Remon Lapisa^1,2, Anna Niska Fauza^1,*, Dieter Rahmadiawan^1,3, Krismadinata², Dori Yuvenda^1,2, Randi Purnama Putra^1,2, Waskito¹, Nandy Putra⁴, Hairul Abral⁵

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.12, No.9, pp. 1593-1603, 2024, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2024.053651 - 25 September 2024

Abstract Cellulose-based film has gained popularity as an alternative to synthetic polymers due to its outstanding properties. Among all types of cellulose materials available, cellulose nanofiber (CNF) has great potential to be utilized in a diverse range of applications, including as a film material. In this study, CNF biocomposite film was prepared by using polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) as a matrix and Uncaria gambir extract as a filler. This study aims to investigate the effect of Uncaria gambir extract on the optical properties and thermal stability of the produced film. The formation of the CNF biocomposite films was confirmed… More >

Selwin Maria Sekar¹, Rajini Nagarajan^1,*, Ponsuriyaprakash Selvakumar², Ismail Sikiru Oluwarotimi³, Kumar Krishnan⁴, Faruq Mohammad⁵, Mohammed Rafi Shaik⁵, Nadir Ayrilmis^6,*

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.12, No.8, pp. 1455-1474, 2024, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2024.052952 - 06 September 2024

Abstract An innovative microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) natural fibre powder-reinforced PLA biocomposite was investigated using the hand lay-up technique. The polymer matrix composite (PMC) samples were prepared by varying the weight percentages (wt.%) of both PLA matrix and MCC reinforcement: pure PLA/100:0, 90:10, 80:20, 70:30, 60:40 and 50:50 wt.%, respectively. From the results obtained, MCC powder, with its impressive aspect ratio, proved to be an ideal reinforcement for the PLA, exhibiting exceptional mechanical properties. It was evident that the 80:20 wt.% biocomposite sample exhibited the maximum improvement in the tensile, flexural, notched impact, compressive strength and hardness… More >

Aleksandra Jeżo^*

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.12, No.6, pp. 1029-1042, 2024, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2024.051330 - 02 August 2024

Abstract Bark extracts are sustainable sources of biopolymers and hold great promise for replacing fossil fuel-based polymers, for example, in wood-based composites. In addition to primary and secondary metabolites, tree bark also contains suberin, which plays a major role in protecting the tree from environmental conditions. Suberin is a natural aliphatic-aromatic cross-linked polyester present in the cell walls of both normal and damaged external tissues, the main component of which are long-chain aliphatic acids. Its main role as a plant ingredient is to protect against microbiological factors and water loss. One of the most important suberin More >

Joseph O. Dirisu^1,*, Imhade P. Okokpujie^2,3,*, Olufunmilayo O. Joseph¹, Sunday O. Oyedepo¹, Oluwasegun Falodun⁴, Lagouge K. Tartibu³, Firdaussi D. Shehu¹

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.12, No.3, pp. 485-511, 2024, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2024.045188 - 11 April 2024

Abstract Research into converting waste into viable eco-friendly products has gained global concern. Using natural fibres and pulverized metallic waste becomes necessary to reduce noxious environmental emissions due to indiscriminately occupying the land. This study reviews the literature in the broad area of green composites in search of materials that can be used in automotive brake pads. Materials made by biocomposite, rather than fossil fuels, will be favoured. A database containing the tribo-mechanical performance of numerous potential components for the future green composite was established using the technical details of bio-polymers and natural reinforcements. The development… More > Graphic Abstract

Sri Hidayati^1,*, Eugenia Fonny Budiyanto¹, Hadi Saputra¹, Sutopo Hadi¹, Apri Heri Iswanto^2,3, Nissa Nurfajrin Solihat⁴, Petar Antov⁵, Lee Seng Hua^6,7, Widya Fatriasari^4,8, Mohd. Sapuan Salit⁹

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.11, No.6, pp. 2865-2879, 2023, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2023.027579 - 27 April 2023

Abstract Black liquor is obtained as a by-product of the pulping process, which is used to convert biomass into pulp by removing lignin, hemicelluloses and other extractives from wood to free cellulose fibers. Lignin represents a major constituent in black liquor, with quantities varying from 20% to 30%, of which a very low share is used for manufacturing value-added products, while the rest is mainly burned for energy purposes, thus underestimating its great potential as a raw material. Therefore, it is essential to establish new isolation and extraction methods to increase lignin valorization in the development… More > Graphic Abstract

