SOBHA KOTA^*, RATNAKUMARI ANANTHA, VAYUNANDANA RAO GOVADA, PRADEEP DUMPALA

Journal of Polymer Materials, Vol.40, No.3-4, pp. 285-303, 2023, DOI:10.32381/JPM.2023.40.3-4.10

Abstract The exoskeleton of marine shrimp contains a natural, biocompatible polymer chitin, which is dumped as a waste. The study proposes the sustainable single-pot-extraction of chitosan from the waste and its use in the fabrication of wound-dressings, and thus leverage its piezoelectric, antioxidant, hypoglycaemic and medicinal properties in wound-healing. The Fourier transform infrared spectrum revealed that marine chitosan contains functional groups with N-O, O-H, and CO stretching. Scanning electron micrographs demonstrated the spherical and mesoporous structures of the extracted chitosan. X-ray diffraction analysis showed a semi-crystalline phase of chitosan particles with a mean size of 28.9… More >

Zhaohe Dai^1,*

The International Conference on Computational & Experimental Engineering and Sciences, Vol.26, No.2, pp. 1-1, 2023, DOI:10.32604/icces.2023.09223

Abstract The flexible and clinging nature of ultra-thin films require the understanding of their elastic and adhesive properties in a wide range of circumstances from fabrications to applications. Simultaneously measuring both properties, however, is extremely difficult as the film thickness diminishes to nanoscales. In this talk, I will show our recent work that addresses such difficulties through peeling by vertically pulling thin films off from the substrates (we thus refer to it as “pull-to-peel”). Particularly, we perform in-situ pull-to-peel of graphene and MoS2 films in a scanning electron microscope and achieve simultaneous determination of their Young’s More >

Hongxing Shang^1,*, Xu Liang¹, Shengping Shen¹

The International Conference on Computational & Experimental Engineering and Sciences, Vol.25, No.1, pp. 1-1, 2023, DOI:10.32604/icces.2023.09816

Abstract Flexoelectricity is the coupling effect of polarization and strain gradients, which tends to be more pronounced in thin films owing to size dependency. When subjected to in-plane compression, a filmsubstrate system will form complex wrinkle morphologies along with large-area and tunable strain gradients. The wrinkle-induced strain gradients can locally break the inversion symmetry of dielectrics and thus introduce flexoelectric polarization. Here, an electromechanical coupling model is developed to theoretically deal with flexoelectric polar patterns in wrinkled thin films. By analyzing the energy competition of elastic potential and electrostatic energy, the amplitude, wavelength, and critical strain… More >

Xiaoyan Liu^1,2, Zhao Qin^1,2,*, Yuxiang Ma^1,2, Huamin Liu^1,2,*, Xuede Wang^1,2

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.11, No.8, pp. 3203-3225, 2023, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2023.027613 - 26 June 2023

Abstract Packaging is a food preservation technology widely used in the world. Naturally-sourced, biodegradable polymers are becoming increasingly popular in the food packaging sector. Packaging films prepared using cellulose as raw material would contribute to resource sustainability, but the difficulty of cellulose solubilization limits their further development. In view of this, a series of novel solvent systems (LiCl/DMAc, ILs, TBAH/DMSO, NMMO, alkali/urea solutions, metal-complex solutions) were used to prepare high-strength and high-performance cellulose-based films; their characteristics and the mechanisms involved were investigated. Composite films prepared by blending cellulose with various polymers (synthetic polymers, natural polymers, proteins More > Graphic Abstract

Shuang Zhao¹, Shenglan Chen², Shuan Ren¹, Gang Li³, Ke Song^1,4, Jie Guo^1,4, Shima Liu^1,4, Jian He^1,4, Xianwu Zhou^1,4,*

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.11, No.6, pp. 2531-2553, 2023, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2023.026066 - 27 April 2023

Abstract Petroleum-based materials, such as plastic, are characterized by adverse environmental pollution; as a result, researchers have sought alternative degradable plastics that are environmentally friendly, such as polylactic acid (PLA). PLA has shown great potential to replace petroleum-based plastics. In this study, seven different samples of unmodified Pueraria lobata root powder (PRP) with different contents (i.e., 0, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, and 30 wt%) and three different modified PRPs (i.e., treated with NaOH, NaOH-KH-550, and Formic) were used to reinforce polylactic acid (PLA) via solution casting process. These prepared PRP/PLA composite films were characterized using SEM,… More > Graphic Abstract

