Parichart Onsri¹, Decha Dechtrirat^2,3,4, Patcharakamon Nooeaid⁵, Apiluck Eiad-ua⁶, Pongsaton Amornpitoksuk^1,7, Supanna Techasakul⁴, Ahmad Taufiq⁸, Laemthong Chuenchom^1,7,*

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.9, No.6, pp. 1059-1074, 2021, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2021.013362

Abstract The novel and facile preparation of magnetically interconnected micro/ macroporous structure of monolithic porous carbon adsorbent (MPCA) were designed and presented herein. The synthesis was achieved via conventional freeze-drying and pyrolysis processes. In this study, sodium alginate and wasted black liquor were employed as starting precursors. Sodium alginate acts as a template of materials, whereas black liquor, the wasted product from the paper industry with plentiful of lignin content and alkaline solution, played an essential role in the reinforcement and activation of porosity for the resulting materials. Moreover, both the precursors were well dissolved in Fe³⁺ solution, providing a simple… More >

Xinyi Chen^1,2, Antonio Pizzi^1,*, Xuedong Xi^1,2, Xiaojian Zhou², Emmanuel Fredon¹, Christine Gerardin³

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.9, No.6, pp. 1045-1057, 2021, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2021.015066

Abstract Soy-protein isolate (SPI) was used to prepare non-isocyanate polyurethane (NIPU) thermosetting adhesives for wood panels by reacting it with dimethyl carbonate (DMC) and hexamethylene diamine. Both linear as well as branched oligomers were obtained and identified, indicating how such oligomer structures could further cross-link to form a hardened network. Unusual structures were observed, namely carbamic acid-derived urethane linkages coupled with lactam structures. The curing of the adhesive was followed by thermomechanical analysis (TMA). It appeared to follow a two stages process: First, at a lower temperature (maximum 130°C), the growth of linear oligomers occurred, finally forming a physically entangled network.… More >

Xinzhan Chen¹, Xiangqing Kong^1,2,*, Ying Fu^2,*, Wanting Sun¹, Renguo Guan²

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.9, No.6, pp. 1169-1188, 2021, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2021.014809

Abstract This paper experimentally investigated the flexural behavior of reinforced recycled aggregate concrete (RAC) beams reinforced with glass fiber-reinforced polymer (GFRP) bars. A total of twelve beams were built and tested up to failure under four-point bending. The main parameters were reinforcement ratio (0.38%, 0.60%, and 1.17%), recycled aggregate replacement ratio (R = 0, 50%, and 100%) and longitudinal reinforcement types (GFRP and steel). The flexural capacity, failure modes, flexibility deformation, reinforcement strains and crack distribution of the tested beams were investigated and compared with the calculation models of American code ACI 440.1-R-15, Canadian code CSA S806-12 and ISIS-M03-07. The tested… More >

Ewa Szefer^*, Agnieszka Leszczyńska, Edyta Hebda, Krzysztof Pielichowski

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.9, No.6, pp. 1127-1142, 2021, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2021.014584

Abstract The aim of this work was to use cellulose nanocrystals that were obtained by hydrolysis in phosphoric acid solution and further modified with succinic anhydride in the microwave field for PLA reinforcement. A series of all-bionanocomposites containing unmodified and surface modified cellulose nanocrystals with CNC content in the range of 1–3 %_w.t. were obtained by melt blending and tested by XRD, SEM, DSC and DMA to investigate the effect of surface esterification of CNCs on the structure, morphology, dynamic mechanical properties of bionanocomposites, as well as phase transitions of PLA in the presence of cellulosic nanofiller. DMA investigations showed the… More > Graphic Abstract

Budhi Priyanto^1,2,*, Retno Asih¹, Irma Septi Ardiani¹, Anna Zakiyatul Laila¹, Khoirotun Nadiyyah¹, Bima Romadhon³, Sarayut Tunmee⁴, Hideki Nakajima⁴, Triwikantoro¹, Yoyok Cahyono¹, Darminto^1,*

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.9, No.6, pp. 1087-1098, 2021, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2021.014466

Abstract A simple, highly reproducible, and environmentally friendly method is a considered approach in generating renewable energy materials. Here, hydrogenated amorphous carbon (a-C) films have been successfully prepared from palmyra liquid sugar, employing spin-coating and spraying methods. Compared with the former method, the latter shows a significance in producing a better homogeneity in particle size and film thickness. The obtained films have a thickness of approximately 1000 to 100 nm and contain an sp² hexagonal structure (~70%) and sp³ tetrahedral configuration (~30%) of carbons. The introduction of boron (B) and nitrogen (N) as dopants has created the local structural modification of… More > Graphic Abstract

