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 - 14 July 2021

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… 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. 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.… 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 >

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 More >

Phornwalan Nanthananon¹, Manus Seadan², Sommai Pivsa-Art³, Hiroyuki Hamada⁴, Supakij Suttiruengwong^1,*

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.6, No.6, pp. 573-583, 2018, DOI:10.32604/JRM.2018.00129

Abstract Poor interfacial adhesion between biobased thermoplastics and natural fibers is recognized as a major drawback for biocomposites. To be applicable for the large-scale production, a simple method to handle is of importance. This work presented poly(lactic acid) (PLA) reinforced with short-fiber and three reactive agents including anhydride and epoxide groups were selected as compatibilizers. Biocomposites were prepared by one-step melt-mixing methods. The influence of reactive agents on mechanical, dynamic mechanical properties and morphology of PLA biocomposites were investigated. Tensile strength and storage modulus of PLA biocomposites incorporated with epoxide-based reactive agent was increased 13.9% and 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 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 More >

Samantha Andrade Vale de Sousa¹, Mercês Coelho da Silva², Orlando Gama da Silva Júnior³, Artur Caron Mottin⁴, Rodrigo Lambert Oréfice³, Eliane Ayres^1*

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.5, No.3-4, pp. 251-257, 2017, DOI:10.7569/JRM.2017.634115

Abstract Buriti or miriti (Mauritia flexuosa) is a palm tree found in the Brazilian cerrado. Herein buriti petiole, part of the trunk that supports the leaves, was ground and used without any treatment as low density load to prepare poly(lactic acid) biocomposites. X-ray microtomography of buriti petiole showed its porous structure, with a wide pore size distribution determined with the aid of SEM. The obtained biocomposites with 1, 5 and 10 wt% of buriti petiole particles were investigated by their sessile drop contact angle, FTIR, TGA and tensile test. The tensile properties indicated poor adhesion between More >

Arunjunairaj Mahendran^1*, Günter Wuzella¹, Thomas Hardt-Stremayr¹, Wolfgang Gindl-Altmutter²

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.4, No.3, pp. 215-224, 2016, DOI:10.7569/JRM.2016.634110

Abstract Woven natural fiber-reinforced composites were fabricated using four different flax fabrics and two biobased epoxy resin matrices. The reinforced composites were prepared using resin infusion technique and fiber volume fractions of between 28–35% were achieved using this method. The fiber matrix interaction and the failure mechanism in the composite were observed using scanning electron microscopy. The flexural strength and modulus on the warp and weft directions were characterized and it was found that based on yarn count and yarn thickness change in the flexural strength was observed. Dynamic water absorption and thickness swelling were observed More >