Cellulose is the most abundant renewable resource on earth. It forms the structure of all trees and plants, and represents Maine's largest natural resource. While a variety of nanomaterials have been the subject of large research investments, cellulose nanofibrils have been less studied. The Advanced Structures and Composites Center's nanocellulose research program focuses on utilizing lower cost nanocomposites made from cellulose to develop the next generation of lightweight high performance, bio‐based materials for a variety of defense, infrastructure, and energy applications.

Publications

• Kiziltas A, Gardner DJ, Han Y, Yang H. 2011. Dynamic mechanical behavior and thermal properties of microcrystalline cellulose (MCC)-filled nylon 6 composites. Thermochimica Acta 519: 38-43

• Kiziltas A, Gardner DJ, Han Y, Yang H. 2011. Thermal properties of microcrystalline cellulose-filled PET-PTT blend polymer composites. Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry 103:163-170

• Yang H S, Gardner DJ, Nader JW. 2011. Dispersion evaluation of microcrystalline cellulose/ cellulose nanofibril-filled polypropylene composites using thermogravimetric analysis. Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry 103(3):1007-1015

• Yang H, Gardner DJ. 2011. Morphological characteristics of cellulose nanofibril-filled polypropylene composites. Wood and Fiber Science 43(2): 215-224

• Duguay JA, Nader  J W, Kiziltas A, Gardner DJ, Dagher J H. 2011. Mechanical properties of exfoliated graphite nanoplatelet (XGNP) filled impact modified polypropylene Kiziltas, A, Han, Y, Gardner, DJ, Neivandt, D, Rushing, T, Nader, J. 2011. Functionalized Carrier Systems for Cellulose Nanofibrils Designed for Polymer Composites. TAPPI International Conference on Nanotechnology for Renewable Materials, June 6-8, 20113-26, Long Beach, CA, 2011

• Nader.W, Kiziltas A, Gardner DJ, Parent J. 2010. Effect of Compounding Method on the Mechanical Properties of Polypropylene-Clay Nanocomposites. Nanotechnology 2010: Fabrication, Particles, Characterization, MEMs, Electronics and Photonics; Technical Proceedings of the 2010 NSTI Nanotechnology Conference and Expo, 2010

• Peng Y, Han Y, Gardner DJ. 2010. Cellulose nanofibrils reinforced inorganic wood composites. Society of Wood Science and Technology Annual Meeting, Oct 11-14, 2010, Geneva, Switzerland. In: Proceedings of the International Convention of Society of Wood Science and Technology and United Nations Economic Commission for Europe - Timber Committee Oct 11-14, Geneva, Switzerland. Paper WS-59 1-9

• Kiziltas A, Gardner D, Han Y, Yang H. 2010. Determining the mechanical properties of microcrystalline cellulose (MCC)-filled PET-PTT blend composites. Wood and Fiber Science, 42(2) 165-176

Media

•  TAPPI Nanocellulose youtube video explaining cellulosic nanomaterial.

Factsheet

• Nanocomposite Poster

Research Partners

• Engineering Research and Development Center (ERDC), U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Products Laboratory 

Center Contact

• Douglas Gardner, Professor of Wood Science and Technology

  Douglas.gardner@umit.maine.edu

   

  207-581-2846

Graduate Students

• Alex Duguay and Alper Kiziltas