Xiaojian Chen¹, Wenrui Yao¹, Feifei Gao¹, Dingyuan Zheng¹, Qiong Wang³, Jun Cao^2,*, Haiyan Tan¹, Yanhua Zhang^1,2,*

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.9, No.5, pp. 979-992, 2021, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2021.014751

Abstract The morphology and properties of corn starch and cassava starch were compared by SEM, DSC and TGA. The effects of amylose and amylopectin content on starch properties were studied by FT-IR, XRD and XPS. The plywood was pressed with the prepared adhesive and the bonding strength of the plywood was tested to analyze the difference among the adhesives from different plant sources and the difference after blending PAPI prepolymer. FT-IR results showed that the hydroxyl peak of cassava starch was stronger and wider. TGA showed that the residue of cassava starch was lower, but the thermal stability of cassava starch… More >

Mateusz Barczewski^1,*, Jacek Andrzejewski^1,*, Radomir Majchrowski², Kamil Dobrzycki¹, Krzysztof Formela³

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.9, No.5, pp. 841-853, 2021, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2021.014490

Abstract Agricultural waste is a still untapped source of materials that can, in case of proper utilization, significantly improve the sustainability of polymers and their composites. In this work, polymer composites based on isotactic polypropylene were produced incorporating ground sunflower husk in the amount of 10 wt% and 20 wt%. The work’s main objective is to evaluate how preliminary fractioning of this agricultural waste filler affects the thermomechanical properties, microstructure and surface topology of polypropylene-based injection molded composites. The composites were analyzed for mechanical properties (tensile, impact strength and hardness), thermomechanical properties (Vicat softening point VST, heat deflection temperature HDT, and… More >

You Shu^1,2, Qionglin Luo², Hongwei Lin^2,*, Yuejun Ouyang², Xiaomin Zhang^1,2, Liping Sheng¹, Shengpei Su^1,2,*

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.9, No.5, pp. 909-921, 2021, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2021.014216

Abstract Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) has been widely used in the fields of medical, food and packaging due to its excellent biocompatibility, good fiber-forming and film-forming properties. However, the high flammability of PVA has greatly limited its wider applications. The flame-retardant PVA was prepared by melt blending of a bio-based flame retardant (prepared from lignin, phosphoric acid and carbamide) with thermoplastic PVA (TPVA). The chemical structure, morphology, thermal properties, mechanical properties, fire property and fluidity of this flame retardant PVA were investigated by Fourier transform infrared spectrometer(FTIR), field emission scanning electron microscope(SEM), thermogravimetric analyzer(TGA), impact tester, universal testing machine, horizontal-vertical burning tester,… More >

Hui Zhan^1,2, Zhaohui Niu¹, Lixia Yu¹, Maobiao Li¹, Changming Wang¹, Shuguang Wang^1,*

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.9, No.5, pp. 1031-1043, 2021, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2021.014109

Abstract The durability of bamboo based on its chemical and mechanical properties is a crucial consideration for the wood-based industry due to its vulnerability to insects and microorganisms. We investigated the dynamic changes of chemical and mechanical properties of Phyllostachys edulis under air-dry and water storage conditions for 3, 6 and 12 months respectively. The chemical properties of P. edulis bamboo culms varied with culm age but insignificantly with culm height. The mechanical properties of P. edulis culms showed an increasing trend with culm age. Water storage condition decreased the ash, SiO₂ and lignin content, but increased the ethanol-benzene extracts. It… More >

Yan Song^1,2, Zhixin Wang³, Xin Zhang⁴, Rong Zhang¹, Jinchun Li^1,2,*

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.9, No.5, pp. 943-957, 2021, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2021.014131

Abstract Lignin is a natural biopolymer with a complex three-dimensional network, commercially obtained from waste liquid of paper pulp and bioethanol production, and could be a candidate for preparation of environment-friendly bio-based polyphenol material. In the present work, the demethylated wheat straw alkali lignin (D-Lig), prepared by demethylation of wheat straw alkali lignin (Lig) using an in-situ generated Lewis acid, was used to synthesize bio-based phenol formaldehyde resin adhesive (D-LPF) applied in plywood. Effects of synthetic process’s factors, including lignin substitution for phenol, NaOH concentration and molar ratio of formaldehyde to phenol, on the bonding strength and free formaldehyde content of… More >