MasterNanosciences, nanotechnologies

Description of the internship.

Few studies are dedicated to the identification of the impact of the CNC on the strain-induced crystallization (SIC) ability of the rubber matrix [2], a property known to generate an elastocaloric effect that can be suitable for the design of rubber based caloric machines. The elastocaloric effect occurs when stress is applied (or removed), and a phase transformation is induced, which causes the rubber to be heated rapidly up to a decade of degrees after the completion of its crystallization process. The goal of the internship is to prepare a series of vulcanized natural rubber/cellulose composites to characterize their tensile and elastocaloric performance. The addition of CNC with tailored surface properties is expected to play as a strain amplifier and hence improve the strain-induced crystallization and the resulting elastocaloric effect. This internship will open an international collaboration between Centre de Recherches sur les Macromolécules Végétales (CERMAV – Grenoble) and the group e-PASCOM (Eco-friendly Plastics and Composites) of the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya Barcelona Tech (UPC - Spain).
We envision the opportunity for the intern to stay at UPC for 2 to 4 months to work on the characterization of the composites.

Bibliography

[1] Fumagalli, M., Berriot, J., de Gaudemaris, B., Veyland, A., Putaux, J. L., Molina-Boisseau, S., & Heux, L. Rubber materials from elastomers and nanocellulose powders: Filler dispersion and mechanical reinforcement. Soft Matter, 14(14), 2638-2648, 2018
[2] Candau, N.; Cosas Fernandes, J. P.; Vasmer, E.; Maspoch, M. L. Cellulose Nanocrystals as Nucleating Agents for the Strain Induced Crystallization in Natural Rubber. Soft Matter, 18 (45), 8663-8674, 2022.

International collaboration

The project is in collaboration with the group e-PASCOM (Eco-friendly Plastics and Composites) of the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya Barcelona Tech (UPC - Spain).
Contact:
Nicolas CANDAU (nicolas.candau@upc.edu)

Expected skills

This internship is appropriate for a student of the master Nanochemistry. The candidate is expected to have a background in organic chemistry, polymers and composites and a good knowledge of characterization tools (mechanical testing, DMA, TGA, FTIR, NMR, DRX, microscopy…). He/she should have a good taste for experimental activities, such as the production of cellulose nanocrystals and their chemical modification, composites elaboration and their characterization.