Open Access
ARTICLE
William Eberts, Matthew T. Siniawski*, Timothy Burdiak, Nick Polito
Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.3, No.4, pp. 259-267, 2015, DOI:10.7569/JRM.2014.634137
Abstract Single-ply biocomposite laminates were fabricated with two different woven fabrics and a bio-based resin
using a wet layup technique at room temperature. A highly elastic, stockinette weave bamboo fiber fabric
and a thicker, inelastic plain weave bamboo fabric were both investigated. The elastic fabric was pre-strained
at 25% intervals, ranging from 0–100% of its original length. Samples made with E-Glass and S-Glass, two
common glass fiber reinforcements, were also fabricated using the bioresin as benchmarks. The ultimate
strength and modulus of elasticity characteristics of the composites were determined using the ASTM D3039/
D3039M-08 standard test method for determining the tensile… More >
Open Access
ARTICLE
Erythrina Stavila, Katja Loos*
Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.3, No.4, pp. 268-280, 2015, DOI:10.7569/JRM.2015.634102
Abstract The selective and specific features of enzymes have drawn an enormous amount of attention for use as
in-vitro catalysts in polymerization reactions. Various studies on the enzymatic synthesis of polyesters,
polycarbonates, polysaccharides, polypeptides, and polyamides have been performed and some have been
implemented on an industrial scale. Particularly in the synthesis of polyester and polyamides, lipases are
the most used enzymes as catalysts for their polymerization. Polyamides are considered to be one of the
largest engineering polymer families used in the automotive, electrical and electronics, and consumer goods
industries; thus the enzymatic synthesis of polyamides will have a tremendous impact… More >
Open Access
ARTICLE
Mario Alejandro Mejía Escobar*, Frankin Jaramillo*
Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.3, No.4, pp. 281-291, 2015, DOI:10.7569/JRM.2014.634142
Abstract In recent years, the development of new materials has contributed markedly to improving the efficiency of
dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). Mesoporous semiconductors, solid electrolyte, non-conventional catalysts
and synthetic dyes without ruthenium have been the focus of study. With respect to the last, lanthanides and
porphyrins have presented good properties, but these elements have the same disadvantage as rutheniumbased dyes; being complicated to synthesize and very expensive. These limitations have stimulated much
research in the use of natural dyes as sensitizers due to their exceptional photoelectochemical properties and
low cost. Furthermore, they are regarded as renewable and environmentally friendly materials. For… More >
Open Access
ARTICLE
M. Purushothaman1, P. Santhana Gopala Krishnan1,2,*, S. K. Nayak1,2
Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.3, No.4, pp. 292-301, 2015, DOI:10.7569/JRM.2015.634114
Abstract Four copolymers of poly(ethyl lactate acrylate-co-acrylic acid) were prepared by the solution polymerization
technique by varying the comonomer content from 0.2 to 0.8 mole percent. The copolymers were characterized
by FT-IR, 1H-NMR and proton decoupled 13C-NMR spectroscopic techniques. The reactivity ratio of ethyl
lactate acrylate (ELA) and acrylic acid (AA) was calculated using the Fineman-Ross method and the values
were found to be 0.101 and 0.186, respectively, indicating the formation of an alternating copolymer. From the
wide-angle X-ray diffraction studies (WAXD), the average molecular interchain spacing (
Open Access
ARTICLE
Mario Alejandro Mejía Escobar*, Franklin Jaramillo*
Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.3, No.4, pp. 302-317, 2015, DOI:10.7569/JRM.2014.634121
Abstract Energy alternatives have been one of the most important research focal areas of the last decade due to the
imminent lack of fossil fuels. This motivation has allowed the evolution of the materials science field in
areas such as electrochemistry, where high availability, low cost and negligible environmental impact are
the desired principal qualities. For this reason, as an example of a photoelectrochemical device, we have
proposed the use of natural dyes from 37 agro-industrial wastes in dye-sensitized solar cells. We obtained
dyes from red cabbage, radish and roselle wastes with a good stability for eight hours with a constant… More >
Open Access
ARTICLE
Yujie Zhang1, Marc A. Dubé1,*, Eduardo Vivaldo-Lima2
Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.3, No.4, pp. 318-326, 2015, DOI:10.7569/JRM.2015.634115
Abstract Renewable monomers containing allylic C-H bonds in their structure are prone to degradative chain
transfer in free-radical polymerization, which will dramatically decrease the polymerization rate. In order
to understand this mechanism, a kinetic model incorporating a degradative chain transfer mechanism for
the free-radical copolymerization of d-limonene (LIM) and n-butyl methacrylate (BMA) was developed
using PREDICI. Model predictions offered insight on how degradative chain transfer reactions affect
conversion, copolymer composition and molecular weight in the polymerization. Experimental data from
copolymerizations at monomer feed compositions (LIM/BMA, mol/mol) of 10/90, 20/80 and 30/70 were
compared to the model’s predictions. Moreover, it was discovered… More >