U.S.-France Cooperative Research: Effects of Percolation on the Mechanical and Electrical Properties of Nanocomposite Materials

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This two-year award provides support for US-France cooperative research on the development of new composite materials with novel interactive electrical and mechanical properties. The collaboration involves Eric Baer and Anne Hiltner at the Center for Applied Polymer Research, Case Western Reserve University, and Jean-Yves Cavaille at the Center for Research of Macromolecules, Joseph Fourier University, Grenoble, France. The investigators will explore the development of new materials using nano-scale conductive cellulose whiskers, which will be dispersed in a thermoplastic matrix and coextruded with an elastomeric polymer. Using microlayer multiplying technology, the investigators will try to produce nano-scale layered composite materials. Parallel studies will be conducted on the electrical characteristics of the microlayered composites and the viscoelastic mechanical properties of these systems. The mechanical properties of the microlayers will be measured in the US laboratory. French investigators will determine the electrical and coupled mechanical-electrical properties. The US investigators bring to this collaboration expertise in microlayer multiplying technology and materials processing. This is complemented by the French investigators' experience in nano-scale materials. The French group developed the nano-scale conductive cellulose whiskers to be used in this project.