polymer solutions and composite suspensions at different concentrations. The solutions and the suspensions were characterized by density and viscosity which were changed in dependence on temperature and polymer concentration. The solutions and the suspensions were spun at varying speeds and using two different sizes of collectors. The dependence of spinneret head revolution speed, size of collectors and polymer concentration on nanofibres diameter was studied. Biological activity of polycaprolactone and hydroxyapatite/polycaprolactone nanofibres was tested by means of SBF.