Wenqing Xiao^1,#, Yuhang Liu^2,#, Yuxin He¹, Qiaoguang Li^1,*, Yongquan Li^3,*

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.12, No.3, pp. 615-628, 2024, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2023.046780

Abstract Plasticizers are essential additives in the processing of polyvinyl chloride (PVC), with phthalate plasticizers being widely used. However, these conventional plasticizers have been shown to be harmful to human health and environmentally unfriendly, necessitating the exploration of eco-friendly bio-based alternatives. In this study, Camellia oleifera seed oil, a specialty resource in China, was utilized as a raw material and reacted with 4,4′-Methylenebis(N,N-diglycidylaniline) (AG-80) to synthesize Phenyl Camellia seed Oil Ester (PCSOE). PCSOE was employed as a plasticizer to prepare modified PVC films with varying concentrations, with the conventional plasticizer dioctyl phthalate (DOP) serving as a control. Experimental results demonstrate that… More >

HULYA SEMA KOKER¹, HÜLYA YAVUZ ERSAN¹, AYSE AYTAC^2,3,*

Journal of Polymer Materials, Vol.37, No.3-4, pp. 165-177, 2020, DOI:10.32381/JPM.2020.37.3-4.4

Abstract Chitosan (CH) and low-density polyethylene (PE) blend films were produced by a twin-screw extruder and heat press with different plasticizers glycerol (GLY), sorbitol (SOR) and polyethylene glycol (PEG). The tensile strength decreased and elongation at break increased with the incorporation of plasticizer for blends with 10 wt% of CH. The thermal stability of the films was slightly higher for films containing GLY and PEG as compared to SOR. Contact angles reduced from CH-PE film to the films containing PEG, SOR and GLY in decreasing order, respectively. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy revealed no interactions between CH and PE in CH-PE film… More >

Qinghua Lao^1,#, Hui Zhang^1,#, Zhihong Wang², Puyou Jia³, Yongquan Li^1,*, Qiaoguang Li^4,*

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.11, No.7, pp. 3025-3041, 2023, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2023.026646

Abstract In this study, as the plasticizer, Camellia oleifera seed-oil-based cyclohexyl ester (COSOCE) was prepared by the reaction of cyclohexene oxide and refined C. oleifera seed oil (RCOSO) obtained by acidification hydrolysis after saponification. In addition, the structure of the target product was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, and Raman spectroscopy. COSOCE was used as plasticizer-modified polyvinyl chloride (PVC) membranes. The structure of the COSOCE-modified PVC membranes were characterized by Raman spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The properties of the COSOCE-modified PVC membrane were characterized by contact angle measurements, universal testing machine, thermogravimetric… More >

Panpan Cao^1,2, Xiulin Huang^1,3,*, Shenxu Bao⁴, Jin Yang^5,*

FDMP-Fluid Dynamics & Materials Processing, Vol.19, No.8, pp. 2041-2051, 2023, DOI:10.32604/fdmp.2023.027399

Abstract Using ethylene glycol monovinyl polyoxyethylene ether, 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropane sulfonic acid (AMPS) and acrylic acid as the main synthetic monomers, a high robustness polycarboxylate superplasticizer was prepared. The effects of initial temperature, ratio of acid to ether, amount of chain transfer agent, and synthesis process on the properties of the superplasticizer were studied. The molecular structure was characterized by GPC (Gel Permeation Chromatography) and IR (Infrared Spectrometer). As shown by the results, when the initial reaction temperature is 15°C, the ratio of acid to ether is 3.4:1 and the acrylic acid pre-neutralization is 15%, The AMPS substitution is 10%, the amount of… More > Graphic Abstract

Hongying Chu^1,2,*, Huabei Li^1,2, Xiaoyan Sun¹, Yaowang Zhang^1,2

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.11, No.4, pp. 1731-1743, 2023, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2022.024160

Abstract The application of phthalate plasticizers has been restricted around the world due to their poor migration and potential harm to the human body. Hence, producing functional bio-based plasticizers via exploiting clean and reusable resources meets the satisfaction of current demands. In this study, flame-retardant rubber seed oil-based plasticize (FRP) was prepared via epoxidation reaction and ring opening addition reactions, which was used as a flame-resistant plasticizer for polyvinyl chloride to replace petroleum-based phthalate plasticizer. When DOP was replaced with FRP, the torque of PVC blends increased from 11.4 to 18.4 N⋅m, the LOI value increased from 24.3% for PVC-FRP-0% to 33.1%… More > Graphic Abstract

