Dr David Fengwei Xie, EPSRC Fellowship
Breaking Frontiers for Advanced Engineering of Bespoke, Functional Biopolymer Composite Materials
Materials development plays a vital role in the advance of human civilisation and many types of materials have been invented and used in human history.
Plastics (polymers) are one of the most important types of materials nowadays. They are synthesised from fossil resources and are prolific across the globe. However, in the wake of plastic issues such as microplastic pollution, and the urgency of addressing health, environmental and natural resource challenges, sustainable, environmentally-friendly and functional materials are in high demand.
Harnessing the value of biomass sources
Renewable biomass (plant or animal material that is used as fuel to produce electricity or heat) can be easily sourced from by-products of agriculture, aquaculture and the food industry. Biomass contains biopolymers such as cellulose, chitin/chitosan, starch, alginate, and gelatin, which are valuable resources for making biodegradable, bioresorbable, biocompatible, biosafe materials.
In addition, these biopolymers have unique properties and functions, which make them highly potential in important, rapidly growing applications, such as biological devices, green electronics, sensing, dye and heavy metal removal, and oil/water separation.
Therefore, materials based on biopolymers could actually complement petroleum-derived plastics for biomedical, environmental remediation, and commodity applications.
Biomass is plant or animal material that often used as an energy source. Pictured above: wood biomass.
Plastics (polymers) are synthesised from fossil resources. More sustainable, environmentally-friendly materials are in increasing demand.
The role of 3D printing in developing biopolymer composite materials
Biopolymers exhibit chemical and physical properties that are very different from traditional polymers. Enormous challenges exist when it comes to processing biopolymers and achieving the desired properties and functions - all whilst remaining cost-effective.
In this five-year EPSRC fellowship, Dr David Fengwei Xie, based in WMG’s International Institute for Nanocomposites Manufacturing (IINM), will focus on chemical modification and the smart design of materials formulation and engineering process to develop 3D-printable biopolymer composite materials with tailored structure, properties, and functionality. 3D printing has attracted enormous interest in recent years due to its capability to create customised 3D architectures to meet diverse application needs.
By exploiting the unique characteristics of biopolymers and developing new engineering processes based on 3D printing, Dr Xie aims to deliver revolutionary materials solutions for both environmental sustainability and human health.
Visit Dr Xie's Biopolymers and Biocomposites page to find out more about his research