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Renewable Foam Materials and Composites

Submission Deadline: 30 June 2022 (closed)

Guest Editors

Antonio Pizzi, Professor, Emeritus of Industrial Chemistry, ENSTIB, University of Lorraine, France
Dr. Antonio Pizzi is Prof. Emeritus of Industrial Chemistry, ENSTIB, University of Lorraine, France. Previously Professor of Polymer Chemistry and Head of the Chemistry Department of the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa. Three doctorates (Dr. Chem, Rome, Italy, PhD, South Africa, D.Sc. South Africa). Several international scientific prizes (twice the finalist prize of the René Descartes top prize of the European Commission, in 2000 and 2005). Specialisations: thermosetting resins, synthesis and formulation of resins and wood adhesives, adhesives from natural products, polymer chemistry, polycondensation, wood panels and other composites technology, environment-friendly wood preservatives, materials science, wood welding. Author of 11 books published in New York and of 805 publications in refereed journals, and 41 patents, with his H-Index of 75.

Xiaojian Zhou, Professor, International Joint Research Center for Bio-materials, Southwest Forestry University, Kunming, 650224, China
Dr. Xiaojian Zhou is Professor of Wood Science and Technology, International Joint Research Center for Biomaterials, Southwest Forestry University, China. Dr. Xiaojian Zhou received his PhD in Wood and Fiber Science in 2013 from the University of Lorraine, France. He then moved to the Wood and Bio-Composite Center at Luleå University of Technology in Sweden for two years. He is working at Southwest Forestry University since 2016. Dr. Zhou specializes in wood adhesives, foam materials and bio-composites. He has published more than 50 peer-reviewed articles and 3 chapters in international books. and authorized 3 invent patents, as well as obtained 5 domestic and international scientific prizes.

Summary

Due to increasing environmental concerns and decreasing petroleum resources, many renewable sources are being used for the development of bio-foam materials and composites instead of petroleum-based foams. Bio-renewable foams are a result of almost 20-30 years’ study and pilot scale production in the world, they provide not only a sustainable material source but also have a stable competitive price compared with current commercial origin. In addition, life cycle assessments have shown that these renewable materials have less environmental impact, there is no harmful emissions or by-products and no wastes are created during their processing. The whole products and processing are CO2 negative influence and pass the strictest environment regulations. It really confirms that bio-renewable foam provides a more environmentally friendly route to produce foam materials. This Special Issue "Renewable Foam Materials and Composites" covers the development of rigid, semi-rigid or flexible bio-foams using renewable biosourced materials. The scope of interests includes but is not limited to the following topics:

(1). Polyurethane foams with isocyanates or without (NIPU)

(2). Tannin foams

(3). Lignin/cellulose/hemicelluloe foams

(4). Vegetable oils foams

(5). Mono-and polysaccharides foams

(6). Other foams derived from renewable sources


Keywords

Foams; Renewable; Bio and environmental degradation; Synthesis; Structure-property relationships; Processing; Recycling

Published Papers


  • Open Access

    ARTICLE

    Self-Blowing Non-Isocyanate Polyurethane Foams Based on Hydrolysable Tannins

    Elham Azadeh, Xinyi Chen, Antonio Pizzi, Christine Gérardin, Philip Gérardin, Hisham Essawy
    Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.10, No.12, pp. 3217-3227, 2022, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2022.022740
    (This article belongs to this Special Issue: Renewable Foam Materials and Composites)
    Abstract Non-isocyanate polyurethane (NIPU) foams using a hydrolysable tannin, also vulgarly called tannic acid, namely here commercial chestnut wood tannin extract was prepared. Compression strength did not appear to depend on the foam apparent density while the formulation composition of the NIPU foams has been shown to be more determinant. These NIPU foams appeared to be self-extinguishing once the high temperature flame is removed. The ignition time gave encouraging results but for improved fire resistance the foams may need some fire-retardant addition. FTIR spectrometry showed the formation of non-isocyanate urethane linkages. Thermogravimetric analysis indicated a good thermal resistance of these foams,… More >

  • Open Access

    ARTICLE

    Formaldehyde Free Renewable Thermosetting Foam Based on Biomass Tannin with a Lignin Additive

    Bowen Liu, Yunxia Zhou, Hisham Essawy, Shang Feng, Xuehui Li, Jingjing Liao, Xiaojian Zhou, Jun Zhang, Sida Xie
    Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.10, No.11, pp. 3009-3024, 2022, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2022.019848
    (This article belongs to this Special Issue: Renewable Foam Materials and Composites)
    Abstract This study presents easily prepared free formaldehyde bio-based foam based on a prepared thermosetting resin comprising tannin–lignin–furfuryl alcohol-glyoxal (TLFG) via mechanical stirring in presence of ether as a foaming agent. The foam was developed through a co-polycondensation reaction of glyoxal and furfuryl alcohol with condensed tannin and lignin, which is a forest-derived product. Investigation using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed more closed-cell structure without cracks and collapse in the TLFG foam, with a higher apparent density with respect to tannin–furanic–formaldehyde (TFF) foam. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), dynamic thermomechanical analysis (DTMA), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) investigations revealed that the curing process… More >

  • Open Access

    ARTICLE

    Development and Field Application of Phosphogypsum-Based Soil Subgrade Stabilizers

