Home / Journals / JRM / Vol.4, No.3, 2016
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  • Open AccessOpen Access

    EDITORIAL

    Editorial

    Alfonso Jiménez, Arantxa Eceiza, José M. Kenny
    Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.4, No.3, pp. 163-164, 2016, DOI:10.7569/JRM.2016.634118
    Abstract The articles included in this Special Issue of the Journal of Renewable Materials are a selection of those presented at the 5th International Conference on Biobased and Biodegradable Polymers (BIOPOL-2015) that was held in Donostia-San Sebastián, Spain, in October 2015. More >

  • Open AccessOpen Access

    ARTICLE

    Valorization of Agricultural Wastes for the Production of Protein-Based Biopolymers

    Nuria Burgos, Arantzazu Valdés, Alfonso Jiménez*
    Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.4, No.3, pp. 165-177, 2016, DOI:10.7569/JRM.2016.634108
    Abstract In this study we provide an overview of the latest developments on the extraction, production, modification and applications of fruit residues and by-products in the formation of protein-based biopolymers, in particular for the formulation of edible films. Our aim was mainly to demonstrate the highly transdisciplinary character of these topics by giving an overview of the main developments and research topics in the chemistry and engineering aspects of protein-based biopolymers. These innovative raw materials have been evaluated for the production of biomaterials to be used in some key sectors, such as food packaging. More >

  • Open AccessOpen Access

    ARTICLE

    Synthesis and Thermal Characterization of Polyurethanes Obtained from Cottonseed and Corn Oil-Based Polyols

    Karina Cruz-Aldaco1, Erika Flores-Loyola2, Cristóbal Noé Aguilar-González1, Nuria Burgos3, Alfonso Jiménez3*
    Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.4, No.3, pp. 178-184, 2016, DOI:10.7569/JRM.2016.634107
    Abstract The use of vegetable oils to replace fossil feedstock has become an area of opportunity and a priority for study in the field of polymer science. Vegetable oils are considered as renewable resources with high potential, low cost and full availability. The aim of this study is the synthesis of biobased polyols from cottonseed oil (Gossypium barbadanse) and corn oil (Zea mays) as feedstock. Their synthesis was successfully performed, as can be concluded from the determination of their hydroxyl index as well as the structural and thermal characterization carried out in this work. Polyurethanes from biobased polyols were synthesized with… More >

  • Open AccessOpen Access

    ARTICLE

    Modulation of Acid Hydrolysis Reaction Time for the Extraction of Cellulose Nanocrystals from Posidonia oceanica Leaves

    F. Luzi, E. Fortunati*, D. Puglia, R. Petrucci, J.M. Kenny, L. Torre
    Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.4, No.3, pp. 190-198, 2016, DOI:10.7569/JRM.2015.634134
    Abstract In this research, the revalorization of Posidonia oceanica leaf sea waste was studied and the acid hydrolysis processing times were modulated in order to optimize the extraction of cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs). The obtained CNCs were deeply investigated. A two-step treatment was applied to extract cellulose nanocrystals from Posidonia oceanica leaves. First, a chemical treatment leads to the removal of lignin and production of holocellulose, while the second chemical process of acid hydrolysis allows the obtainment of cellulose nanocrystals in aqueous suspension. The unbleached and bleached leaves and cellulose nanocrystals were characterized by using thermogravimetric analysis, infrared spectroscopy and morphological investigation;… More >

  • Open AccessOpen Access

    ARTICLE

    Tensile, Thermal and Morphological Characterization of Cocoa Bean Shells (CBS)/Polycaprolactone-Based Composites

    D. Puglia1*, F. Dominici1, M. Badalotti2, C. Santulli3, J.M. Kenny1
    Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.4, No.3, pp. 199-205, 2016, DOI:10.7569/JRM.2016.634102
    Abstract In this work, cocoa bean shells (CBS), which were ground, then sieved to less than 150 μm and dried in a vacuum oven, have been introduced in a polycaprolactone (PCL) matrix in three different amounts, 10, 20 and 30% wt. The obtained composites were tested under tensile loading, which indicated an enhanced rigidity with a slight decrease of strength with respect to the neat polymer and a reduced elongation, particularly evident for composites with 30 wt% CBS, where final collapse took place for strains only slightly exceeding the yielding point. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) indicated a rather negligible variation of… More >

  • Open AccessOpen Access

    ARTICLE

    Physicochemical and Mechanical Properties of Gelatin Reinforced with Nanocellulose and Montmorillonite

    Mercedes Echegaray1, Gurutz Mondragon1, Loli Martin2, Alba González3, Cristina Peña-Rodriguez1, Aitor Arbelaiz1*
    Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.4, No.3, pp. 206-214, 2016, DOI:10.7569/JRM.2016.634106
    Abstract Organic rodlike cellulose nanocrystals extracted from sisal fibers and inorganic montmorillonite based on silicate layers were employed to develop bionanocomposites based on gelatin matrix. Bionanocomposites with cellulose nanocrystal, montmorillonite and both nanoreinforcements combined were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis and differential scanning calorimetry. Tensile properties and oxygen and water vapor gas permeability values were determined to study the influence of the addition of nanoreinforcements, different in nature, to gelatin matrix. Bionanocomposites with montmorillonite improved tensile strength but systems reinforced with nanocellulose showed lower tensile strength than neat gelatin ones. Oxygen gas permeability values decreased for all bionanocomposites,… More >

  • Open AccessOpen Access

    ARTICLE

    Properties of Woven Natural Fiber-Reinforced Biocomposites

    Arunjunairaj Mahendran1*, Günter Wuzella1, Thomas Hardt-Stremayr1, Wolfgang Gindl-Altmutter2
    Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.4, No.3, pp. 215-224, 2016, DOI:10.7569/JRM.2016.634110
    Abstract Woven natural fiber-reinforced composites were fabricated using four different flax fabrics and two biobased epoxy resin matrices. The reinforced composites were prepared using resin infusion technique and fiber volume fractions of between 28–35% were achieved using this method. The fiber matrix interaction and the failure mechanism in the composite were observed using scanning electron microscopy. The flexural strength and modulus on the warp and weft directions were characterized and it was found that based on yarn count and yarn thickness change in the flexural strength was observed. Dynamic water absorption and thickness swelling were observed for a certain period of… More >

  • Open AccessOpen Access

    ARTICLE

    New Renewable and Biodegradable Fiberboards from a Coriander Press Cake

    Evelien Uitterhaegen1,2, Quang Hung Nguyen1,2, Othmane Merah1,2, Christian V. Stevens3, Thierry Talou1,2, Luc Rigal1,2, Philippe Evon1,2*
    Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.4, No.3, pp. 225-238, 2016, DOI:10.7569/JRM.2015.634120
    Abstract New fiberboards were manufactured from a coriander cake through thermo-pressing, and the influence of thermo-pressing conditions (temperature, pressure and time) on the boards’ mechanical properties, their thickness swelling and their water absorption was evaluated. Because the protein glass transition systematically occurred during molding, this resulted in effective wetting of the fibers. Consequently, all boards were cohesive, with proteins and fibers acting as binder and reinforcing fillers, respectively. Flexural properties were influenced by all tested conditions, and the optimal board was molded at 200 °C temperature, 36.8 MPa pressure and 180 s time. Its flexural strength at break and its elastic… More >

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