"Development, processing and characterization of multiscale composite materials"

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Over the last decade, fundamental researches on polymer nanocomposites have lead to the development of new nanomodified polymers with improved mechanical, thermal and electrical properties. These nanomodified polymers can be incorporated in fibre reinforced composites by conventional processing methods to obtain a multiscale composite material with enhanced properties or multifunctional attributes. However, the integration of nanochemicals or nanoparticles has a huge impact on the polymer physico-chemical properties such as viscosity, crystallinity and curing behaviour. This often results in poor processability, which leads to large product variability, low quality and performance. Thus, more research on the development of these new multiscale composite systems must be conducted. The main objective of the proposed research program is to develop novel multiscale composite materials with nanomodified polymers and continuous fibres using an integrated framework that includes modelling, processing and characterization. The material systems will consist of synthetic and biobased epoxy resins, thermoplastics, carbon nanotubes, cellulose nanofibres, carbon fibres and natural fibres. This effort requires the development of models that predict the physical, mechanical and processing properties of nanomodified polymers as a function of nanoparticles dispersion, concentration, purification, functionalization and orientation. Furthermore, the development of innovative processing techniques to produce the nanomodified polymers and the multiscale composites is paramount. Finally, the characterization of processing, physical and mechanical properties is required to assess the quality of the produced multiscale composites. The proposed program could help develop new nanocomposites manufacturing techniques that will use the full potential of nanoparticles such as carbon nanotubes.