Grants and Contributions:

Grant or Award spanning more than one fiscal year (2017-2018 to 2018-2019).

Performance BioFilaments Inc. (PBI) is a Canadian company currently commercializing a highly fibrillatedx000D
nanocellulosic material known as Cellulose Filaments (CF). CF are produced from wood pulp through anx000D
extensive mechanical refining step. In this project, CF is proposed as a biobased reinforcement forx000D
polyurethane foams (PUF). For a six months period, three important objectives will be pursued: 1) to determinex000D
the effect of water concentration (blowing agent) on the final PUF density, 2) to optimize the PUF formulationx000D
(base components and additives) as for commercial productions, and 3) to determine the effect ofx000D
reinforcement type (different PBI products) on the overall PUF properties.x000D
For each step, a full PUF characterization will be performed: density, morphology (fiber size, dispersion andx000D
adhesion with the matrix in the composite, as well as cell size, geometry and density in the foams) andx000D
compression testing. In particular, different testing velocity will be used to determine the viscoelastic propertiesx000D
(static and dynamic measurements) of the materials produced. Also, long term stability and resistance of thex000D
foams (aging properties) will be studied.x000D
So the main objective of this investigation is to develop new applications for the FC produced by PBI. Thex000D
success of this project would greatly benefit the competitiveness of PBI in a fast-growing but competitivex000D
global market of polymer composites and foams based on natural resources, a field where the Canadianx000D
economy is highly important.