Raviduth Ramful^*

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.14, No.1, 2026, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2025.02025-0116 - 23 January 2026

Abstract Typically used thermal insulation materials such as foam insulation and fibreglass may pose notable health risks and environmental impacts thereby resulting in respiratory irritation and waste disposal issues, respectively. While these materials are affordable and display good thermal insulation, their unsustainable traits pertaining to an intensive manufacturing process and poor disposability are major concerns. Alternative insulation materials with enhanced sustainable characteristics are therefore being explored, and one type of material which has gained notable attention owing to its low carbon footprint and low thermal conductivity is natural fibre. Among the few review studies conducted on… More > Graphic Abstract

Mohamad Firdaus Omar¹, Fathilah Ali^1,*, Mohammed Saedi Jami¹, Azlin Suhaida Azmi¹, Farah Ahmad¹, Mohd Zahid Marzuki², Shantha Kumari Muniyandi³, Zuraidah Zainudin⁴, Minsoo P. Kim⁵

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.13, No.3, pp. 497-538, 2025, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2024.057248 - 20 March 2025

Abstract This review provides a comprehensive overview of natural rubber (NR) composites, focusing on their properties, compounding aspects, and renewable practices involving natural fibre reinforcement. The properties of NR are influenced by the compounding process, which incorporates ingredients such as elastomers, vulcanizing agents, accelerators, activators, and fillers like carbon black and silica. While effective in enhancing properties, these fillers lack biodegradability, prompting the exploration of sustainable alternatives. The potential of natural fibres as renewable reinforcements in NR composites is thoroughly covered in this review, highlighting both their advantages, such as improved sustainability, and the challenges they More > Graphic Abstract

Chioma Ifeyinwa Madueke^1,*, Okwunna Maryjane Ekechukwu², Funsho Olaitan Kolawole³

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.12, No.12, pp. 2017-2047, 2024, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2024.055207 - 20 December 2024

Abstract Coir fibre has generated much interest as an eco-friendly, sustainable fibre with low density. This review findings show that coir fibres are abundant, with an average global annual production of 1019.7 × 103 tonnes, with about 63% of this volume produced from India. Extraction of coir has been carried out through water retting. However, the retting period has been limited to 4–10 months. The lignin content of coir is more than 60% higher than that of other natural fibres; hence, coir could double as a source of lignin for other applications. The diameter of coir… More >

Tezara Cionita^1,*, Mohammad Hazim Mohamad Hamdan², Januar Parlaungan Siregar^3,4,*, Deni Fajar Fitriyana⁵, Ramli Junid⁶, Wong Ling Shing⁷, Jamiluddin Jaafar⁸, Agustinus Purna Irawan⁹, Teuku Rihayat¹⁰, Rifky Ismail¹¹, Athanasius Priharyoto Bayuseno¹¹, Emilianus Jehadus¹²

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.12, No.3, pp. 457-483, 2024, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2024.045814 - 11 April 2024

Abstract Recent decades have seen a substantial increase in interest in research on natural fibres that is aligned with sustainable development goals (SDGs). Due to their renewable resources and biodegradability, natural fiber-reinforced composites have been investigated as a sustainable alternative to synthetic materials to reduce the usage of hazardous waste and environmental pollution. Among the natural fibre, jute fibre obtained from a bast plant has an increasing trend in the application, especially as a reinforcement material. Numerous research works have been performed on jute fibre with regard to reinforced thermoset and thermoplastic composites. Nevertheless, current demands More >

N. A. Maidin^1,2, S. M. Sapuan^1,*, M. T. Mastura², M. Y. M. Zuhri¹

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.11, No.5, pp. 2381-2397, 2023, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2023.026549 - 13 February 2023

Abstract Natural fibre reinforced polymer composite (NFRPC) materials are gaining popularity in the modern world due to their eco-friendliness, lightweight nature, life-cycle superiority, biodegradability, low cost, and noble mechanical properties. Due to the wide variety of materials available that have comparable attributes and satisfy the requirements of the product design specification, material selection has become a crucial component of design for engineers. This paper discusses the study’s findings in choosing the suitable thermoplastic matrices of Natural Fibre Composites for Cyclist Helmet utilising the DMAIC, and GRA approaches. The results are based on integrating two decision methods More >