Shuang Zhao¹, Shenglan Chen², Shuan Ren¹, Gang Li³, Ke Song^1,4, Jie Guo^1,4, Shima Liu^1,4, Jian He^1,4, Xianwu Zhou^1,4,*

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.11, No.6, pp. 2531-2553, 2023, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2023.026066 - 27 April 2023

Abstract Petroleum-based materials, such as plastic, are characterized by adverse environmental pollution; as a result, researchers have sought alternative degradable plastics that are environmentally friendly, such as polylactic acid (PLA). PLA has shown great potential to replace petroleum-based plastics. In this study, seven different samples of unmodified Pueraria lobata root powder (PRP) with different contents (i.e., 0, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, and 30 wt%) and three different modified PRPs (i.e., treated with NaOH, NaOH-KH-550, and Formic) were used to reinforce polylactic acid (PLA) via solution casting process. These prepared PRP/PLA composite films were characterized using SEM,… More > Graphic Abstract

Muhammad Ghozali^1,2, Yenny Meliana², Widya Fatriasari³, Petar Antov⁴, Mochamad Chalid^1,*

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.11, No.4, pp. 1963-1976, 2023, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2023.026060 - 01 December 2022

Abstract Sugar palm (Arenga pinnata) starch is considered an important renewable, biodegradable, and eco-friendly polymer, which is derived from agricultural by-products and residues, with great potential for the development of biocomposite materials. This research was aimed at investigating the development of TPS biocomposites from A. pinnata palm starch using an extrusion process. Palm starch, glycerol, and stearic acid were extruded in a twin-screw extruder. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis of TPS showed that the starch granules were damaged and gelatinized in the extrusion process. The density of TPS was 1.3695 g/mL, lower than that of palm starch, and… More > Graphic Abstract

Chaodong Liu, Yutong Yang, Boyu Cui, Weihong Wang^*

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.10, No.11, pp. 2961-2972, 2022, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2022.019761 - 29 June 2022

Abstract Microfibrillated cellulose (MFC) is often added to polylactic acid (PLA) matrixes as a reinforcing filler to obtain fully-biodegradable composites with improved mechanical properties. However, the incompatibility between MFC and the PLA matrix limits the mechanical performance of MFC-reinforced PLA composites. In this paper, DL-lactic acid-grafted-MFC (MFC-g-DL) was used to improve the compatibility with PLA. Reinforced composites were prepared by melt extrusion and hot-cold pressing. The tensile strength of the PLA/MFC-g-DL composite increased by 22.1% compared with that of PLA after adding 1% MFC-g-DL. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and dynamic thermomechanical analysis (DMA) were… More > Graphic Abstract

Xu Yan¹, Changheng Liu², Liang Qiao¹, Kaili Zhu², Hongsheng Tan^1,*, Shuhua Dong¹, Zhitao Lin¹

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.10, No.4, pp. 1039-1048, 2022, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2022.017239 - 02 November 2021

Abstract The crystallization behavior, crystal morphology and form, and viscoelastic behavior of poly(butylene succinate) (PBS) and coir fiber/PBS composites (CPB) were investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), polarized optical microscopy (POM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA). The results of DSC measurement show that the crystallization temperature increases with the filling of coir fibers. POM images reveal that the spherulitic size and crystallization behavior of PBS are influenced by the coir fibers in the composites. XRD curves show that the crystal form of pure PBS and CPB are remaining almost identical. In addition, the More >

Nataša Knez¹, Mirko Kariž², Friderik Knez¹, Nadir Ayrilmis^3,*, Manja Kitek Kuzman^2,*

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.9, No.11, pp. 1883-1895, 2021, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2021.016128 - 04 June 2021

Abstract The effects of selected printing parameters on the fire properties of additively produced composites from neat polylactic acid (PLA) and wood/PLA filaments were investigated. The reaction to fire of the 3D-printed specimens was tested according to the ISO 5660-1 cone calorimeter test method. The results showed that the properties of the specimens when exposed to fire were significantly affected by the incorporation of wood flour into the PLA filament. It was also interesting that PLA specimens had much better reactions to fire than the wood/PLA specimens. Time to ignition was found to be much longer More >