Fabrication of 3D Printed Lignin/Polymer Nanocomposites with Enhanced Mechanical Properties

A large amount of plastic waste poses a threat to the environment. In recent years, there has been a movement to develop biodegradable composites. UBCO’s Nanomaterials and Polymer Nanocomposites Laboratory (NPNL) aims to develop biocomposites filaments with appropriate physical properties for 3D printing in collaboration with Advanced BioCarbon 3D (ABC3D). We intend to use poly(lactide acid) (PLA) as the matrix, and biobased fillers, such as lignin as the reinforcing agent, with a focus on enhanced mechanical properties. ABC3D has achieved remarkable progress in the extraction of lignin, 16 types of lignins featuring different physical and chemical properties, from the wood chips produced by forest industries. In this proposal, NPNL aims to help ABC3D develop the technology of fabrication of fully biodegradable lignin-based polymer composite filaments by tackling various challenges ranging from production (e.g., formulation, dispersion, etc.) to application properties (e.g., mechanical properties) utilizing a broad spectrum of characterization methods.

Faculty Supervisor:

Mohammad Arjmand

Student:

Partner:

Advanced BioCarbon 3D Ltd

Discipline:

Engineering

Sector:

Construction and infrastructure; Manufacturing

University:

The University of British Columbia - Okanagan

Program:

Accelerate

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