Le Van Hai^1,2, Lindong Zhai¹, Hyun Chan Kim¹, Jung Woong Kim¹, Jaehwan Kim^1,*

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.7, No.7, pp. 621-629, 2019, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2019.06466

Abstract This paper reports green nanocomposites made by blending polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) with cellulose nanofiber (CNF) isolated from recycled deinked copy/printing paper (DIP). The reinforcement effect of DIPCNF in the nanocomposites is compared with other CNFs isolated from native cotton and hardwood by means of TEMPO-oxidation. The prepared PVA-CNF nanocomposites are characterized in terms of morphology, chemical interaction, structural, thermal and mechanical properties. X-ray diffraction and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy confirm the reinforcing ability of cellulose nanofibers into PVA. By blending CNFs into PVA matrix, the thermal stability of the nanocomposites is improved and DIPCNF shows More >

Abeer M. Adel¹, Amira M. El-Shafei², Atef A. Ibrahim¹, Mona T. Al-Shemy^1,*

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.7, No.6, pp. 567-582, 2019, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2019.00034

Abstract In this study, nanocrystalline celluloses were used to enhance physical, mechanical and water vapor barrier properties of chitosan films for potential food packaging applications. Two different mineral acids (sulfuric and phosphoric) were used to extract nanocrystalline cellulose from date palm sheath fibers. The influence of cellulose I and cellulose II on the properties of the isolated nanocrystalline celluloses (e.g., yield, energy and length of intra- and intermolecular hydrogen bonds, and degree of substitution) were studied too. The characteristics of chitosan biocomposite film with phosphorylated nanocrystalline cellulose were compared to those with sulfated nanocrystalline cellulose. Results More >

Antonio Pizzi*

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.7, No.5, pp. 477-492, 2019, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2019.06511

Abstract This review details the development of tannin-based biofoams for fire resistance and acoustic insulation and details the different varieties of these foams that have been developed, from tannin-furanic self-blowing foams to tannin-furanic polyurethanes and finally non-isocyanate tannin-based-carbohydrates polyurethanes (NIPU). More >

Nasir Javaid, Rida Batool, Nazia Jamil*

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.7, No.5, pp. 463-476, 2019, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2019.00023

Abstract A total of 5 biochemically characterized lipase positive bacterial strains were screened for Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) production by Nile blue staining and confirmation was done by Sudan Black B. PHA production ability for all strains was optimized followed by time profiling calculation and comparison via using glucose and two plant oils i.e., canola and mustard oil. Quantitative analysis showed that glucose can serve as a carbon source for maximum biomass (2.5 g/L CDW for strain 5) and PHA production (70.3% for strain 2). PHA produced by strain 2 was further analyzed for its chemical composition and… More >

Emanoele Maria Santos Chiromito¹, Eliane Trovatti², Antonio Jose Felix Carvalho^1,*

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.7, No.5, pp. 403-413, 2019, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2019.01846

Abstract Despite the great potential of cellulose wood pulp and cellulose nanofibrils as reinforcing filler in thermoplastics, its use is limited due to its tendency to form agglomerates and due to its high hydrophilic character. Here we describe fiberboard composites with high contents of wood pulp or cellulose nanofibrils, and a resin of poly (styrene-methyl-methacrylate-acrylic acid) used as water-based emulsion. Cellulose wood pulp and cellulose nanofibrils were used directly in the form of water suspensions. The method is based on the flocculation of the polymer emulsion followed by agglomeration of a mixture of the polymer emulsion… 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… More >

Fatima Ezzahra El Abbassi^1,*, Mustapha Assarar², Rezak Ayad², Hamid Sabhi², Stephane Buet², Nouzha Lamdouar³

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.7, No.3, pp. 253-267, 2019, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2019.01759 - 14 July 2021

Abstract This paper aims at studying the effect of recycling on the static and dynamic properties of short alfa fibre reinforced polypropylene. For this purpose, alfa fibres reinforced composites were elaborated by an injection moulding process and were subjected to different mechanical recycling cycles. Then, non-recycled and recycled materials were subjected to static tests and Dynamic Mechanical Analysis (DMA) to evaluate the effect of recycling on their behaviour. Besides, the effects of alkali and salt water treatments on the static and dynamic properties of the alfa composite were also investigated. The obtained results show that tensile More >

Larissa Stieven Montagna, Isabela CÉSAR Oyama, Rita de CÁSSIA Barbosa Camargo Lamparelli, Ana Paula Silva, THAÍS Larissa do Amaral Montanheiro, Ana Paula Lemes^*

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.7, No.2, pp. 117-128, 2019, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2019.00036

Abstract Biodegradable polymers have been increasingly used for scientific and commercial applications because they are similar to some conventional thermoplastics and exhibit the ability of self-degradation. Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) nanocomposites films with 1 and 2 wt% of carbon nanotubes (CNT) were prepared by solution mixing, followed by solvent evaporation. In this work, PHBV/CNT nanocomposites were submitted to biodegradation in an aqueous medium for 34 days through a respirometric system. Then, the PHBV films were analyzed by the CO2 production and mineralization as a response of a microbial attack, which was monitored by back titration during all the… More >

Samir Kamel^1,*, Ahmed A. Haroun², Amany M. El-Nahrawy³, Mohamed A. Diab¹

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.7, No.2, pp. 193-203, 2019, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2019.00144

Abstract In this work, conducting composites of nanocellulose (NC)/polypyrrole nanoparticles (NPPy) and silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), i.e., NC/NPPyAg, were synthesized for the first time, to the best of our knowledge, via in situ emulsion polymerization of pyrrole in the presence of surfactant dopants. The AgNPs acted as an oxidizing agent to simultaneously incorporate nanoparticles into the prepared composites. The structures and morphologies of the prepared composites were studied using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), UV-Vis Spectra, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and scanning and transmission electron microscopy (SEM and TEM) techniques. Additionally, the prepared composites were characterized More >

V. Subrahmanian^1,*, M. Albert Noble Einstien²

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.7, No.2, pp. 171-192, 2019, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2019.00090

Abstract Nowadays an alternate source of filler from renewable and plant derivatives are being thought of in rubber industries due to their reliability, environmental and economic benefits. Rice Husk Ash (RHA) a byproduct of the rice milling industry is obtained on partial and as well as full combustion of the rice husks. This ash is a good source of silica, silicates and needle shaped carbon and hence can be used as filler for cements. In the present study, a detailed investigation was carried out to understand the RHA as reinforcing material using mechanical properties and fractography… More >