Ruyu Yan^1,2,3,4, Jian Fang^1,*, Xiaohua Yang^2,3,4,5,6, Na Yao^2,3,4,5,6, Mei Li^2,3,4,5,6, Yuan Nie^2,3,4,5,6, Tianxiang Deng^2,3,4,5,6, Haiyang Ding^2,3,4,5,6, Lina Xu^2,3,4,5,6, Shouhai Li^2,3,4,5,6,*

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.11, No.4, pp. 1937-1950, 2023, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2023.025126 - 01 December 2022

Abstract Ethyl cellulose (EC), an important biomass-based material, has excellent film-forming properties. Nevertheless, the high interchain hydrogen bond interaction leads to a high glass transition temperature of EC, which makes it too brittle to be used widely. The hydroxyl group on EC can form a supramolecular system in the form of a non-covalent bond with an effective plasticizer. In this study, an important vegetable-oil-based derivative named dimer fatty acid was used to prepare a novel special plasticizer for EC. Dimer-fatty-acid-based thioether polyol (DATP) was synthesized and used to modify ethyl cellulose films. The supramolecular composite films… More > Graphic Abstract

Shams B. Ali¹, Sarmad Fawzi Hamza Alhasan¹, Evan T. Salim^2,*, Forat H. Alsultany³, Omar S. Dahham^4,5

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.10, No.11, pp. 2819-2834, 2022, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2022.021609 - 29 June 2022

Abstract The pulsed laser deposition (PLD) technology was used to effectively create conductive nano and micro hafnium oxide with great purity and transparency for (HfO₂) nanofilms. In many optoelectronics devices and their applications, the presence of a high dielectric substance like a nano HfO₂, between the metal contacts and the substrates was critical. We used the Pulsed Laser Deposition method to fabricate an Al/HfO₂/p-Si Schottky barrier diode where the nanostructured HfO₂ films as an intermediate layer and varied substrate temperatures. The optical result reveals a high degree of transparency (93%). The optical bandgap of deposited HfO₂ films was observed… More >

Jingjing Liao^1,2, Jinxing Li², Fuxian Yang², Yan Zhu², Hongyan Wang³, Guanben Du^1,2,*, Hisham Essawy⁴, Xiaojian Zhou^2,*

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.10, No.2, pp. 359-372, 2022, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2021.016335 - 30 August 2021

Abstract Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)-based films containing Chinese bayberry tannin (BT) were prepared by cross-linking using glyoxal, glutaraldehyde and dialdehyde starch, individually. The presence of cross-linkers was evident to promote the transparency and decrease the moisture content of PVA/BT films, while the water solubility stayed almost unchanged in the cross-linked PVA/BT films. All cross-linkers provided promotion of the water vapor permeability, mechanical property and thermal stability of PVA/BT films. The best water vapor barrier capacity was found in case of glutaraldehyde cross-linked PVA/BT film, while the highest tensile strength was encountered in case of glyoxal cross-linked PVA/BT More > Graphic Abstract

DENIZ AKIN SAHBAZ^1,*, BETUL TURP KAYA²

Journal of Polymer Materials, Vol.38, No.3-4, pp. 247-256, 2021, DOI:10.32381/JPM.2021.38.3-4.6

Abstract The objective of this study is to develop chitosan-based films containing Hypericum perforatum L. and/or Citrus limon L. oils and to investigate their suitability as novel wound dressing materials. The morphology of the chitosan-based films were observed by means of employing the scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and the chemical structure characterization was performed via Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR). Hypericum perforatum L. and/or Citrus limon L. were successfully incorporated to the chitosan films. Antibacterial, swelling, and mechanical properties of these films were investigated. The antibacterial property was enhanced by incorporating Hypericum perforatum L. and Citrus More >

BARKAT ALI KHAN¹, FAZAL KARIM¹, MUHAMMAD KHALID KHAN^1,*, FAHEEM HAIDER¹, SADIQULLAH KHAN²

BIOCELL, Vol.45, No.5, pp. 1273-1285, 2021, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2021.015323 - 12 July 2021

Abstract The fourth most predominant overwhelming type of trauma is burn injuries worldwide. Ideal wound healing dressings help in the wound healing process in a lower time with less pain. Commonly used dry wound dressing, like absorbent gauze or absorbent cotton, possess limited therapeutic effects and require repeated use, which further exaggerates patients’ suffering. In contrast, hydrogels films present a promising alternative to improve healing by guaranteeing a moisture balance at the wound site. The aim of the current study was to synthesize Tamarix aphylla (T. aphylla) extract-loaded hydrogel film with Na-CMC and pectin and to study their… More >