jobbank.dk: Effect of nanofillers on the properties of biopolymers as determined by micromechanical testing (SOL-11-1)

<div id="noframeDescription"> As recently reported, the mechanical properties of biopolymers such as polylactide (PLA) can be quickly screened using a micromechanical technique developed at DTU Nanotech. In addition to speed and delivering property values (e.g., modulus) comparable with data from macro-scale testing, the method potentially offers ways to evaluate a material’s response to different conditions of temperature and humidity. The project will extend the work by examining the application and value of this procedure when applied to combinations of biopolymers with organic and inorganic nanofillers (i.e., bionanocomposites), which are of considerable interest for future applications in areas as diverse as food packaging, electronics and medicine. Project activity will take place at both Risø DTU and DTU Nanotech. Purpose To explore micromechanical testing of biopolymer nanocomposite films using a cantilever method developed at DTU Nanotech Description Biopolymers derived from non-petroleum sources, including such examples as thermoplastic starch, polylactides, and polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs), are of wide interest in fields as diverse as food packaging, composites, electronics and medicine. In response to this demand, production capacities are increasing and new products are regularly entering the market. Further uptake of these renewable polymers would be feasible if certain key characteristics, namely barrier, mechanical and thermal properties, could be improved. For this reason, there has been extensive research on formation of biopolymer nanocomposites, especially through incorporation of nanoclays. Using conventional techniques, mechanical properties of biopolymer nanocomposites are measured by means of tensile testing under controlled conditions using thin strips of film. However, through collaboration with Stephan Keller in Professor Anja Boisen’s group at DTU Nanotech, a technique for rapid screening of mechanical properties has been established based on micromechanical testing of biopolymer cantilevers (Figure 1). Specifically, measurement of the resonance frequency of the cantilevers under vacuum allows the Young’s modulus to be calculated. Complementary measurement of mechanical properties may be obtained at FEMTO-ST in Besancon, France The objective of the proposed project will be to produce a series of biopolymer films using simple spin-coating or solvent casting and to then generate parallel series of bio-nanocomposite test samples in which the selected biopolymers will be combined with varying concentrations of commercial nanoclays or nanofibrillar cellulose (NFC) (Figure 2). In the latter case, NFC will be functionalized in order to achieve better compatability with hydrophobic biopolymers. In addition to determining Young’s modulus of bio-nanocomposite cantilevers, the dispersion of the nanofillers will be characterized microscopically and experiments conducted under controlled conditions should allow the hydrolytic degradability of the selected materials to be assessed. The output from the project will allow validation of the cantilever method for micromechanical testing of bio-nanocomposites and also indicate the general utility of this method for assessment of other bio-material properties. Figure 1: Fabricated polymer cantilevers Figure 2: FEG-SEM image of an NFC film surface Qualifications Bachelor’s degree Project form Thesis Subjects Chemistry Materials Duration 5-6 months</div> <div id="noframeInfo" title="Info"> Interesseret? Angiv venligst i din ansøgning, at du har set opslaget i Akademikernes Jobbank. Bedøm os: Er vi en arbejdsplads for dig? Fortæl os hvorfor? 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Opret en agent og få tilsendt sidste nyt fra virksomheden.  ',CENTER,BELOW,OFFSETY,20,WIDTH,200,FGCLASS,'overlibFG',BGCLASS,'overlibBG');" onmouseout="return nd();" onsubmit="$('#messageContent').html('Opretter tilmelding...'); $('#messageBox').animate({ top: '-700px' },'fast',function() { $('#messageBox').animate({ top: '90px' },'fast') }); $.get('/ajax.asp?act=virksomhed/follow/14803/219667/job&mail='+$('#followMail273214221').val(),function(data) { $('#messageContent').html(data); }); return false;"> Følg os: Få vores job og nyheder! Virksomhed Risø DTU Aktiveret 10. januar 2012 Opslagstype Studieprojekt Geografi StorkøbenhavnRoskilde områdetUdlandet (øvrige) Uddannelse Kemi, Biotek & MaterialerMatematik, Fysik & Nano Arbejdsområde Kunst & KulturForskning & UdviklingMarketing & ReklameNaturvidenskabSalgTeknik</div>