The integration of additive manufacturing (3D printing) in the biomedical sector required material to portray a holistic characteristic in terms of printability, biocompatibility, degradability, and mechanical properties. This research aims to evaluate the 3D printability and mechanical properties of polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) as additives in the urethane dimethacrylate (UDMA) based resin and its potential for medical applications. The printability of the PHB/UDMA resin blends was limited to 11 wt.% as it reached the maximum viscosity value at 2188 cP. Two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was also conducted to assess the significant effect of the varied PHB (wt.%) incorporation within UDMA resin, and the aging duration of 3D printed PHB/UDMA on mechanical properties in terms of tensile and impact properties. Meanwhile, the increasing crystallinity index (CI) of X-ray diffraction (XRD) in the 3D printed PHB/UDMA as the PHB loading increased, indicating that there is a strong correlation with the lower tensile and impact strength. FESEM images also proved that the agglomerations that occurred within the UDMA matrix had affected the mechanical performance of 3D printed PHB/UDMA. Nonetheless, the thermal stability of the 3D printed PHB/UDMA had only a slight deviation from the 3D printed UDMA since it had better thermal processability.

In this work, a plant-based resin gel polymer electrolyte (GPE) was prepared by stereolithography (SLA) 3D printing. Lithium perchlorate (LiClO4) with a concentration between 0 wt.% and 25 wt.% was added into the plant-based resin to observe its influence on electrical and structural characteristics. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis showed shifts in the carbonyl, ester, and amine groups, proving that complexation between the polymer and LiClO4 had occurred. GPEs with a 20 wt.% LiClO4 (S20) showed the highest room temperature conductivity of 3.05 × 10−3 S cm−1 due to the highest number of free ions as determined from FTIR deconvolution. The mobility of free ions in S20 electrolytes was also the highest due to greater micropore formation, as observed via field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) images. Transference number measurements suggest that ionic mobility plays a pivotal role in influencing the conductivity of S20 electrolytes. Based on this work, it can be concluded that the plant-based resin GPE with LiClO4 is suitable for future electrochemical applications.

Covid-19 pandemic is not only threatening public health, it also caused major decline in several other sectors when most countries in the world taking stringent containment measures to flatten the infection curve. But, it also led to the reduction in water and air pollutions that gives advantage to the environment. Since the transportation and industrial activities reduced dramatically, the emission of greenhouse gasses significantly reduced at the lowest rate. It allows the quality of air in the main cities getting better, while the natural environment could recover slowly. In addition, some animals are observed to get their natural life back and the environment including wildlife is having a recovery period and enjoyable time during this moment. However, it might not last very long, since another issue arise affecting environment again. The plastic pollution is reported to increase due to littered disposable mask and glove to the streets, escalators, drains, rivers, beaches and ocean. Littered surgical masks and medical gloves are clogging major waterways. At the same time, marine mammals such as seabirds and turtles are at risk of severe injuries and death as they mistakenly see the bright colours of latex gloves and masks as food to consume. Besides, the lockdown has almost negligible effect to climate crisis according to the recent studies since it has little impact to overall CO2 concentration in the atmosphere. At the meantime, rebound effect is expected to occur more significantly months after the lockdown order is lifted especially with large government investment to promote a rapid return to economic recovery. Therefore, while we are fighting the pandemic for the good of all people and the country, we should also put environmental care into our consideration. Islam teaches us several principles related to environment protection that comprise of the concept of guardianship on earth, preservation of environment, the mercy and manner towards animals and environment, recognition to other creatures and their contribution to humans, including a reminder from God to keep ecological sustainability through the concept of balance. The lesson from Islamic teachings is necessary especially during this recovery period from the pandemic. This chapter ended with list of policy recommendation on how to properly reset, restore and recover a nation in the post-lockdown period without the expense of environment.