Shankarnarayanan Nalini^1,*, Nagappan Krishnaraj², Thangaiyan Jayasankar³, Kalimuthu Vinothkumar⁴, Antony Sagai Francis Britto⁵, Kamalraj Subramaniam⁶, Chokkalingam Bharatiraja⁷

CMC-Computers, Materials & Continua, Vol.68, No.1, pp. 1117-1128, 2021, DOI:10.32604/cmc.2021.012431

Abstract Precision Agriculture is a concept of farm management which makes use of IoT and networking concepts to improve the crop. Plant diseases are one of the underlying causes in the decrease in the number of quantity and quality of the farming crops. Recognition of diseases from the plant images is an active research topic which makes use of machine learning (ML) approaches. A novel deep neural network (DNN) classification model is proposed for the identification of paddy leaf disease using plant image data. Classification errors were minimized by optimizing weights and biases in the DNN model using a crow search… 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 >

Jiekun Zhu, Hongtao Kao^*

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.9, No.7, pp. 1329-1343, 2021, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2021.015079

Abstract Based on the theory of computational fluid dynamics (CFD), pulverized coal combustion alone, and the co-combustion of pulverized coal and refuse-derived fuel (RDF) in a Trinal-sprayed calciner (TTF) precalciner were simulated. The results revealed that when coal was used as a single fuel, the velocity field in the precalciner had good symmetry, and formed three spray effects and multiple recirculation zones. The main combustion zone was distributed in the lower tertiary air and pulverized coal area, and the highest temperature reached up to 1,500 K. According to the simulation results, the predicted decomposing rate of raw meal was 90.12%, which… More >

Syed Waheedullah Ghori^1,*, G. Srinivasa Rao²

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.9, No.7, pp. 1283-1292, 2021, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2021.014987

Abstract Date palm fiber (DPF) and kenaf fiber were reinforced in epoxy having various fiber loading 40%, 50%, and 60% by weight. These hybrid samples were manufactured by hot press technique and then characterized for tensile, impact, and morphological behavior to evaluate the ratio of fibers in the hybrid composites; the addition of kenaf improved the tensile properties, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) revealed the interfacial bonding of fiber/matrix, and dispersion and void content in composites. Impact test studies reflected the effect of natural fiber with epoxy, level of stress transfer from matrix to reinforced material, and reinforced material’s role in absorbing… More > Graphic Abstract

Xiaohua Gu, Hongxiang Luo^*, Shiwei Lv, Peng Chen

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.9, No.7, pp. 1253-1266, 2021, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2021.014876

Abstract Dramatically increasing waste polyurethane rigid foam (WPRF) draws the attention of the world. A mixture of ethylene glycol (EG) and diethylene glycol (DEG) is used as glycolysis agents. WPRF was subjected to alcoholysis using different catalysts which are titanium ethylene glycol and potassium hydroxide to obtain recycled polyol, respectively. The effect of a different catalyst on the viscosity and hydroxyl value of recycled polyol is discussed. The regenerated polyurethane (RPU) is performed using the recycled polyol. Infrared spectrum, compressive strength, apparent density, water absorption, scanning electron microscope, and thermogravimetric analysis are carried out to investigate the effect of WPRF degradation… More >

Chakib Mokhtari¹, Fouad Malek¹, Sami Halila², Mohamed Naceur Belgacem^3,*, Ramzi Khiari^3,4,5,*

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.9, No.7, pp. 1213-1223, 2021, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2021.015475

Abstract Bio-based polyurethanes (PUs) have been occurred a large attention nowadays. It was found to be an alternative to the petrochemical based materials to the fact of their weak environmental influence, availability, good price and biodegradability. In addition, the nature shows several bio-derived compounds as raw materials for the synthesis of polyols, including the vegetable oils, polyphenol, terpene, and other bio-renewable sources. With the aim to develop a new family of biobased polyurethanes (PUs) via vegetable oils, the elaboration of new Jojoba-based PUs was performed by catalyst-free polycondensation reaction of a synthesized Jojoba diol with various diisocyanates such us toluene diisocyanate… More > Graphic Abstract

Qiong Liu, Jianzhuang Xiao^*, Amardeep Singh

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.9, No.7, pp. 1309-1327, 2021, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2021.015326

Abstract The failure characteristics of recycled concrete containing brick aggregates are still indistinct, especially how the angular aggregates effect the crack propagation. Based on the concept of modeled concrete, the development of cracks in concrete containing the natural aggregate and brick aggregate under a compression loading was studied. The strain distribution was analyzed with the Digital Image Correlation (DIC). The modeled aggregates include circular and squared ones, and the squared modeled aggregates were placed in different orientations, including 0°, 22.5° and 45°. The results show that when the aggregate is placed at 45°, the upper and lower vertices of the aggregate… More >

Ruyuan Yang¹, Haitao Li^2,*, Assima Dauletbek^1,2, Mahmud Ashraf^2,4, Rodolfo Lorenzo³, Youfu Sun¹, Yuehong Wu¹

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.9, No.7, pp. 1293-1307, 2021, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2021.015296

Abstract This paper presents an experimental investigation to identify suitable indices to assess durability of glulam when subjected to freeze-thaw cycles in an exposed enviroenment. In this study, two types of glulam specimens were tested for their performance when subjected to different levels of aging due to freezing and thawing. Effect of aging treatment on various parameters including thickness swelling rate, static bending strength, elastic modulus, shear strength, and peeling rate of adhesive layer were studied. Obtained results showed that freeze-thaw aging treatment did not affect the water-resistance of the specimens as measured by thickness swelling rate and had little effect… More >

Xingran Kou^1,2, Qixuan Zhao², Wenwen Xu², Zuobing Xiao², Yunwei Niu², Kai Wang^3,*

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.9, No.7, pp. 1189-1211, 2021, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2021.015268

Abstract Several important drugs and nutritional supplements are limited by their lack of bioavailability. Nanomaterials display unique beneficial properties that might help improve the bioavailability of drugs and nutritional supplements. Unfortunately, nanomaterials produced from synthetic polymers and metals may have similar difficulties with bioavailability and toxicity. Naturally occurring biopolymers are biodegradable and non-toxic and are adaptable to the synthesis of nanoparticles. Drugs and other substances can be encapsulated or embedded in such particles with an increase in bioavailability. The search for biodegradable nanomaterials is an active research field. This review summarizes the research on nanocrystalline cellulose, starch, lignin, and other biological… More >

Suxia Li^1,2, Haiyang Zhang^1,*, Biqing Shu^1,3, Liangsong Cheng¹, Zehui Ju¹, Xiaoning Lu^1,*

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.9, No.7, pp. 1225-1237, 2021, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2021.014364

Abstract The wood friction welding technique with its high bonding strength, low cost, high efficiency, and without any adhesive has been increasing concern in China. Moso bamboo (Phyllostachys pubescens) and poplar (Populus sp.) are widely planted and used in the furniture industry, interior decoration, and wood structure construction in China. The aim of this work was to investigate the bonding performance of moso bamboo dowel rotation welded joints with different dowel/receiving hole diameter ratios. The results indicated that the ratio of dowel/receiving hole diameter was an important parameter that influenced the welding performance. The bonding strength of the bamboo-to-poplar welded joints… More >