Jie Wang¹, Tong-Yi Zhang¹

The International Conference on Computational & Experimental Engineering and Sciences, Vol.3, No.1, pp. 1-8, 2007, DOI:10.3970/icces.2007.003.001

Abstract Two-dimensional phase field simulations of stress-free ferroelectric nanoparticles with different long-range (LR) electrostatic interactions are conducted based on the time-dependent Ginzburg-Landau equation. Polarization patterns and the toroidal moment of polarization are found to be dependent on the LR electrostatic interaction and the size of the simulated nanoparticle. Phase field simulations exhibit vortex patterns with purely toroidal moments of polarization and negligible macroscopic polarization in the stress-free ferroelectric nanoparticles when the LR electrostatic interaction is fully taken into account. However, a single-domain structure without any toroidal moment of polarization is formed in small particles if the LR electrostatic interaction is completed… More >

Yingchun Gong^1,#,*, Fenglu Liu^2,#, Zhaopeng Tian¹, Guofang Wu¹, Haiqing Ren¹, Cheng Guan²

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.7, No.10, pp. 941-956, 2019, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2019.07354

Abstract Japanese larch is one of the main plantation tree species in China. A lack of engineered wood products made by Japanese larch , limits its application in wood structures. In this study, based on optimum process para meters, such as pressure (1.2 MPa), adhesive spread rate (200 g/m 2 ) and adhesive (one component polyurethane), the mechanical properties of Japanese larch made cross laminated timber ( with different lay ups were evaluated by means of the static method . Results of this study show ed that variations in lay ups significant ly affected the mechanical properties of CLT. The strength… More >

Antonio Greco*, Francesca Ferrari, Raffaella Striani, Carola Esposito Corcione

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.7, No.10, pp. 1023-1035, 2019, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2019.07778

Abstract This work is aimed at the development of new green composite materials through the incorporation of the solid organic waste (SOW) in a thermoplastic matrix. After being ground, the organic waste was exposed to a sterilization process, though an autoclave cycle, in order to obtain a complete removal of the bacterial activity. The SOW was found to have a high amount of water, about 65-70%, which made uneconomical its further treatment to reduce the water amount. Therefore, a water soluble polymer, poly (vinyl alcohol) (PVA) was chosen in order to produce SOW based blends. However, in order to reduce the… More >

Yin Yang¹, Xiaoyan Cao¹, Zhiqiang Wang^1,*, Zhijun Liang¹, Jianhui Zhou^2,*

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.7, No.10, pp. 957-965, 2019, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2019.07558

Abstract The out-of-plane shear properties of cross-laminated timber (CLT) substantially influence the overall mechanical properties of CLT. Various testing methods and theories related to these properties have recently been developed. The effects of the number of layers (three and five layers) and testing method (short-span three- and four-point bending tests) on the out-of-plane shear properties of CLT were evaluated. The out-of-plane shear strength values were calculated based on different theories for comparison. The failure mode in the short-span four-point bending (FPB) method was mainly the rolling shear (RS) failure in the cross layers, indicating that the FPB method was appropriate to… More >

Wajdi Zouari^1,*, Mustapha Assarar¹, Abderrazak Chilali², Rezak Ayad¹, Hocine Kebir³

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.7, No.9, pp. 839-853, 2019, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2019.06773

Abstract This contribution deals with the development of a three-node triangular plane finite element to analyze the transient hygroscopic behavior of 2/2 twill flax fabric-reinforced epoxy composite. Several plates of this material were fabricated using the vacuum infusion process and composite specimens were then cut and aged in tap water at room temperature until saturation. To simplify, a plane modelling of water diffusion in the aged specimens is adopted and Fick’s model is used to describe the water diffusion kinetics. To highlight the heterogeneity of the flax-epoxy samples, the twill flax fabrics waviness is modelled with a sinusoidal undulation. In particular,… More >

Gustavo P. Petrechen^1,4,*, Marcos Arduin³, José D. Ambrósio^1,2

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.7, No.7, pp. 683-692, 2019, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2019.04588

