Open Access

EDITORIAL

Jalel Labidi
Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.3, No.1, pp. 1-2, 2015, DOI:10.7569/JRM.2015.634101
Abstract This article has no abstract. More >

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ARTICLE

Tamara Calvo-Correas¹, Mirna A. Mosiewicki², M. Angeles Corcuera¹, Arantxa Eceiza¹, Mirta I. Aranguren^2,*
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 More >

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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 More >

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490

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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 More >

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503

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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 More >

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511

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ARTICLE

Houda Saad^1,2,*, Antonio Pizzi^3,4, 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 >

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488

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ARTICLE

Alvaro Iregui¹, Lourdes Irusta^1,*, 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 >

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506

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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 More >

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481

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REVIEW

Yogesh K. Murugesan¹, Damiano Pasini², Alejandro D. Rey^1,*
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 More >

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459

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ARTICLE

Miguel Ángel Ramírez¹, Luis Alfonso^†, Patricia González², Juan Reinerio Fagundo², Margaret Suarez³, Clara Melian³, Tania Rodríguez¹, Carlos Peniche^4,*
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. More >

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