Kim Anh Pham

Advisors: Kyriaki Kalaitzidou, Tequila A.L Harris, Karl I. Jacob

will defend a doctoral thesis entitled,

Scalable Approaches to Manufacturing Nanocellulose-Glass Fiber Reinforced Composites

On

Friday, October 24th at 9:AM a.m.

MRDC room 4211

and/or

 Virtually via  Microsoft Teams Link

Committe

            Prof. Kyriaki Kalaitzidou – MSE/ME (advisor)

            Prof. Tequila A. L. Harris – ME (advisor)
            Prof. Karl I. Jacob – MSE (advisor)
            Prof. Robert J. Moon – RBI

      Prof. Meisha Shofner – MSE

Abstract

Glass fiber reinforced polymer (GFRP) composites are versatile materials with widespread use in the transportation industry, and the increasing demand for more sustainable technologies have motivated the research in the past decade to focus on improving their mechanical properties while reducing their specific weight with the end goal of increasing fuel efficiency. The goal of this study is to further the understanding of the effect of CNC on GRFP performance and to develop a scalable methodology facilitating CNC incorporation into composites for high volume production.

To accomplish this goal, a novel scalable approach of vacuum-assisted slot die coating on a roll-to-roll is adapted to deposit uniform CNC sizing onto GF fabrics. The coating method is studied using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modeling and validated using experimental trials to predict operating parameters, coating outcomes, and further the understanding of processing conditions of coating CNC dispersions onto GF fabric. The effect of CNC concentration, functionalization, GF type, and the application of vacuum are evaluated using single fiber fragmentation tests (SFFT) and mechanical tests to determine their influence on GF-matrix interfacial adhesion and GFRP laminate properties. The ability of CNC to enhance GFRP properties in high-volume production is explored using pilot-scale sheet molding compound (SMC) manufacturing, using CNC as a lightweight reinforcement and filler to replace heavy CaCO3 filler within resin matrix while enhancing GFRP performance.

Both coating and SMC studies demonstrate the potential of CNC to greatly enhance GFRP interfacial, tensile, flexural, and interlaminar properties, leveraging the mechanical interlocking and chemical bonding with GF and polymer resins whether CNC is deposited at the GF-matrix interface or within the matrix. This work provides complete scalable methodologies and furthers the understanding of using CNC to produce improved GFRPs for high-volume structural applications.