BIOCELL, Vol.28, Suppl.S, pp. 235-250, 2004

Abstract This article has no abstract. More >

Gustavo P. Petrechen^1,4,*, Marcos Arduin³, José D. Ambrósio^1,2

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.7, No.7, pp. 683-692, 2019, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2019.04588

Abstract This article presents the overall morphological structure of the Brazil nut tree (Bertholletia excelsa) fruit pericarp, from macro to nano scale. The acquired knowledge would be used for the development of new applications, like using the materials as fillers for biocomposites, or as a hierarchical architecture model for biomimetics. This research was performed using stereo and light microscopy and conventional and force field emission scanning electron microscopy. The pericarp presents three layers: the exocarp, a dark gray, brittle and fragile outer layer; the mesocarp, a beige, dry, rigid, impermeable and fibrous intermediate layer; and the endocarp, an inner layer with… More >

Paula do Patrocínio Dias, Marcelo Aparecido Chinelatto^*

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.7, No.2, pp. 129-138, 2019, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2019.00037

Abstract In this study a low molecular weight triblock copolymer derived from ε-caprolactone and tetrahydrofuran was used as a non-reactive compatibilizer of immiscible PLA/PCL blends. Ternary blends with 0, 1.5 wt%, 3 wt% and 5 wt% copolymer and about 75 wt% PLA were prepared by single screw extrusion and characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), tensile and Izod impact testing. SEM micrographs showed that the size of the dispersed PCL domains was practically constant regardless of copolymer concentration. This result can be explained by the low shear rate employed during processing step and… More >

Ahmad Safwan¹, Mohammad Jawaid^1*, Mohamed T. H. Sultan^1,2, Azman Hassan³

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.6, No.5, pp. 529-535, 2018, DOI:10.7569/JRM.2018.634103

Abstract The application of natural fibers as reinforcement in composite material has increased due to environmental concerns, low cost, degradability and health concerns. The purpose of this study is to identify the best type of bamboo fibers to be used as reinforcement for kenaf (K)/bamboo hybrid composite. There were three types of bamboo fibers evaluated in this study which include bamboo mat (B), bamboo fabric (BF) and bamboo powder (BP). Chemical composition of B, BF, BP and K fibers were analyzed in this study. The effect of different types of bamboo fibers on tensile, impact, and morphological properties were investigated. The… More >

Swarnalata Sahoo^1,2*, Hemjyoti Kalita¹, Smita Mohanty^1,2, Sanjay Kumar Nayak^1,2

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.6, No.1, pp. 117-125, 2018, DOI:10.7569/JRM.2017.634155

Abstract In the current work, we have synthesized vegetable oil-based polyurethane-OMMT clay nanocomposite (PUNC) adhesive with the incorporation of different wt% of organically modified nanoclay (1 to 5 wt%) into the biobased polyurethane (PU) matrix through in-situ polymerization process via ultrasonication method. At the initial stage, PU adhesive was prepared using polyol and partially biobased aliphatic isocyanate, wherein polyol was derived from the transesterified castor oil using ethylene glycol. The formation of PU and PUNC adhesive was confirmed using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy analysis. The tensile strength of PU with different wt% of nanoclay was determined and the analysis showed… More >

G. Mondragon, C. Peña-Rodriguez, A. Eceiza, A. Arbelaiz^*

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.5, No.5, pp. 345-356, 2017, DOI:10.7569/JRM.2017.634124

Abstract In this work, the main chemical reactions conditions of a succession of specific chemical treatments used for the isolation of nanocellulose from sisal fibers were evaluated. The novelty of this work is the study done to analyze the effect of different reaction conditions (time or concentration) in fiber structure and composition as well as in the characteristics of obtained cellulosic samples. In order to achieve this goal different physicochemical, thermal and morphological characterization techniques were used after each chemical treatment and the most suitable reaction conditions were selected for the subsequent treatment. Moreover, the thermal stability evolution of cellulose nanocrystals… More >

Juan P. Correa^1,2*, Alejandro Bacigalupe^2,3, Jorge Maggi⁴, Patricia Eisenberg^2,3

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.4, No.4, pp. 258-265, 2016, DOI:10.7569/JRM.2016.634117

Abstract Poly(lactic acid)/poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PLA/PBAT)-based nanocomposites were prepared by melt blending of PLA and PBAT with 5 wt% of unmodified (Cloisite Na) and modified (Cloisite 30B) montmorillonites. X-ray diffraction (XRD) revealed an intercalated structure in both nanocomposites. The extent of the intercalation was higher for nanocomposites based on modified clays (OMMT) with chemical affinity with the polymer matrix. Rheological measurements have shown an increase in viscosity and a better degree of clay dispersion for nanocomposites containing OMMT. Nanocomposites with OMMT showed lower PBAT separated phase particle size and improvements in thermal stability, mechanical properties and water vapor barrier when compared with… More >

D. Puglia^1*, F. Dominici¹, M. Badalotti², C. Santulli³, J.M. Kenny¹

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.4, No.3, pp. 199-205, 2016, DOI:10.7569/JRM.2016.634102

Abstract In this work, cocoa bean shells (CBS), which were ground, then sieved to less than 150 μm and dried in a vacuum oven, have been introduced in a polycaprolactone (PCL) matrix in three different amounts, 10, 20 and 30% wt. The obtained composites were tested under tensile loading, which indicated an enhanced rigidity with a slight decrease of strength with respect to the neat polymer and a reduced elongation, particularly evident for composites with 30 wt% CBS, where final collapse took place for strains only slightly exceeding the yielding point. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) indicated a rather negligible variation of… More >

A. Sammaiah¹, K. V. Padmaja¹, K. I. Suresh^*,2, R. B. N. Prasad¹

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.4, No.2, pp. 113-122, 2016, DOI:10.7569/JRM.2015.634118

Abstract This article reports the effect of epoxidized jatropha oil (EJO) on the thermal, cure and viscoelastic properties of epoxy resins. Epoxidized jatropha oil with an oxirane value of 5.0 was prepared and epoxy formulations containing different concentrations of EJO were evaluated for cure, morphology, thermal and viscoelastic properties. The curing temperature of the formulations increased with increasing EJO content. The glass transition temperature of the cured films decreased from 56 °C for unmodified epoxy resin to 23 °C for the sample with 60 wt% EJO reactive diluent, suggesting good plasticizing action. The thermal decomposition was only marginally affected. More >

Dalin Tang^1,*,2, Heng Zuo^2,*, Chun Yang², Zheyang Wu², Xueying Huang³, Rahul H. Rathod⁴, Alexander Tang⁴, Kristen L. Billiar⁵, Tal Geva⁴

Molecular & Cellular Biomechanics, Vol.14, No.3, pp. 137-151, 2017, DOI:10.3970/mcb.2017.014.137

Abstract Patients with repaired tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) account for the majority of cases with late onset right ventricle failure. Comparing TOF patients with healthy people may provide information to address this challenge. Cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) data were obtained from 16 TOF patients (patient group, PG) and 6 healthy volunteers (healthy group, HG). At begin-of-ejection, better patient group (n=5, BPG) stress was very close to HG stress (54.7±38.4 kPa vs. 51.2±55.7 kPa, p=0.6889) while worse patient group (n=11, WPG) stress was 84% higher than HG stress (p=0.0418). Stress may be used as an indicator to differentiate BPG patients from WPG… More >