Open Access
ARTICLE
Craig Clemons, Srikanth Pilla
Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.4, No.5, pp. 295-296, 2016, DOI:10.7569/JRM.2016.634133
Abstract Cellulose nanomaterials (CNs) are at the convergence
of nanotechnology and bio-sourced material trends
and are currently of considerable interest. CNs are
a new class of nano-scale, cellulose-based building
blocks extracted from trees and plants as well as certain
animals, bacteria, and algae. CNs are not a single
material type but a family of materials with different
characteristics, which largely result from differences in
source and preparation methodology. Here we focus
on plant- and tree-derived CNs. More >
Open Access
REVIEW
Ronald Sabo1*, Aleksey Yermakov2, Chiu Tai Law3, Rani Elhajjar4
Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.4, No.5, pp. 297-312, 2016, DOI:10.7569/JRM.2016.634114
Abstract Cellulose nanomaterials have a number of interesting and unique properties that make them well-suited for use in electronics applications such as energy harvesting devices, actuators and sensors. Cellulose nanofibrils and nanocrystals have good mechanical properties, high transparency, and low coefficient of thermal expansion, among other properties that facilitate both active and inactive roles in electronics and related devices. For example, these nanomaterials have been demonstrated to operate as substrates for flexible electronics and displays, to improve the efficiency of photovoltaics, to work as a component of magnetostrictive composites and to act as a suitable lithium ion battery separator membrane. A… More >
Open Access
REVIEW
Nicole M. Stark
Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.4, No.5, pp. 313-326, 2016, DOI:10.7569/JRM.2016.634115
Abstract Performance requirements for packaging films may include barrier properties, transparency, flexibility, and tensile strength. Conventional packaging materials, such as plastic films and laminates, are typically made from petroleum-based polymers. Currently, there is a drive to develop sustainable packaging materials. These alternative materials must be able to be manufactured economically and on a commercial scale, exhibit barrier properties and transparency, and provide adequate mechanical performance. As a biobased, renewable material, cellulose nanomaterials (CNs) are ideally suited to be used in sustainable packaging applications. CNs include cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) and cellulose nanofibrils (CNFs) and each can provide benefit to packaging films. Manufactured… More >
Open Access
ARTICLE
Craig Clemons
Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.4, No.5, pp. 327-339, 2016, DOI:10.7569/JRM.2016.634112
Abstract Continuous fibers are commonly manufactured for a wide variety of uses such as filters, textiles, and composites. For example, most fibrous reinforcements (e.g., carbon fiber, glass fiber) for advanced composites are continuous fibers or yarns, fabrics, and preforms made from them. This allows broad flexibility in design and manufacturing approaches by controlling fiber orientation and architecture. However, there has been growing interest in preparing continuous fibers from biobased materials such as plants. Of particular recent interest are nanocelluloses, which are projected to be less expensive than many other nanomaterials and have the potential to be produced in large volumes. They… More >
Open Access
ARTICLE
Jose Luis Orellana, Michael Mauhar, Christopher L. Kitchens*
Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.4, No.5, pp. 340-350, 2016, DOI:10.7569/JRM.2016.634126
Abstract Polylactic acid (PLA) is one of the most widely used biodegradable polymers due to the ability to synthesize it economically at industrial scale and its favorable properties for many consumer products. However, the rigid nature of PLA is not desirable for specific applications, requiring the incorporation of effective bioderived additives in order to enhance the PLA toughness and broaden applications. In this work, PLA was modified by graft polymerization of polyacrylic acid (PLA-g-PAA) to increase the hydrophilicity to promote compatibilization of cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) or high molecular polyethylene glycol (PEG). CNCs were found to act as a nucleating agent for… More >
Open Access
ARTICLE
Jithin Joy1,2,3, Cintil Jose3, Srirama B. Varanasi4, Lovely Mathew P.2,3, Sabu Thomas2, Srikanth Pilla1,5*
Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.4, No.5, pp. 351-364, 2016, DOI:10.7569/JRM.2016.634128
Abstract Isora nanofibers (INF) were produced by a combined thermal-chemical-mechanical method from Helicteres isora plant. The resulting fibers were analyzed using transmission electron microscopy and scanning electron microscopy, which showed a network-like structure with a length of 600 nm, width of 50 nm and an aspect ratio of 12. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy indicated that chemical treatments progressively removed noncellulosic constituents. X-ray diffraction analysis revealed that crystallinity increased with successive chemical treatments. Using the synthesized isora nanofibers, poly(butylene succinate) (PBS)-based biodegradable nanocomposites were prepared. The nanocomposites were processed using a Brabender twin-screw compounder and an injection molding machine. Effects of INF… More >
Open Access
ARTICLE
Mehdi Tajvidi1*, Douglas J. Gardner2, Douglas W. Bousfield3
Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.4, No.5, pp. 365-376, 2016, DOI:10.7569/JRM.2016.634103
Abstract A novel application of cellulose nanomaterials, particularly cellulose nanofibrils (CNF) as a binder in conventional and novel laminate and particulate composite systems is discussed. Using cellulose nanomaterials as a reinforcing agent in conventional polymer composites faces several difficulties: 1) there are no easy ways to dry the CNF and maintain nanoscale dimensions, 2) there are compatibility issues related to cellulose-polymer bonding, and 3) there are issues related to obtaining a good distribution and redispersion of nanoscale materials inside a polymer matrix. An alternative strategy is applications in which cellulose nanomaterials can be used in the aqueous suspension form without first… More >
Open Access
ARTICLE
Mingzhe Jiang1, S. Nicole DeMass1, D. Ross Economy2, Thomas Shackleton1, Christopher L. Kitchens1*
Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.4, No.5, pp. 377-387, 2016, DOI:10.7569/JRM.2016.634131
Abstract Spin coating was used to cast a uniform film of cellulose nanocrystals with low surface roughness and variable thickness as a function of operational parameters that include rotational speed and dispense suspension concentration. The film thickness was controllable from 40 nm up to 1 μm with surface roughness an order of magnitude less than blade-coating methods. The degree of radial orientation was qualitatively assessed and shown to be variable with processing parameters. Under specific processing conditions, the formation of striation patterns was observed and associated with film drying instability. The striation patterns are periodic in nature where the wavelength and… More >
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