Bio-Based New Materials and Green Nanotechnology

Research Interests:

• Biofibers and biocomposites, wood fiber and wood/plastic composites
• Synthesis of bio-polyols from plant oils, their polyurethanes and biocomposites
• Biobased Polyesters and their Composites
• Biobased Epoxies and their Composites
• Bio-based polymers (Polylactides-PLA, Polyhydroxyalkanoates-PHAs, Cellulose plastics, Soy protein plastics, Distillers Dried Grains with Solubles-DDGS plastics, lignin plastics, poly(trimethylene terephthalate)-Sorona™ Polymer), their blends, composites and nanocomposites
• Surface treatment of micro and nanofibers and fiber-matrix adhesion
• Biocomposites from flax, hemp, kenaf, jute, sisal, henequen, cellulose, bamboo, talc and fly ash
• Reactive extrusion processing
• Extrusion and injection molding of biocomposites
• Multilayer injection molding
• Biocomposite sheet molding compounds
• Biocomposite powder processing (BioSMC)
• Microwave processing of biocomposites
• Vacuum assisted resin transfer molding (VARTM) of biocomposites
• Novel materials derived from starch and chitosan
• Thermoplastic and thermoset nanocomposites
• Nanobiocomposites from carbon nanotubes, alumina nanowhisker, silver nanoparticles and cellulose nanocrystals
• Self-cleaning/ultrahydrophobic nanocoatings, adhesives, paints
• Electrospinning processing
• Application of nanotechnology in pathogen detection, air pollution detection and remediation, drug delivery systems, pest detection and control, water treatment, agricultural productivity enhancement and safety

Selected Publications:

Huda, M.S., V. Balan, L.T. Drzal,  S.P.S. Chundawat, B.E. Dale, M. Misra. (2007). Effect of ammonia fiber expansion(AFEX) and silane treatments of corncob granules on the properties of renewable resource based bio-composites. Journal of Biobased Materials and Bioenergy. 1:127–136.

Liu, W., L.T. Drzal, A.K. Mohanty, M. Misra. (2007). Influence of processing methods and fiber length on physical properties of kenaf fiber reinforced soy based biocomposites. Composites Part B: Engineering: Special Issue (Biocomposites). 38(3):352-359.

Miyagawa, H., A.K. Mohanty, R. Burgueño, L.T. Drzal, M. Misra. (2007). Novel Biobased Resins from the Blends of Functionalized Soybean Oil and Unsaturated Polyester Resin. Journal of Polymer Science Part B: Polymer Physics. 45:698–704.

Zampaloni, M., F. Pourboghrat , James Moore, S.A. Yankovich, B.N. Rodgers, L.T. Drzal, A.K. Mohanty and M. Misra. (2007). Kenaf Natural Fiber Reinforced Polypropylene Composites: A Discussion on Manufacturing Problems and Solutions. Composite Part A: applied science and manufacturing. 38A(6):1569-1580.

Tummala, P., W. Liu, L.T. Drzal, A.K. Mohanty, M. Misra. (2006). Influence of plasticizers on thermal, mechanical properties and morphology of soy based bioplastics. Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research. 45:7491-7496.

Huda, M.S., L.T. Drzal, A.K. Mohanty, M. Misra. (2006). Wood Fiber Reinforced Poly(lactic acid) Composites: Physico-Mechanical and Morphological Properties Evaluation. Journal of Applied Polymer Science. 102:4856-4869.

Pandey, J.K., A.P. Kumar, M. Misra, A.K. Mohanty, L.T. Drzal, R P. Singh. (2005). Recent Advances in Biodegradable Nanocomposites. Journal of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology. 5(4):497-525.