C. M. Meenakshi, A. Krishnamoorthy^*

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.7, No.2, pp. 153-169, 2019, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2019.00046

Abstract Natural fiber-reinforced hybrid composites can be a better replacement for plastic composites since these plastic composites pose a serious threat to the environment. The aim of this study is to analyze the effect of surface modification of the natural fibers on the mechanical, thermal, hygrothermal, and water absorption behaviors of flax, sisal, and glass fiber-reinforced epoxy hybrid composites. The mechanical properties of alkaline treated sisal and flax fibers were found to increase considerably.Tensile, flexural and impact strength of glass/flax-fiber-reinforced hybrid samples improved by 58%, 36%, and 51%, respectively, after surface alkaline treatment. In addition, the hygrothermal analysis and water absorption… More >

A.G. Gouater Issola¹, A. Ngueteu Kamlo², A.M. Cheumani Yona^1,*, M. Kor Ndikontar¹

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.6, No.6, pp. 642-650, 2018, DOI:10.7569/JRM.2018.634108

Abstract Chemical modification of cassava starch by transesterification of a vegetable oil (palm kernel oil) using aluminum chloride as a Lewis acid catalyst was achieved under relatively mild conditions (temperature 60–110 °C; atmospheric pressure). The reaction was carried out without any additional solvent. The modified starch was characterized by degree of substitution (DS), FTIR, X-ray diffraction and thermal analysis. DS of 0.09 to 0.53 were obtained. The cassava starch presented an X-ray diffraction pattern of a type A starch. X-ray analyses showed that the reaction did not significantly affect the crystallinity of starch. The modified starch films (MStF) adsorbed less water… More >

Charlotte Grosse^1,2,*, Marion Noël¹, Marie-France Thévenon³, Lauri Rautkari⁴, Philippe Gérardin²

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.6, No.3, pp. 259-269, 2018, DOI:10.7569/JRM.2017.634176

Abstract Impregnation of dry wood with pure lactic acid oligomers (OLAs) followed by heat treatment confers promising properties to wood because of OLA's good diffusion, in-situ polymerization and persistence in cell walls. Treatment provides drastic reduction of the equilibrium moisture content, high dimensional stability and good durability. The presence of water during treatment has been evaluated. Curing of OLA impregnated dry wood in humid atmosphere leads to a strong and global degradation of the material. OLA treatment of wet wood only impacts the water leaching rate negatively. Treatment of dry wood with OLA diluted in water additionally decreases the biological resistance… More >

Liqing Wei¹, Shupin Luo², Armando G. McDonald², Umesh P. Agarwal¹, Kolby C. Hirth¹, Laurent M. Matuana³, Ronald C. Sabo^1* , Nicole M. Stark^1*

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.5, No.5, pp. 410-422, 2017, DOI:10.7569/JRM.2017.634144

Abstract Cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) are renewable and sustainable filler for polymeric nanocomposites. However, their high hydrophilicity limits their use with hydrophobic polymer for composite materials. In this study, freeze-dried CNCs were modified by transesterification with canola oil fatty acid methyl ester to reduce the hydrophilicity. The transesterified CNCs (CNCFE) were compounded with PLA into nanocomposites. CNCFE with long-chain hydrocarbons plays a role as plasticizer. Increasing CNCFE loadings resulted in clear plasticizing effects. Lower Tg and Tm were achieved for CNCFE-based nanocomposites. Plasticizing nanocomposite melt with CNCFE can mitigate the degradation of CNCs during thermal processing. The elongation at break of nanocomposites… More >

Róger Moya^*, Lucia Fallas-Valverde, Alexander Berrocal, Dawa Méndez-Álvarez

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.5, No.3-4, pp. 208-219, 2017, DOI:10.7569/JRM.2017.634111

Abstract This study evaluated the durability in terms of decay and mechanical resistance of thermally modified (TM) wood of Tectona grandis and Gmelina arborea treated at 160, 180, 200 and 220 °C. The TM wood of both species treated above 200 °C and 180 °C respectively presents lower weight loss (WL) after 300 days exposure in field and accelerated testing. It was also found that in field testing over 180 °C, the module of elasticity (MOE) and module of rupture (MOR) of the exposed and unexposed stakes of TM wood were not affected. Accelerated tests showed that the loss in flexural… More >

