Mechanics and manufacturing of crosslinked cellulose nanocomposites

Cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) are naturally derived and renewable nanostructures with exceptional mechanical and chemical properties. Consequently, CNCs provide a compelling platform to study the mechanical properties and manufacturing processes of nanocomposites, toward sustainable, high-performance structural materials. This thesis presents the formulation, mechanics and additive manufacturing of CNC composites with high hardness and toughness. A gel precursor is formulated, combining CNCs, oligomers and solvent; and net-shape forming and additive manufacturing of macroscopic parts are achieved by a UV and thermal curing sequence. Characterization of CNC composites by nanoindentation and bi-modal atomic force microscopy (AFM) reveals a nanoscale grain structure and fracture toughening mechanism.

Name thesis:degree_name

Doctoral

Department dc:contributor.department

Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Mechanical Engineering

Grantor dc:publisher

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Year dc:date.issued

2019

Author dc:creator

• Rao, Abhinav.

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• A. John Hart.

• Mechanical Engineering.

Statement dc:rights

• MIT theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed, downloaded, or printed from this source but further reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission.

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/121847

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:dspace.mit.edu:1721.1/121847