Rakesh Kumar^1,*, Reshma Praveen¹, Shikha Rani¹, K. Sharma², K. P. Tiwary^3,*, K. Dinesh Kumar⁴

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.7, No.8, pp. 749-761, 2019, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2019.06286

Abstract ZnSe nanoparticles have been synthesized by microwave assisted method by using zinc chloride, selenium powder and ethylene diamine. The synthesized nanoparticles have been characterized structurally by FT-IR and XRD as well as morphological characterization was done by scanning electron microscope (SEM). The crystallite size after synthesis was obtained around 30 nm for pure ZnSe nanocrystallites. However, from SEM micrograph, agglomerated ZnSe nanoparticles of irregular shapes were observed. The as-synthesized ZnSe nanoparticles at different contents (1 to 5% w/w w.r.t SPI) were incorporated into soy protein isolate (SPI) to produce reinforced SPI films by solution casting… More >

Rakesh Kumar^1,*, Priya Rani¹, K. Dinesh Kumar²

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.7, No.2, pp. 103-115, 2019, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2019.00027

Abstract Soy protein isolate (SPI) biopolymeric films were prepared by adding different contents of mandelic acid (1 to 5% wrt SPI) to glycerol plasticized SPI by solution casting method. Also, SPI was fermented by Bacillus subtilis to get fermented SPI films by solution casting. Molecular mass determination of mandelic acid incorporated and fermented SPI films was carried out by sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). Mandelic acid incorporated and fermented SPI films were characterized by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), tensile strength, water uptake and optical transmittance studies. Results indicated that incorporation of… More >

D. Vassilev^1,*, N. Petkova², M. Koleva¹, P. Denev²

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.6, No.7, pp. 707-714, 2018, DOI:10.32604/JRM.2018.00015

Abstract The paper presents the findings of an experimental study on the microwave synthesis (MW) of inulin acetate and its possible application as bio-additive in poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC). The obtained inulin acetate has been identified and characterized by spectroscopic methods. Advantages of the MW compared with the conventional synthesis were defined. In order to evaluate possible application of the product as bio-based additive for polymers, effect of the inulin ester on PVC behavior and characteristics has been investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and deformation upon extension. Experimental results show that in concentration range up to 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 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 More >

Pronob Gogoi, Dhaneswar Das, Shyamalima Sharma, Swapan K. Dolui^*

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.3, No.2, pp. 151-159, 2015, DOI:10.7569/JRM.2014.634129

Abstract Alkyd resins based on Jatropha curcas oil with different molar ratios of phthalic anhydride (PA) and maleic anhydride (MA) were prepared by alcoholysis followed by polyesterifi cation reaction. The progress of the reaction was traced by the determination of acid value at regular time intervals. From the kinetic study the extent of the reaction was found in the range of 52.4–61.2%. The prepared resins were blended with a commercially available fast-curing epoxy resin in order to improve the properties like curing time, chemical resistance, tensile strength, and thermal stability. The morphology study of the blends More >

Chetan D. Kuthe^∗, R.V. Uddanwadiker^†, Alankar Ramteke^‡

Molecular & Cellular Biomechanics, Vol.11, No.2, pp. 113-128, 2014, DOI:10.3970/mcb.2014.011.113

Abstract Biomechanical researches are essential to develop new techniques to improve the clinical relevance. Skeletal muscle generates the force which results in the motion of human body, so it is essential to study the mechanical and structural properties of skeletal muscle. Many researchers have carried out mechanical study of skeletal muscle with in-vivo testing. This work aims to examine anisotropic mechanical behavior of skeletal muscle with in vitro test (tensile test). It is important to understand the mechanical and structural behavior of skeletal muscle when it is subjected to external loading; the research aims to determine… More >

Jung Soo Lee¹, Sung Yong Park², Keunhee Cho², Jeong-Rae Cho², Seung Hee Kwon^1,3

CMC-Computers, Materials & Continua, Vol.41, No.2, pp. 85-110, 2014, DOI:10.3970/cmc.2014.041.085

Abstract The objective of this study is to investigate the differences between the tensile stress-crack opening relationships of the small size notched beam and the real size beam which were made of two ultra-high performance fiber reinforced concretes (UHPFRCs) having different volume fractions and lengths of fibers. The stress-crack opening relationships of two UHPFRCs were first obtained from the inverse analysis for the small size notched beam tests. In addition, the three types of real size beams were manufactured for each mix: (1) plain beam, (2) beam with tensile reinforcement, and (3) beam with both tensile More >

Sihan Wang, Reza Masoodi^*, Janet Brady, Brian R. George

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.1, No.4, pp. 279-288, 2013, DOI:10.7569/JRM.2013.634122

Abstract Recycled natural fi bers and biopolymers with sustainable, eco-friendly, and biodegradable properties are receiving increased attention. The moisture absorption and swelling of natural fi ber composites adversely infl uence their mechanical properties and applications. In this research, bio-based epoxy polymers that are reinforced with recycled woven jute fabrics were subjected to water immersion tests in order to study the effect of water absorption on their mechanical and geometrical properties. For comparison, petroleum-based epoxy polymers that are reinforced with new woven jute fabrics were also subjected to the same tests. The effect of fi ber percentage More >

K.-C. Wu², S.-M. Huang², S.-H. Chen³

CMES-Computer Modeling in Engineering & Sciences, Vol.93, No.2, pp. 133-148, 2013, DOI:10.3970/cmes.2013.093.133

Abstract An analysis is presented for an array of collinear cracks subject to a uniform tensile stress wave in an isotropic material. An integral equation for the problem is established by modeling the cracks as distributions of dislocations. The integral equation is solved numerically in the Laplace transform domain first and the solution is then inverted to the time domain to calculate the dynamic stress intensity factors. Numerical examples of one, two, or three collinear cracks are given. The results of one or two cracks are checked to agree closely with the existing results. More >