Towards bio-inspired thermoplastic composites: nanostructuration and interfaces as keys (BIONANINT)
Description
In nature, materials such as wood, bone, and tendon exhibit remarkable mechanical performance thanks to hierarchically organized structures in which nanostructuration and interfaces play a critical role in transferring stress [1,2]. Inspired by these natural systems, nanocomposites offer a promising route to design sustainable materials with enhanced performances. Understanding and characterizing the polymer/nanoparticle interfacial behavior is thus essential to optimize their performance and mimic the robustness of natural materials. Among nanoparticles, nanocelluloses (nanofibrils and nanocrystals) are biobased and biodegradable nanoparticles derived from cellulose microfibrils. They exhibit low density, high specific surface area, outstanding mechanical strength, excellent thermal stability and barrier properties [3]. Hence, they present a great potential as reinforcing agents in polymer matrices for several sectors [4,5]. The current issues related to the use of nanocelluloses in thermoplastic polymers are poor dispersion and the quality of the nanocellulose/matrix interface [4,6-7]. Our collaboration with Pr P. Zinck (Univ Lille) has demonstrated the significant effect of the addition of different types of functionalized cellulose nanocrystals (polycarbonate and PLA-grafted CNC [8,9]) into poly (butylene adipate-co- terephtalate), PBAT on the tensile properties of the resulting PBAT/CNC nanocomposites [10]. By controlling the surface chemistry of CNC, and hence their dispersion and interfacial adhesion with PBAT, it was possible to tailor the tensile properties of the composites. However, many questions remain: in particular, what are the respective roles of nanostructuration and interfacial adhesion?
The objective of this thesis is to tailor the interface in a nanocomposite based on functionalized CNC and a thermoplastic matrix, in order to elucidate the role of nanostructuration and interfacial phenomena on the resulting thermo-mechanical performances of the composites. To this end, the present PhD will be a joint supervision between Université de Lille (CNC functionalization with well-mastered protocols from Pr Zinck’s team) and IMT Mines Alès (elaboration of nanocomposites, characterization of interfacial interactions with multi-scale microscopy and rheological analysis, and the mechanical behaviour (tensile, impact)). This work will strengthen PCH’s impact in the fields of interfacial physical chemistry and the use of cellulose nanomaterials as polymer reinforcements for various applications (transport, packaging, energy…). Moreover, the PCH unit will foster strategic collaborations with researchers in molecular dynamics, mechanical modelling, plant structural biology, thereby promoting interdisciplinary research and driving progress in bio-inspired and sustainable material design.
Bibliography
Bibliography
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[9] Lalanne-Tisné M., Eyley S., De Winter J., Favrelle-Huret A., Thielemans W., Zinck P. (2022). Cellulose nanocrystals modification by grafting from ring opening polymerization of a cyclic carbonate. Carbohydrate Polymers, 295, 119840.
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