    Hongfei Yue, Aiguo Fang, Sudong Hua, Zenghuan Gu, Yu Jia, Cheng Yang
    Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.10, No.8, pp. 2247-2261, 2022, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2022.018901
    (This article belongs to this Special Issue: Renewable Foam Materials and Composites)
    Abstract A phosphogypsum-based subgrade stabilizer (PBSS) was formulated using industrial by-product phosphogypsum (PG), mixed with slag and calcium-silicon-rich active material (GSR). The active powder (AP) was used to modify PBSS, and PBSS-AP was obtained. PBSS and PBSS-AP were each mixed with 10% silty soil, and cement and lime (CAL: 5% lime + 2% cement) were used as the traditional material for comparative experiments. Samples were cured under standard conditions, and tested for unconfined compressive strength (UCS), water stability, volume expansion, and leachate, to explore the stabilization effect of the three solidified materials on silty soil. The results showed that the comprehensive… More >

  • Open Access

    ARTICLE

    Feasibility Study of the Synthesis of Isocyanate-Free Polyurethanes from Catechin

    Wissem Sahmim, Febrina Dellarose Boer, Hubert Chapuis, Firmin Obounou-Akong, Antonio Pizzi, Philippe Gérardin, Christine Gérardin-Charbonnier
    Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.10, No.5, pp. 1175-1184, 2022, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2022.016365
    (This article belongs to this Special Issue: Renewable Foam Materials and Composites)
    Abstract With the current trend of increasing efforts to develop non-isocyanate-based polyurethanes (NIPUs), this study aimed to check the feasibility of the development of a method using cyclic carbonate modified catechin and amine to synthesis non-isocyanate urethane with the objective to further extend these results to polyurethane synthesis. The methods used in this study consist of four steps: glycidilation of catechin, hydrolysis of epoxide, cyclic carbonate synthesis, and carbamate synthesis through condensation of butylamine. The resulting products were analyzed using FTIR (Fourier transform infrared) spectroscopy and NMR (nuclear magnetic resonance) spectroscopy. The results showed that carbamate could be successfully obtained through… More >

    Graphic Abstract

    Feasibility Study of the Synthesis of Isocyanate-Free Polyurethanes from Catechin

  • Open Access

    ARTICLE

    Alcoholysis of Waste Polyurethane Rigid Foam and Its Modification with Lignin for Recovery

    Xiaohua Gu, Shiwei Lyu, Siwen Liu
    Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.9, No.11, pp. 1913-1926, 2021, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2021.015400
    (This article belongs to this Special Issue: Renewable Foam Materials and Composites)
    Abstract A bi-component alcoholysis agent containing propylene glycol (PG) and ethanolamine (ETA) was used to catalyst the degradation of the waste polyurethane rigid foam. The oligomer polyols obtained through degradation were used as raw materials to produce recycled polyurethane rigid foam composites with lignin as reinforcing filler. The effect of alcoholysis mass ratio on degradation was investigated by analyzing the viscosity, hydroxyl content and chemical structure of the degradation products. The effect of lignin addition on the properties of regenerated polyurethane rigid foam were investigated by analyzing water absorption rate, compressive strength, porosity, thermal stability, thermal conductivity coefficient, morphology and thermal… More >

  • Open Access

    ARTICLE

    Preparation of Porous Materials Derived from Waste Mussel Shell with High Removal Performance for Tableware Oil

    Yi Yang, Zhaodi Wu, Lili Ji, Shiyao Lu, Hua Jing, Jiaxing Sun, Jian Guo, Wendong Song, Yaning Wang, Lu Cai
    Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.9, No.11, pp. 1869-1881, 2021, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2021.015952
    (This article belongs to this Special Issue: Renewable Foam Materials and Composites)
    Abstract In this work, carbonized mussel shell powder (CMSP) was modified by alkyl polyglucosides (APG) and rhamnolipid (RL) to render porous biomass a lipophilic surface, which was innovatively utilized as an environmentally friendly tableware cleaning material. The modified method was two-step hydrotherm-assisted synthesis. A contact angle meter was used to determine the surface hydrophobic property of modified samples (MTAR). The pore and the surface structure of CMSP and MTAR were characterized by BET, SEM, XRD, FTIR and XPS. The effect of removing oil was tested by gravimetric method. The results showed that the surface of MTAR was more porous and fluffier… More >

    Graphic Abstract

    Preparation of Porous Materials Derived from Waste Mussel Shell with High Removal Performance for Tableware Oil

  • Open Access

    ARTICLE

    Effect of Post-Added Water Amount on Pre-Concentrated Bark Foaming Materials by Mechanical Stirring

    Jinxing Li, Jingjing Liao, Jun Zhang, Xiaojian Zhou, Hisham Essawy, Guanben Du
    Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.8, No.12, pp. 1607-1616, 2020, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2020.013976
    (This article belongs to this Special Issue: Renewable Foam Materials and Composites)
    Abstract In this study, pre-concentrated bark, furfuryl alcohol and other biomass raw materials were used to prepare foaming materials by high-speed mechanical stirring without using a foaming agent. We investigated the effect of the postadded water amount on the properties of foaming materials. In particular, we determined basic physical properties of these materials, including the limiting oxygen index (LOI), porosity, thermal conductivity, thermogravimetric analysis, pore size distribution, and microstructure. The results of scanning electron microscopy (SEM) indicated that the pore size distribution was uniform and the pore size increased with increasing water volume. Thermogravimetric analysis (TG/ DTG) showed that when the… More >

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