NATMAT Group
Natural Materials & Biocomposites Research Group
The Biomaterials Engineering Group at University of Canterbury is engaged in research into novel environmentally, sustainable materials with the aim of reducing New Zealand’s reliance on materials derived from petrochemicals. Currently, the group is working on the processing of New Zealand flax fibre (Harakeke), hemp fibre and other sources of cellulose for use in bio-plastics. The research involves the chemical, thermal and enzymatic treatment of these natural fibres to make them suitable for use as reinforcement in biocomposites. The structure of the fibres are characterised after treatment using electron microscopy, wet chemistry and spectroscopy techniques. The mechanical properties (e.g. strength) of the fibres are measured using specialized equipment within our group to monitor the effect of various treatments in order to optimize processing treatments. Finally the fibres are combined with bio-plastics to form composites using standard processing routes such as hot compression under vacuum. An extensive range of facilities permits the assessment of mechanical, viscoelastic and thermomechanical properties of the final composite material. We are currently searching for collaborations with those interested in fibre extraction for use in industrial composite products. If you are interested in becoming involved in university-based research then please contact Mark Staiger.
The Group
UC academic staff:
| Dr Mark Staiger | Mechanical Engineering (all-cellulose composites, electrospinning, bacterial cellulose composites) |
| Assoc. Prof. Shusheng Pang | Chemical Engineering (wood-polymer composites processing and properties) |
| Dr Peter Gostomski | Chemical Engineering (bacterial cellulose processing and properties) |
| Prof. Ken Marsh | Chemical Engineering (ionic liquids, cellulose dissolution) |
| Dr. Owen Curnow | Chemistry (ionic liquids, cellulose dissolution) |
| Prof. Juliet Gerrard | Biological Sciences (protein chemistry and properties) |
NZ collaborators:
| Dr. Nick Tucker | Plant & Food Research (electrospinning, natural fibre composites) |
| Dr. Roger Newman | Scion Ltd. (cellulose chemistry, solid state NMR, biocomposites) |
International collaborators:
| Prof. Jörg Müssig | University of Applied Sciences, Bremen, Germany (biocomposites) |
| Prof. Dieter Veit | RWTH Aachen, Germany (textiles) |
Ph.D. students:
- Mr. Tim Huber (all-cellulose composites)
- Mr. Andre Pinkert (cellulose chemistry and dissolution, ionic liquid chemistry)
- Mr. Jonathan Stanger (electrospinning)
- Mr. Pablo Lepe (electrospinning)
Recently graduated postgraduates:
- Dr. Benoit Duchemin
- Dr. Kamal Adhikary
- Ms. Sandra Korte (Masters)
- Mr. Haiyuan Piao (Masters)
Previous Project/COP students:
Benoit Duchemin, Vincent Bideaud, Sandra Korte, Marie Houillon, Mathieu
Bailly, Dominique Chiffre, Christophe Castan, Alexander Kermer, Karen
Denizot, Till Hermanns, Stephen Eilbraucht, Michael Lengersdorf, Remi
Guigon.
Current and Recent Research
- All-cellulose composites
- Cellulose-based biofoams
- Chemical, hydrothermal and enzymatic treatment of natural fibres
- Treatment of hemp fibre for use in biocomposites
- Bacterial cellulose-reinforced nanocomposites
- NZ flax fibre (Harakeke)-reinforced polymer composites
- Interfacial properties in biocomposites
- Recycled wood fibre-recycled polymer composites
- Environmental performance of biocomposites
Recent Publications
Refereed journal publications
B.J. Duchemin, R.H. Newman and M.P. Staiger, "Aerocellulose based on
all-cellulose composites", Journal of Applied Polymer Science, accepted
B.J. Duchemin, R.H. Newman and M.P. Staiger, "Structure-property
relationship of all-cellulose composites", Composites Science and
Technology, accepted.
J.J Stanger, N. Tucker, K. Kirwan and M.P. Staiger, ³Effect of charge
density on the Taylor cone in electrospinning², International Journal of
Modern Physics B, in press.
J.J Stanger, N. Tucker, K. Kirwan and M.P. Staiger, "The effect of
electrode configuration and substrate material on the mass deposition
rate of electrospinning", Journal of Applied Polymer Science, in press.
K.B. Adhikary, S. Pang and M.P. Staiger, ³Effects of Accelerated
Freeze-Thaw Cycling on Physical and Mechanical Properties of Wood
flour-Recycled Thermoplastic Composites², Polymer Composites, in press.
K.B. Adhikary, S. Pang and M.P. Staiger, ³Accelerated ultraviolet
weathering of recycled polypropylene-sawdust composites², Journal of
Thermoplastic Composite Materials, in press.
J.J. Stanger, M.P. Staiger, ³Electrospinning A Review², Rapra Report,
in press.
J.J. Stanger, M.P. Staiger, N. Tucker and K. Kirwan, ³Effect of charge
density on the Taylor cone in electrospinning², Solid State Phenomena,
151, 2009, pp. 54-59.
Laboratory Facilities
- Fibre treatment laboratories
- Laboratory Carding
- Vacuum hot pressing
- Vacuum oven drying
- Full range of mechanical testing
- Single fibre testing
- Dynamical Mechanical Analyser (Perkin Elmer Diamond DMA)
- Dynamical Mechanical Analyser (TA Instruments, TA800 with humidity control)
- Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC, Perkin Elmer 8000)
- Atomic force microscopy
- FE Scanning electron microscopy
- Transmission electron microscopy
Sponsors and Collaborations
- NZ Foundation for Research, Science and Technology (FRST)
- Plant and Food Research
- Scion
- AgResearch
- Brian Mason Scientific and Technical Trust
- EcoFibres Pty. Ltd. (Australia)
Research Opportunities
Postgraduate Research Projects Available.
If the research direction of the Materials Group is of interest to you, and you are in possession (or about to be) of a good Honours degree in Mechanical Engineering, please contact Dr Mark Staiger, mark.staiger@canterbury.ac.nz to discuss the research opportunities that the Group has to offer.