Chengtao Gao^1,2, Yang Wu³, Haibo Xie^1,*

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.11, No.3, pp. 1137-1152, 2023, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2022.021473

Abstract

Due to the increasing demand for modified polylactide (PLA) meeting “double green” criteria, the research on sustainable plasticizers for PLA has attracted broad attentions. This study reported an open-ring polymerization method to fabricate cellulose (MCC)-g-PCL (poly (ε-caprolactone)) copolymers with a fully sustainable and biodegradable component. MCC-g-PCL copolymers were synthesized, characterized, and used as green plasticizers for the PLA toughening. The results indicated that the MCC-g-PCL derivatives play an important role in the compatibility, crystallization, and toughening of the PLA/MCC-g-PCL composites. The mechanical properties of the fully bio-based PLA/MCC-g-PCL composites were optimized by adding 15 wt% MCC-g-PCL, that is, the elongation… More > Graphic Abstract

Dalong Liao, Dongxu Li^*, Shun Zhou, Xiaotao Zhang, Ying Fang^*

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.11, No.2, pp. 625-641, 2023, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2022.022501

Abstract Graphene oxide (GO) as a new nano-enhancer in cement-based materials has gained wide attention. However, GO is easy to aggregate in alkaline cement mortar with poor dispersibility. This hinders its application in practical infrastructure construction. In this work, GO-M18 polycarboxylate compound superplasticizer (GM) were obtained by compounding the M18 polycarboxylate superplasticizer with GO solution at different mass ratios. The dispersion of GM in alkaline solution was systematically studied. The phases and functional groups of GM were characterized by XRD and FTIR. The effects of GM on the cement mortar hydration and the formation of microstructure were investigated by measuring the… More > Graphic Abstract

Vu Thanh Phuong^1,2, Steven Verstichel³, Patrizia Cinelli^1,4, Irene Anguillesi¹, Maria-Beatrice Coltelli¹, Andrea Lazzeri^1,*

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.2, No.1, pp. 35-41, 2014, DOI:10.7569/JRM.2013.634136

Abstract Cellulose acetate (CDA) cannot be processed as raw material because it starts to decompose before melting. Triacetin and diacetin were tested to improve CDA processing versus conventional phthalate as environmentally sustainable plasticizers, because of their low toxicity and fast biodegradability. The addition of triacetin and diacetin allowed melt processing of CDA and the results of tensile tests outlined their effect as plasticizers. The values of mechanical properties were compatible with the requirements for applications in rigid packaging. From the results of biodegradation tests it can be concluded that for pure cellulose acetate, complete biodegradation was obtained within 200 days of… More >

Yottha Srithep^1,*, Onpreeya Veang-in¹, Dutchanee Pholharn², Lih-Sheng Turng³, John Morris⁴

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.9, No.7, pp. 1267-1281, 2021, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2021.015604

Abstract A low-molecular-weight polylactide-poly(butylene succinate) (PLA-PBS) copolymer was synthesized and incorporated into polylactide (PLA) as a novel toughening agent by solvent casting. The copolymer had the same chemical structure and function as PLA and it was used as a plasticizer to PLA. The copolymer was blended with PLA at a weight ratio from 2 to 10 wt%. Phase separation between PLA and PLA-PBS was not observed from their scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images and the crystal structure of PLA almost remained unchanged based on the X-ray diffraction (XRD) measurement. The melt flow index (MFI) of the blends was higher as the… More >

Xiao Luo^1,*, Hongying Chu², Mengqi Liu¹

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.8, No.10, pp. 1295-1304, 2020, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2020.011026

Abstract Herein, epoxidized soybean oil methyl ester (ESOM) plasticizer was synthesized for the preparation of plasticized poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) films by the alcoholysis and epoxidation. The chemical structure of ESOM was investigated by infrared spectrum and ¹H nuclear magnetic resonance. The effect of content of ESOM and petroleum based plasticizer di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) on the performance of plasticized PVC films was studied. The result showed that substituting DEHP with ESOM can improve the thermal stability of plasticized PVC films. When the weight ratio of ESOM and PVC is fixed at 1:2, plasticized PVC film presents higher elongation at break (350.8% vs.… More >