Xu Yan¹, Changheng Liu², Liang Qiao¹, Kaili Zhu², Hongsheng Tan^1,*, Shuhua Dong¹, Zhitao Lin¹

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.10, No.4, pp. 1039-1048, 2022, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2022.017239

Abstract The crystallization behavior, crystal morphology and form, and viscoelastic behavior of poly(butylene succinate) (PBS) and coir fiber/PBS composites (CPB) were investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), polarized optical microscopy (POM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA). The results of DSC measurement show that the crystallization temperature increases with the filling of coir fibers. POM images reveal that the spherulitic size and crystallization behavior of PBS are influenced by the coir fibers in the composites. XRD curves show that the crystal form of pure PBS and CPB are remaining almost identical. In addition, the storage modulus of CPB significantly… More >

Sudhakar Muniyasamy^1,2,*, Asis Patnaik^3,*

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.9, No.10, pp. 1661-1671, 2021, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2021.014904

Abstract Present study deals with the biodegradable behavior of individual components and their preforms of nonwoven biocomposites developed from waste wool fibers including coring wool (CW), dorper wool (DW) and recycled polyester fibers (RPET). A respirometric technique was employed to estimate the production of CO₂ during the biodegradation experiments under soil and aqueous media conditions. Functional groups of test samples before and after biodegradation were analyzed using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Leaching chemicals such as formaldehyde (hydrolyzed) and Chromium VI (Cr VI) was also measured. The CO₂ emission in wool fibers CW and DW indicated 90% and 60% biodegradation in… More >

Zinta Zimele^1,*, Ilze Irbe², Juris Grinins², Oskars Bikovens², Anrijs Verovkins², Diana Bajare¹

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.8, No.9, pp. 1067-1076, 2020, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2020.09646

Abstract Novel mycelium-based biocomposites (MBB) were obtained from local agricultural (hemp shives) and forestry (wood chips) by-products which were bounded together with natural growth of fungal mycelium. As a result, hemp mycocomposites (HMC) and wood mycocomposites (WMC) were manufactured. Mechanical, water absorption and biodegradation properties of MBB were investigated. MBB were characterized also by ash content and elemental composition. The results of MBB were compared with the reference materials such as the commercial MBB material manufactured by Ecovative^® Design (EV), hemp magnesium oxychloride concrete (HC) and cemented wood wool panel (CW), manufactured by CEWOOD^®. The mechanical properties of HMC and WMC… More >

Shanshan Huo, Chad A. Ulven^*

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.5, Suppl.1, pp. 106-116, 2017, DOI:10.7569/JRM.2017.634136

Abstract The development of flax fiber reinforced polymer composites with improved properties has been increasingly studied by many researchers because of their sustainability. However, the effects of thermal residual stresses on the interfacial properties of flax composites have not been evaluated or very well understood. In this study, the thermal properties of flax, vinyl ester matrices and their composites were accessed by different techniques, including thermomechanical analyzer, dynamic mechanical analyzer, and X-ray diffraction combined with aluminum particles. The effects of thermal properties of flax fibers and vinyl ester resin systems on the mechanical properties of their biocomposites were studied. The theory… More >

Atikur Rahman^1,3, Chad A. Ulven², Maren A. Johnson¹, Cheyenne Durant¹, Khwaja G. Hossain^*,1

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.5, Suppl.1, pp. 62-73, 2017, DOI:10.7569/JRM.2017.634133

Abstract Wheat bran, abundant but underutilized, was investigated for its potential as a reinforcement in biocomposites through different pretreatment methods. Pretreatment methods included were dilute sodium hydroxide (NaOH), dilute sulfuric acid (H₂SO₄), liquid hot water (LHW), calcium hydroxide (CaOH), organosolv such as aqueous ethanol (EtOH), and methyl isobutyl ketone (MIBK). Changes in chemical composition and fiber characteristics of the treated bran were studied using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Cellulose content increased to 35.1% and 29.6% in brans treated with H₂SO₄ and NaOH, respectively. The SEM micrographs showed surface cleaning of treated bran while maintaining sufficient… More >

T. Dipin¹, T. V. Jinitha¹, E. Purushothaman^1,*

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.7, No.11, pp. 1109-1119, 2019, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2019.07636

Abstract The present work mainly focuses on the estimation of various components and the extraction of microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) from non- wood sources like Country Almond/Badam shell through acid hydrolysis. This hydrolyzed MCC was successfully used as reinforcement for development of biocomposites. Country Almond/Badam trees are found all over Kerala, India and they give nuts once in a year. Usually the nut shells are discarded and are becoming one of the sources of agricultural waste. During this investigation various components were isolated from the Country Almond shells and they were characterised using different spectral and analytical techniques thereby the composition of… More >

María G. Passaretti^1,2,*, Mario D. Ninago^3,4, Cecilia I. Paulo⁵, Horacio A. Petit⁵, Edgardo F. Irassarc⁵, Daniel A. Vega⁶, Marcelo A. Villar^1,2, Olivia V. López¹

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.7, No.4, pp. 393-402, 2019, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2019.04281

Abstract Granite stone is a by-product of the rock crushing manufacturing. An industrial waste in powder form that causes health problems and environmental pollution. Fine particles fraction can be used as a partial replacement of sand in concrete manufacture. In this work, an alternative exploitation of this waste fraction is proposed. Granite sand (GS) with particles mean size of ~1 μm was employed as thermoplastic starch (TPS) filler at different concentrations. Biocomposites were obtained by melt-mixing and thermo-compression, achieving translucent and easy to handle films. A good GS dispersion within the matrix was evidenced by SEM. Mineral presence induced a shift… More >

Fatma Kharrat¹, Rania Chaari¹, Mohamed Khlif¹, Loic Hilliou², José A. Covas², Mohamed Haboussi^3,*, Hedi Nouri¹, Chedly Bradai¹

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.7, No.9, pp. 891-901, 2019, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2019.06827

Abstract Biocomposite films prepared with melt compounding and film blowing have become a new trend in plastic research to deliver more eco-friendly packages. Polylactic acid (PLA) was melt compounded with minimally processed date palm leaf fiber (DPLF) and converted into films by blown film extrusion. The compounding was done in order to enhance the film mechanical properties in one hand, and to decrease the film production cost in the other hand. In this present study, a reference PLA film and films with 1%, 2%, and 5% of DPLF (weight %) were produced with different process parameters. The spatial variations in films… 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 showed that besides cellulose polymorphism,… More >

Marcin Masłowski*, Justyna Miedzianowska and Krzysztof Strzelec

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.6, No.7, pp. 746-754, 2018, DOI:10.32604/JRM.2018.00121

Abstract Novel elastomer biocomposites based on straw fibers (raw or chemically modified) as reinforcing elements of natural rubber (NR) were reported and studied. Oat straw fibres with different average lengths were used. Lignocellulose materials were incorporated into the elastomer, before and after chemical surface modification involving sodium hydroxide. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and microscopy techniques were employed for characterization of fillers. The kinetics of rubber mixtures, as well as rheometric properties of compounds were determined. The cross-linking density was executed on the basis of equilibrium solvent-swelling measurements applying the modified Flory–Rehner equation. The morphology of biocomposites samples was analyzed by… More >