Abstract This article presents the overall morphological structure of the Brazil nut tree (Bertholletia excelsa) fruit pericarp, from macro to nano scale. The acquired knowledge would be used for the development of new applications, like using the materials as fillers for biocomposites, or as a hierarchical architecture model for biomimetics. This research was performed using stereo and light microscopy and conventional and force field emission scanning electron microscopy. The pericarp presents three layers: the exocarp, a dark gray, brittle and fragile outer layer; the mesocarp, a beige, dry, rigid, impermeable and fibrous intermediate layer; and the endocarp, an inner layer with… More >

Daniel Cônsoli Silveira^1,*, Tiago Teixeira da Silva Braga¹, Daniel Molina Gil¹, Newton Adriano dos Santos Gomes², Lilia Müller Guerrini³, Edson Cocchieri Botelho¹

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.7, No.3, pp. 279-287, 2019, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2019.01834

Abstract This study investigated and defined the optimal processing parameters for the electrospinning of polysulfone polymer solutions with N,N-dimethylacetamide. Variation of parameters such as solute concentration, electrical voltage, and working distance were correlated with the quality of the obtained nanofibers using morphological characterization via scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Carbonyl iron additive was dispersed in the polymer solutions, using ultrasonic tip, and the material processed via electrospinning with aforementioned parameters defined. Nanofibers with the property of interaction with electromagnetic waves were obtained. The dispersion of different concentrations of the additive and electromagnetic characterizations in the X-band of microwaves (8.2 and 12.4 GHz),… More >

E. M. Ciannamea^1,*, L. A. Castillo^2,3, R. A. Ruseckaite¹, S. E. Barbosa^2,3

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.7, No.1, pp. 21-30, 2019, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2019.00043

Abstract Blends of gelatin (Ge) plasticized with varying amounts of glycerol (Gly), buffer solution pH 10 and epoxidized soybean oil (ESO) to enhance hydrophobicity were prepared by mixing and injection-molding. Blends were characterized by rheological tests and microscopy to select optimal conditions for scaling up their processing. The effect of each component on rheological response was analyzed using parallel plate geometry. Coating of gelatin specimens with PDMS during rheological tests led to reliable and reproducible results since water evaporation was prevented. A gradual increment in ESO concentration led to blends with increased degree of phase separation, as evidenced by optical and… More >

Nadezhda Petkova^1,*, Gergana Gencheva¹, Dragomir Vassilev², Milena Koleva², Albert Krastanov³, Panteley Denev¹

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.6, No.7, pp. 671-679, 2018, DOI:10.32604/JRM.2018.00001

Abstract Jerusalem artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus L.) tubers are industrial crop considered as a promising source for inulin production. “Green” method was performed for accelerated inulin extraction from Helianthus tuberosus L. tubers by the application of microwave irradiation. Further pretreatment of the water extract with acetone and ethanol yielded inulin (20%) with purity 89% and degree of polymerization 18. Jerusalem artichoke inulin was characterized by FTIR and NMR spectroscopy. For the first time eco-friendly synthesis of acetylated Jerusalem artichoke inulin was performed by the reaction with acetic anhydride, without toxic solvent, but only with sodium acetate as catalyst under microwave irradiation for… More >

Dan-Thuy Van-Pham^1,*, Minh Tri Nguyen¹, Chanh-Nghiem Nguyen², Thi Truc Duyen Le¹, Thi Yen Nhu Pham¹, Khai Thinh Nguyen², Yukihiro Nishikawa³, Qui Tran-Cong-Miyata³

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.6, No.6, pp. 662-670, 2018, DOI:10.7569/JRM.2018.634107

Abstract The mechanical properties of unidirectional natural fiber-reinforced composites are generally affected by several processing parameters during compression molding. This study investigates the effects of processing temperature, time, and pressure on the tensile and flexural properties of acrylonitrile butadiene styrene reinforced by banana fibers. X-ray CT imaging was employed to find the relationship between the mechanical properties and structure of the processed composite. Besides, the water absorption of composites was observed and the way in which the mechanical properties evolved after water absorption was analyzed. The tensile and flexural properties of the unidirectional banana fiber-reinforced composite were found to be inversely… More >