Open Access
EDITORIAL
Open Access
ARTICLE
Tamara Calvo-Correas1, Mirna A. Mosiewicki2, M. Angeles Corcuera1, Arantxa Eceiza1, Mirta I. Aranguren2,*
Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.3, No.1, pp. 3-13, 2015, DOI:10.7569/JRM.2014.634132
Abstract Rigid polyurethane foams were synthesized by using a vegetable oil-based polyol and 4,4-diphenylmethane
diisocyanate prepolymer as the majority of reactives,. The polyol was produced by hydroxylation of crude
linseed oil with performic acid generated in situ by the reaction of hydrogen peroxide and formic acid. The
characterization by FTIR, H1
NMR, iodine and hydroxyl values of the polyol and its comparison with the
original linseed oil supports the success of the reaction. The reference foam was subsequently modifi ed by
substituting part of the linseed oil polyol with glycerol, diethylene glycol, and a polyethylene glycol (all of
them of lower… More >
Open Access
ARTICLE
Sławomir Michałowski, Aleksander Prociak*
Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.3, No.1, pp. 14-18, 2015, DOI:10.7569/JRM.2014.634131
Abstract This article describes the effects of the modifi cation of polyurethane system with rapeseed oil-based polyol
on the cell structure and physical-mechanical properties of conventional fl exible polyurethane foams.
The foams were prepared by substituting a part of the petrochemical polyether-polyols mixture with the
bio-polyol based on rapeseed oil. Selected physical-mechanical properties of these foams were examined and
compared to the properties of reference foam. The properties such as apparent density, resilience, comfort
factor and stress-strain characteristics were analyzed in compression tests. It was found that the modifi cation
of polyurethane formulation with rapeseed oil-based polyol improves the selected properties… More >
Open Access
ARTICLE
A. Paberza*, L. Stiebra, U. Cabulis
Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.3, No.1, pp. 19-27, 2015, DOI:10.7569/JRM.2014.634138
Abstract Rigid polyurethane foams were obtained from pulp production byproducts. Three different polyols
were used—tall oil polyol, lignopolyol and commercially available polyol for comparison. The obtained
rigid polyurethane foams underwent photodegradation at 60°C temperature and at 0.89 W/m2 intensity
of UV light radiation up to 1000 h. Changes in chemical structure were observed by Fourier Transform
Infrared Spectroscopy and Scanning Electron Microscopy was used to study changes in cell morphology.
Spectrophotometery was used to determine yellowing of the foams. Results showed that the thickness of
degraded layer for rigid polyurethane foams obtained from pulp production byproducts was ~25% less than
for… More >
Open Access
ARTICLE
Anda Fridrihsone-Girone
Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.3, No.1, pp. 28-33, 2015, DOI:10.7569/JRM.2014.634136
Abstract This study assesses present preliminary Life Cycle Inventory for rapeseed oil polyols suitable for the
production of polyurethane, which is one of the most widely used polymer materials. Due to growing
environmental problems, the polyurethane industry is seeking bio-based raw materials. A study was carried
out for rapeseed oil triethanolamine polyol developed at Latvian State Institute of Wood Chemistry. The
cradle-to-gate study was carried out with functional unit of 1 kg rapeseed oil polyol synthesized in a scaled-up
pilot reactor. The results show that at the midpoint level the production of rapeseed oil has the highest impact
in the following… More >
Open Access
ARTICLE
Houda Saad1,2,*, Antonio Pizzi3,4, Bertrand Charrier2, Naceur Ayed1, Karsten Rode5, Fatima Charrier - El
Bouhtoury2
Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.3, No.1, pp. 34-43, 2015, DOI:10.7569/JRM.2014.634130
Abstract The possible use of Tunisian pomegranate tannins in wood adhesive formulation was studied for the fi rst
time. Colorimetric tests, Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR)
and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-fl ight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry were used to
examine pomegranate tannins. Analysis showed that pomegranate peels are rich in hydrolyzable tannins. The
Stiasny number tests showed the low reactivity of pomegranate tannin extract to formaldehyde and thus the
diffi culty of using it in wood adhesive formulation. Thermomechanical analysis (TMA) and strength analysis
of pomegranate tannin/hexamine-based resin showed weak bonding properties. More >
Open Access
ARTICLE
Alvaro Iregui1, Lourdes Irusta1,*, Loli Martin2, Alba González1
Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.3, No.1, pp. 44-48, 2015, DOI:10.7569/JRM.2014.634128
Abstract In this work, solution electrospinning technique was used to produce biodegradable fi bers using a
commercially available polyester (Ecofl ex F Blend C1200). These materials (mats) could be of potential interest
in tissue engineering. The effect of polymer concentration and the solvent nature on the obtained morphology
was related to the wettability of the mat, characterized by water contact angle measurements. According to the
results, the electrospun mats presented water contact angles characteristic of hydrophobic surfaces. More >
Open Access
ARTICLE
Raquel Fernández*, Connie Ocando, Susana C. M. Fernandes, Arantxa Eceiza, Agnieszka Tercjak
Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.3, No.1, pp. 49-55, 2015, DOI:10.7569/JRM.2014.634134
Abstract The main goal of this work was the development of photoactive multilayer fi lms. Taking into account that
chitosan is a biodegradable, biocompatible, nontoxic, and antibacterial biopolymer, the fabrication of chitosanbased multilayer fi lms can be an interesting pathway to obtain biopolymer-based fi lms in which properties
can be combined with a light-responsive material, such as an azobenzene-containing polymer. In particular,
the layer-by-layer technique was used for the fabrication of the optically active fi lms consisting of alternating
layers of chitosan and an azopolymer. The infl uence of the pH and the number of bilayers on the structure
and properties… More >
Open Access
REVIEW
Yogesh K. Murugesan1, Damiano Pasini2, Alejandro D. Rey1,*
Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.3, No.1, pp. 56-72, 2015, DOI:10.7569/JRM.2014.634124
Abstract This review on self-assembly in biological fi brous composites presents theory and simulation to elucidate the
principles and mechanisms that govern the thermodynamics, material science, and rheology of biological
anisotropic soft matter that are involved in the growth/self-assembly/material processing of these materials.
Plant cell wall, a multi-layered biological fi brous composite, is presented as a model biological system to
investigate self-assembly mechanisms in nature’s material synthesis. In order to demonstrate the universality
of the presented models and the mechanisms investigated, references to other biological/ biomimetic systems
are made when applicable. The integration of soft matter physics theories and models with… More >
Open Access
ARTICLE
Miguel Ángel Ramírez1, Luis Alfonso†, Patricia González2, Juan Reinerio Fagundo2, Margaret Suarez3,
Clara Melian3, Tania Rodríguez1, Carlos Peniche4,*
Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.3, No.1, pp. 73-80, 2015, DOI:10.7569/JRM.2014.634116
Abstract The demineralization kinetics of deproteinized lobster shells using CO2
were studied. Demineralization
reaction proceeds until the concentration of Ca+2 in solution reaches an equilibrium value. The introduction of
a cation exchange resin (cationite), in an open system for CO2
, allows replacement of the solution Ca2+ ions by
Na+ ions, whereby the equilibrium shifts and an effective dissolution of the exoskeletons’ calcite is achieved.
The mathematical relationships between the conductivity of the solution and the concentrations of major
ions, the rate constants and kinetic parameters of the reaction in the absence and presence of the resin were
obtained. It was… More >
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