Nicole M. Stark

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.4, No.5, pp. 313-326, 2016, DOI:10.7569/JRM.2016.634115

Abstract Performance requirements for packaging films may include barrier properties, transparency, flexibility, and tensile strength. Conventional packaging materials, such as plastic films and laminates, are typically made from petroleum-based polymers. Currently, there is a drive to develop sustainable packaging materials. These alternative materials must be able to be manufactured economically and on a commercial scale, exhibit barrier properties and transparency, and provide adequate mechanical performance. As a biobased, renewable material, cellulose nanomaterials (CNs) are ideally suited to be used in sustainable packaging applications. CNs include cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) and cellulose nanofibrils (CNFs) and each can provide benefit to packaging films. Manufactured… More >

He Kunjin^1,2, Zou Zeyu¹, Zhang Rongli¹

Molecular & Cellular Biomechanics, Vol.12, No.4, pp. 265-286, 2015, DOI:10.32604/mcb.2015.012.263

Abstract To quickly construct the orthopedic plates and to conveniently edit it, a novel method for designing the plates is put forward based on feature idea and parameterization. Firstly, attached to the existing or repaired bone model, the region of interest (ROI) is selected as the abutted surface of orthopedic plate, and the ROI is reconstructed to form a CAD surface. Secondly, the CAD surface is to be defined as a surface feature (SF) and then some semantic parameters are configured for it. Lastly, the plate body is constructed through thickening, and some higher parameters are defined for it so as… More >

S. Namilae¹, U. Ch,ra², A Srinivasan³, N. Ch,ra⁴

CMES-Computer Modeling in Engineering & Sciences, Vol.22, No.3, pp. 189-202, 2007, DOI:10.3970/cmes.2007.022.189

Abstract Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations play an important predictive role in understanding the behavior of nanoscale systems. In this paper, parallel MD simulations are used to understand the mechanical behavior of interfaces in CNT based composites. We present an algorithm for parallel implementation of MD simulations of carbon nanotube (CNT) based systems using reactive bond order potentials. We then use that algorithm to model the CNT-polymer interfaces with various levels of interaction as (a) described only by long range Van Der Waals interactions (b) chemically bonded with fixed matrix and (c) chemically bonded with matrix explicitly modeled. It is shown that… More >

Shishir Sinha¹, Vinay Kumar²

FDMP-Fluid Dynamics & Materials Processing, Vol.5, No.3, pp. 297-312, 2009, DOI:10.3970/fdmp.2009.005.297

Abstract High-capacity ion exchange resins based on Poly Methyl Methacrylate (PMMA) was developed during this study having higher mechanical strength, stable and, hydrophilic in nature compared to Poly styrene (PS) based systems. PMMA was cross-linked by Di Vinyl Benzene (DVB) to get macro porous PMMA-DVB resins by suspension polymerization. PMMA-DVB resins were surface modified by nitration followed by amination under appropriate temperature conditions. Change in the color of resin from white to pale yellow and pale yellow to golden yellow as well as characteristic peaks of NO2at 700 cm-1and 1400 cm-1and 3100-3200 cm-1for NH2group in FTIR spectroscopy confirmed the presence of… More >

M. Daian¹, A. Taube², G. Torgovnikov³, G. Daian⁴, Y. Shramkov⁵

CMC-Computers, Materials & Continua, Vol.8, No.3, pp. 165-172, 2008, DOI:10.3970/cmc.2008.008.165

Abstract Microwave wood modification and treatment technologies become more and more essential within the wood industry due to their technical and economical advantages. Microwave processing of wood involves many complicated physical phenomena and requires a very careful control of variables (such as intensity of microwave power, loading period, maximum temperature, etc.) in order to reduce structural deformations of the processed wood. To optimise and minimise the project design engineers' work, modelling and simulation of the microwave energy-wood interaction represents an indispensable tool.
This research work has been undertaken with the aim to design and optimise microwave applicators for microwave pre-drying… More >