Multifunktionale zellulosebasierte Fasern, Grenzschichten und Verbundwerkstoffe

• Applicant: Professorin Dr.-Ing. Edith Mäder
• Subject Area: Polymer Materials
• Term: from 2011 to 2014
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 193749609

Cellulose based fibres are being widely used as reinforcement for polymer based composites. The main subject of this research proposal is to develop high performance and multifunctional cellulose based fibre reinforced polymer composites by incorporating multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) “confined” in the interphase between fibre and matrix. To reach this target, the most challenging task is to tailor the distribution of MWNTs on fibre surfaces. The work mainly comprises three parts: 1) Preparation of MWNT aqueous dispersions with good stability/dispersibility and defined surface charge with the aid of different surfactants and water soluble celluloses. 2) Surface modification of cellulose based fibres with MWNT aqueous dispersions to generate multifunctional cellulose based fibres and in turn, multifunctional cellulose based fibre reinforced polymer composites. 3) Characterization of nanoscale profiles of physical and mechanical properties of interphase using Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) based elasticity/electricity/thermal mapping techniques (force volume nanoindentation, electric force microscopy, mircro-/nano-thermal analysis), in order to identify the interactions between interphase properties and composite properties.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants