Provning av enstaka naturfiber mot höga prestanda naturfiberbaserade produkter

Research Project, 2020 – 2021

Purpose and goal: Natural fibres provide exciting opportunities for future sustainable, lightweight, low-cost, and high-performance products. However, the properties of natural fibre based products are not on par, partly due to the fact that natural fibres tend to absorb water, and consequently their mechanical properties deteriorate.
How different humidity levels affect the properties of natural fibres is not yet fully understood, particularly on the single fibre level. In this project, we will develop a first-of-its-kind testing platform that combines high throughput and in-situ testing.

Expected results and effects: In this project we will develop a micromechanical platform for accurate testing of single natural fibres under variable humidity levels. This platform can provide both sufficient data for good statistics and enough details for fundamental understanding of various mechanisms. We will use this platform to test both wood and jute fibres.

Approach and implementation:
1. Developing the platform for high throughput testing Due to the intrinsic natural variability, the properties of wood and jute fibres are highly scattered. Hence, the capability of testing a large number of fibres is crucial. Here, we will realise quick and accurate micromechanical testing on the single fibres. 2. Enabling in-situ capabilities of the platform The goal is to enable the platform to be used for in-situ testing with detailed observation and accurate control of the relative humidity between 0-100% at room temperature.