Scope of Workshop

In recent years, ecological awareness brings reuse and recycle of products, environmental protection and saving of energy. The number of studies and practical applications on materials recyclability is being increased, as seen in the various uses of green materials and recycles of petroleum-based materials. Natural fibers are not only light weight and strong, but also abundantly available and eco-friendly. Many companies, for instance, TOYOTA and Daimler-Chrysler, make great efforts to apply natural fibers, such as kenaf, sisal and flax, for part elements of products in place of synthetic fibers. Composites reinforced with natural fibers, i.e. “Green Composites”, have thus enhanced biodegradability, combustibility, non toxicity, decreased environmental pollution, light weight, low cost, ease of recyclability and so on. Therefore, it is expected that green composites should effectively be used in the coming sustainable society.

From the background mentioned above, the JSMS (The Society of Materials Science, Japan) Committee on Composite Materials held in the past the First IWGC (International Workshop on Green Composites) in 2002 at Tokushima, Japan, the Second IWGC in 2004 at Yamaguchi, the Third IWGC in 2005 at Kyoto, and the Fourth IWGC in 2006 at Tokyo. We had large number of presentations and participants in the workshops, as shown in the figure below. We are thinking that the IWGCs had taken the initiative in research field on green materials with various properties, and more necessity for the development of green composites is raised among related researchers and engineers of the world wide. With the aim of extending green composites further, the JSME Committee on Composite Materials decided to hold the Fifth International Workshop on Green Composites on 8th and 9th August, 2008 at Fukushima, Japan.

Change in number of presentations and participants