M. T. Mastura^1,*, R. Nadlene², R. Jumaidin¹, S. I. Abdul Kudus¹, M. R. Mansor², H. M. S. Firdaus¹

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.10, No.5, pp. 1221-1238, 2022, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2022.018082 - 22 December 2021

Abstract The employment of natural fibres in fused deposition modeling has raised much attention from researchers in finding a suitable formulation for the natural fibre composite filaments. Moreover, selection of suitable natural fibres for fused deposition modeling should be performed before the development of the composites. It could not be performed without identifying selection criteria that comprehend both materials and fused deposition modeling process requirements. Therefore, in this study, integration of the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP)/Analytic Network Process (ANP) has been introduced in selecting the natural fibres based in different clusters of selection concurrently. The selection… More >

M. A. F. A. Wahab¹, S. M. Sapuan^1,2,*, M. M. Harussani¹, M. Y. M. Zuhri¹, A. A. Saleh³

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.9, No.11, pp. 1973-1989, 2021, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2021.016221 - 04 June 2021

Abstract This paper presents the development process relating to the conceptual design of glass/renewable natural fibrereinforced polymer hybrid composite motorcycle side cover. Motorcycle side cover is a component frequently made from plastic or steel that functions on covering the motorcycle parts, components and systems such as frame, battery, electrical systems and mechanical systems. Function Analysis Systems Techniques (FAST) is used to identify the functions of motorcycle side cover. The right-side cover of motorcycle model SYM E-Bonus 110 has been physically studied to identify the competitive benchmarking criteria. The functions and competitive benchmarking criteria are then compiled… More >

H. N. Salwa¹, S. M. Sapuan^1,2,*, M. T. Mastura³, M. Y. M. Zuhri²

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.9, No.4, pp. 803-827, 2021, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2021.013977 - 01 February 2021

Abstract Biopolymer composite has gained huge attention for its beneficial properties such as biodegradable and less impact to the environment. This consequently would diminish the dependency on the petroleum-based polymer. Abundance of studies have been done on the development and characterization of biopolymer composite materials for food packaging application, but work on the conceptual design of biopolymer composite packaging product is hardly found. Using the Kano Model, Quality Function Deployment for Environment (QFDE), morphological map, and Analytic Hierarchy Method (AHP) framework combination, this paper presents the conceptual design of a natural fibre reinforced biopolymer composites take-out More >

GOBI NALLATHAMBI, BHARGAVI RAM THIMMIAH^*

Journal of Polymer Materials, Vol.37, No.3-4, pp. 189-200, 2020, DOI:10.32381/JPM.2020.37.3-4.6

Abstract The aim of this study is to optimize the process parameters of alkali treated Saharan aloe vera cactus fibres using of Box-behnken experimental design. The Saharan aloe vera cactus fibres were treated with different concentration of NaOH, soaking time and temperature which affect the properties of fibres and plays main role in removal of lignin, hemicellulose, pectin and wax content. The chemical composition of untreated and treated fibres was analyzed by standard methods. XRD result shows the improvement in the crystallinity index of fibres due to alkali treatment. ATR-FTIR analysis shows that hemicellulose and lignin More >

N. S. B. Yusof^1,2, S. M. Sapuan^1,3,*, M. T. H. Sultan^1,4, M. Jawaid¹

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.8, No.6, pp. 647-660, 2020, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2020.08309 - 12 May 2020

Abstract In this study, the best manufacturing process will be selected to build an automotive crash box using green oil palm natural fibre-reinforced polyurethane composite materials. This paper introduces an approach consist of technical aspects (T), the economic point of view (E) and availability (A), and it’s also called as TEA requirement. This approach was developed with the goal of assisting the design engineer in the selection of the best manufacturing process during the design phase at the criteria selection stage. In this study, the TEA requirement will integrate with the analytical hierarchy process (AHP) to… More >