Bio-mimetic Architectures with Sustainable Polymers

点击翻译按钮获取中文摘要

The aim of the project is to develop a detailed understanding of how biopolymer-based nanoparticles such as cellulose and chitin nanocrystals (CNC and ChNC) interact with polymeric matrices. A rigorous characterisation of the properties of the building blocks, in terms of size (distribution), crystallinity and surface charge will enable us to develop standardised techniques for the reliable and robust use of these materials in composite systems. This project builds on the expertise within the group and will aim to develop control over the self-assembly properties of CNC and ChNC and directly apply them in the preparation of composite materials from guar and other cellulose derivatives. The student will identify the properties of CNC and ChNC that determines their dispersion in polymer matrices yielding composites, and determine how surface charge and morphology of the nanocrystalline materials obtained from different natural sources (and/or extracted with different procedures) affect the final properties of the composites. Moreover, we aim to develop a batch-independent isolation protocol that will enable optimised composite performance. In particular, we will focus our attention on other polysaccharides including guar and hydroxypropyl cellulose.