Malika Talantikite^1,*, Antoine Gourlay¹, Sophie Le Gall¹, Bernard Cathala¹

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.7, No.12, pp. 1381-1390, 2019, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2019.07838

Abstract Plant components are an inexhaustible source for the construction of bio-based materials. Here we report, for the first time, the elaboration of biobased cellulose nanocrystals (CNC)/xyloglucan (XG) hydrogels. XG is a hemicellulose displaying a great affinity for cellulose surface and can be thus irreversibly adsorbed on CNC. Properties of the hydrogels were investigated by varying the molar mass of XG either by enzymatic treatment with Endoglucanase (EG2) or physical fractionation by ultrasound (US). Fractions were characterised by high-performance size exclusion chromatography (HPSEC) and their monosacchari decompositions were determined. Three fractions with high, average and small molar mass, (800, 300 and… More >

Yan Wu^1,*, Xinyu Wu¹, Feng Yang^2,*, Li Xu¹, Meng Sun¹

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.7, No.11, pp. 1181-1195, 2019, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2019.07493

Abstract The cellulose nanocrystals/graphene composite aerogel (CGA) and polyvinyl alcohol/cellulose nanocrystals/graphene composite aerogel (PCGA) were prepared by suspension titration, tert-butanol solution replacement and freeze-drying successively. The removal rates of methyl blue (MB) from water by CGA and PCGA were evaluated and the effects of additions, adsorption time, reaction temperature and pH value of CGA and PCGA on MB removal rate were discussed. It was found that the optimal concentrations of both CGA and PCGA were 2 g∙L-1 in the adsorption reaction process and the adsorption equilibrium was reached within 120 min. The higher the initial pH value of MB solution is,… More >

Marcia Cristina Branciforti^1,*, Caroline Faria Bellani², Carolina Lipparelli Morelli², Alice Ferrand³, Nadia Benkirane-Jessel³, Rosario Elida Suman Bretas²

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.7, No.3, pp. 269-277, 2019, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2019.01833

Abstract Although nanocomposites have recently attracted special interest in the tissue engineering area, due to their potential to reinforce scaffolds for hard tissues applications, a number of variables must be set prior to any clinical application. This manuscript addresses the evaluation of thermo-mechanical properties and of cell proliferation of cellulose nanocrystals (CNC), poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT), poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) films and their bionanocomposites with 2 wt% of CNC obtained by casting technique. Cellulose nanocrystals extracted from Balsa wood by acid hydrolysis were used as a reinforcing phase in PBAT and PCL matrix films. The films and pure CNC at different concentrations were cultured… More >

Ingrid Souza Vieira da Silva¹, Natália Soares Prado¹, Patrícia Gontijo de Melo², Danilo Campion Arantes³, Mara Zeni Andrade⁴, Harumi Otaguro¹, Daniel Pasquini^1,*

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.7, No.1, pp. 73-87, 2019, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2019.00042

Abstract In this work, nine different types of edible coating based on pectin, cellulose nanocrystals, glycerol, and essential oil of lemongrass were prepared and used to coat strawberries with a film formed directly on the surface of the coated fruit. The effects of the different edible coatings on refrigerated fruits in terms of weight loss, titratable acidity, total soluble solids, pH, and anthocyanin content was evaluated after 2 days, 4 days, 6 days, and 8 days of storage. Application of the edible coatings reduced the weight loss of the coated strawberries and the anthocyanin content. The total soluble solids content of… More >

Ragab E. Abou-Zeid^1*, Mohamed A. Diab¹, Salah A. A. Mohamed², Ahmed Salama¹, Hind Abdullah Aljohani³, Kamel Rizq Shoueir⁴

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.6, No.4, pp. 394-401, 2018, DOI:10.7569/JRM.2017.634156

Abstract The current article addresses a new strategy for the preparation of polylactic acid/cellulose nanocrystal (PLA/CNCs) nanobiocomposite films with improved structural morphology, mechanical and barrier properties for food packaging applications. The addition of hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) and sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) as cationic and anionic surfactants respectively, was found to play a crucial role in preventing re-aggregation of the CNCs during drying and improving the dispersion of CNCs in the PLA. The coated paper was characterized using mechanical tests, water vapor permeability (WVP), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and air permeability. The results showed that the paper coated with… More >

Christophe Olivier^1,2, Jean Bruno Mougel^1,2, Patricia Bertoncini¹, Celine Moreau², Isabelle Capron², Bernard Cathala², Olivier Chauvet^1*

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.6, No.3, pp. 237-241, 2018, DOI:10.7569/JRM.2017.634168

Abstract Cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) have a high ability to disperse single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) in aqueous media and to form hybrids. These hybrids are used to grow layer-by-layer thin films of controlled thickness. Thanks to the presence of SWNTs, these films are conducting. In this article, we describe the process by which the CNC/SWNT hybrids are obtained and discuss the electrical properties of the hybrid-based layer-by-layer films. More >

Weijun Yang^1†, Xiaomin Zhao^2†, Elena Fortunati¹, Franco Dominici¹, Jose M. Kenny¹, Debora Puglia^1*, De-Yi Wang^2*

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.5, No.5, pp. 423-434, 2017, DOI:10.7569/JRM.2017.634146

Abstract Presented herein is a deep investigation of the fire, mechanical and thermal performances of poly(lactic acid) (PLA)-based nanocomposites, which were obtained by combining cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) with various contents of N,N’-diallyl-phenylphosphoricdiamide (P-AA) via a two-steps masterbatch melt extrusion process (glycidyl methacrylate grafting on PLA and CNC premixing with PLA). Results have shown that the value of the limiting oxygen index (LOI) increased to 28.8% and a V-0 rating in UL94 test was obtained when 2 wt% of P-AA was added in the presence of cellulose nanocrystals (3 wt%). The incorporation of CNC induced a decrease of both PHRR and THR… More >

F. Luzi¹, E. Fortunati^1*, A. Jiménez², D. Puglia¹, A. Chiralt², L. Torre¹

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.5, No.2, pp. 103-115, 2017, DOI:10.7569/JRM.2016.634135

Abstract Poly(lactic acid) (PLA) based nanocomposites reinforced with 1 wt% of surfactant-modified cellulose nanocrystals (s-CNC) extracted from Posidonia oceanica plant waste and zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) at different concentrations (0.1 and 0.5 wt%) were prepared by solvent casting process. Their thermal, morphological, optical, mechanical and water vapor permeability properties were investigated. Tensile testing showed increased values for strength and deformation at break in PLA based formulations reinforced with s-CNC and ZnO NPs as a consequence of better nanofiller dispersion compared to binary films reinforced only with ZnO NPs. Moreover, the effect of s-CNC and ZnO NPs provoked an improvement of… More >

Mingzhe Jiang¹, S. Nicole DeMass¹, D. Ross Economy², Thomas Shackleton¹, Christopher L. Kitchens^1*

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 >

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 >