Natural Materials Utilized Artificial Cork Synthesis
Abstract
Natural cork with its intriguing properties and sustainability has received significant interest in various research areas. Despite its potential, its non-uniform material properties and restricted harvesting regions limit the use of cork into only a few applications. Therefore, in this project, we investigate a new approach to overcome the aforementioned challenges which allows for synthesizing artificial cork with uniform yet controllable material properties. Natural cork will be depolymerized and separated into their main chemical components, which will be then reassembled into an artificial cork along with the corresponding chemical components from other natural materials. By mimicking natural cork’s cell morphology, closed-cells will be created, and cellular structures will be developed throughout the artificial cork polymer solid, foaming an “artificial cork.” We will chemically extract the various components of cork not only from natural cork but also from potato and other natural materials to study the feasibility of utilizing other natural materials in synthesizing artificial corks. Polymerization kinetics of extracted suberin monomer will be thoroughly investigated for the use of a matrix material, and the polymer material will be reinforced by lignin and cellulose to possess uniform and controllable properties. Closed-cell morphology inside the material will be created and developed by employing a microcapsule foaming technique which is typically used for providing excellent thermo-mechanical stability. Cell morphology design of artificial cork will be conducted by controlling several foaming parameters. In addition to the synthesis of artificial cork with uniform and controllable properties, fundamental understanding of the microstructure-property relationship, and the underlining physical and chemical properties of natural cork will open up a way for us to utilize and design natural materials for a wide variety of engineering applications...
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Sep 19, 2018
- Source ID
- FA23861814035
Entities
People
- Jonghwan Suhr
Organizations
- Air Force Office of Scientific Research
- Sungkyunkwan University
- United States Air Force