Nanotechnology & Wood Composites: Impact & Opportunity · Nanotechnology & Wood Composites: Impact...

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Nanotechnology & Wood Composites: Impact & Opportunity T.G. Rials The University of Tennessee Forest Products Center

Transcript of Nanotechnology & Wood Composites: Impact & Opportunity · Nanotechnology & Wood Composites: Impact...

Page 1: Nanotechnology & Wood Composites: Impact & Opportunity · Nanotechnology & Wood Composites: Impact & Opportunity ... • Biomimicry (giving something back) • Final thoughts. Defining

Nanotechnology & Wood Composites:

Impact & Opportunity

T.G. RialsThe University of Tennessee Forest Products Center

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A random walk…

• Nanotechnology materials (real and imagined)

• Benefit of advanced analytical methods• Biomimicry (giving something back)• Final thoughts

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Defining nanoscience and engineering…

• In the range of 1-100 nm

• Displays unique material behavior– Surface properties– Electrical properties– Optical properties– Mechanical properties

• Often addresses ordered systems

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Wood/Resin systems…• Nanoscale reinforce-

ment of resins– High surface area– Low levels of addition

• Modified clays most common (A. Ragauskas, GA Tech)

• Promising direction for:– Bacterial cellulose– Nanocrystalline

cellulose

http://www.chbmeng.ohio-state.edu/facultypages/leeresearch/3ThermosetNano.htm

S. Morris, University of BristolBacterial CelluloseJ. Simonsen (OSU); D. Gray (McGill U.); W. Winter (SUNY);

M. Roman (VTU)

T. Kondo (Tokyo U.);M. Brown (Texas A&M)

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Architectural coatings…• Notable nano success

in coatings (improved tennis balls; sunscreen)

• Similar opportunities for wood:– Optical clarity– Moisture resistance– Environmental

remediation

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Innovative wood protection…

Nanoseal Wood… self-assembling hydrophilic/hydrophobic system imparting long-lasting protection to wood (www.nanotech.com.au)

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Chemical processes…• Pulping

– Polyoxymetalates offer environmentally benign process (FPL)

• Biorefinery– Directed breakdown of

carbohydrate and/or lignin components

• Bioremediation

www.georgetown.edu/ faculty/popem/poster.htm

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Self assembling polymers…• Creates order at the

nanoscale– Cost effective

• Membrane technologies– Filters and separation

devices• Coatings• Derived from

biobased monomer systems (?)

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Room for innovation…• Quantum dots

– Absorb light and emit light at a shorter wavelength dependent on particle size

– Tag with functionality or enzyme

• Dip-pen lithography– Deposition of sensors and

labels– Form arrays of detectors (Bio

or chemical sensors)– Assemble molecules

• Micelle carriers– Tailor electrostatic charge and

hydrophobic/hydrophilic nature

http://www.qdots.com

Chemical Image

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Analytical advances…• Atomic force

microscopy (AFM/SPM)

• Surface plasmon resonance spectroscopy

• Neutron scattering & diffraction

• Spectroscopic imaging (FTIR, NIR, SIMS, etc.) A. Baker, http://spm.phy.bris.ac.uk/research/cellulose/

cellulose2.html

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Wood cell wall properties…

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140

Displacement (nm)

Mod

ulus

[E(F

); G

Pa]

Gindl, et al, BOKU, Vienna, AustriaWang, et al, Univ. of Tennessee

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Quantum dot array sensors…• Functionalized dots

attached to cellulase binding domain

• Interacts only with cellulose

• Conventional microscopy with filters to identify

M. Himmel, National Renewable EnergyLaboratory, Golden, CO

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Hierarchical order of wood…

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Wood – A biomimetic guide• Lyocell fiber substrate• Self-assembly of

carbohydrate on surface• Subsequent sorption of

lignin model• Much improved strain in

composite materials

Gradwell, et al, Plant Biology & Pathology (2004).

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Nanoscience pitfalls…• Toxicity

– Toxic nanoparticles– Unkown health risks

• Scaling– Production of carbon

nanotubes– Produce small parts on

large scale• Cost

• Qdots ~ $400/g• Low cost carbon

nanotubes ~ $0.40/g in bulk quantities

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Beyond baby steps…• New opportunity for real

innovation into new materials and new markets

• Obligation to pursue, vigorously, this new direction

• Cooperative research is critical element

• FPI support is vital for substantive progress

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Thanks go to…

• Dr. David Harper, Univ. of Tennessee• Dr. John Simonsen, Oregon State Univ.• Dr. Wolfgang Glasser, Virginia Tech• Dr. Maren Roman, Virginia Tech