M. T. Kortschot

B.A.Sc., M.A.Sc. (Toronto), Ph.D. (Cambridge), P.Eng.

Room: BA2110
Tel. 416-978-8926
Email: mark.kortschot@utoronto.ca

Memberships

Professional Engineers of Ontario (PEO)
Technical Association of the Pulp and Paper Industry
(TAPPI) (Past Chair of the TAPPI Paper Physics Committee)
American Society of Engineering Education

Research Interests

Optimizing the Performance of Natural Fibre Composites and Paper
The properties of materials can not be directly controlled: we are only able to control the structure of a material. In order to obtain the desired properties, we must first understand the complex relationship between structure and properties. Our group studies this relationship in polymers, composites and paper with an emphasis on strength, stiffness and fracture resistance. Students interested in materials science are needed, and a typical project includes elements of both experimental and theoretical work.

Here are some of the current projects we are working on.

Wood and Bio Fibre Reinforced Thermoplastics: Over the past ten years, our group has shifted resources into the area of natural fibre reinforced polymers (NFRP). NFRP represents the fastest growing area of the plastics industry, because these products can provide excellent performance in an environmentally friendly way. Recycled polymers can be combined with waste wood or agricultural fibres to produce useful structural materials, however, it is difficult to match the outstanding properties of wood and synthetic fibre composites. We work on experiments and models that help us to optimize the NFRP structure, so that the maximum properties are obtained.

Highlights of the past five years include the first published comprehensive mathematical models for predicting strength and modulus of short fibre NFRPs. Recently, we have also worked on new methods for imaging the internal structure of composites, and in particular, we are one of only two groups using x-ray microtomography to examine natural fibre reinforced thermoplastics. This technique produces a high resolution 3D map of the inside of the composite structure. A typical image is show at right.

My group has also published a series of four papers, one book chapter and numerous conference presentations on the creation and dispersion of nanocellulosic fibres. Along with a new method of creating the fibres, we developed a successful technique for melt blending an aqueous slurry of nanocellulosic fibers with molten hydrophobic thermoplastics.

Paper Science: In the past five years, we have examined the phenomenon of local roughening caused by rewetting in a printing process using optical profilometry. We have been able to determine the key aspects of paper structure that lead to resistance to rewetting. We have also confirmed, by tracking coloured microspheres before and after calendering, that the reduction in coating roughness during this process must be attributed entirely to thickness compression rather than lateral flow of the coating. We followed this up be designing a new microcompression tester, unique in the world, capable of measuring stress and strain during the compression of thin films at very high speeds. This work was funded by a consortium of paper companies and they will use the results to design new coatings that produce smoother paper.

Work is ongoing in these areas, and applications from qualified and ambitious students and Post Doctoral Fellows are always welcome.

Selected Publications

(2001-2007)

Facca, A.G., Kortschot, M. T., & Yan, N. (2007) “Predicting the tensile strength of natural fibre reinforced thermoplastics”, Composites Science and Technology, 67 (11-12), 2454-2466.

Chakraborty, A., Sain, M., Kortschot, M.T., Cutler, S., (2007) “Dispersion of Wood Microfibers in a Matrix of Thermoplastic Starch and Starch–Polylactic Acid Blend”, J. Biobased Mater.and Bioenergy, 1, pp. 71–77

Chakraborty, A., Sain, M. M., Kortschot, M. T., & Ghosh, S. B. (2007). “Modeling energy consumption for the generation of microfibres from bleached kraft pulp fibres in a PFI mill.”BioResources, 2 (2), 210-222.

Bhardwaj, S., Kortschot, M. T., & Farnood, R. R. (2006). “In-plane movement of coating pigments during hot-soft nip calendering of coated paper.”, Journal of Pulp and Paper Science, 32(4), 201-204.

Facca A.G., Kortschot MT, Yan N (2006) “Predicting the elastic modulus of natural fibre reinforced thermoplastics”, Comp Part A-Ap. Sci. and Manufacturing, 37 (10), pp. 1660-1671.

Chakraborty, A., Sain, M., & Kortschot, M. (2006). Reinforcing potential of wood pulp-derived microfibres in a PVA matrix. Holzforschung, 60(1), 53-58.

Chhabra, N., Spelt, J.K., Yip, C.M., Kortschot, M.T., (2005) “An Investigation of Pulp Fibre Surfaces by Atomic Force Microscopy”, Journal of Pulp and Paper Science., 31 (1), pp. 52-56.

Dixit, N., Kortschot, M. T., Sain, M., & Gulati, D. (2006). “Effect of interactions between interface modifiers and viscosity modifiers on the performance and processibility of the rice hulls-HDPE composites”. Journal of Reinforced Plastics and Composites, 25(16), 1691-1699.

Facca, A.G., Kortschot, M. T., & Yan, N. (2006). Predicting the elastic modulus of hybrid fibre reinforced thermoplastics, Polymers and Polymer Composites, 14 (3), 239-250.

Chakraborty, A., Sain, M., & Kortschot, M. (2005). “Cellulose microfibrils: A novel method of preparation using high shear refining and cryocrushing”. Holzforschung, 59(1), 102-107.

Akhtarkhavari, A., Kortschot, M.T., Spelt, J.K, (2004), “Adhesion and Durability of Latex Paint on Wood Fiber Reinforced Polyethylene", Progress in Organic Coatings, 49 pp. 33-41.

Doroudiani S., Kortschot M.T., (2004) “Expanded Wood Fiber Polystyrene Composites: Processing–Structure–Mechanical Properties Relationships”, Journal of Thermoplastic Composite Materials, 17 (1), pp. 13-30

Mao, C.Q., Kortschot, M.T., Farnood, R., Spelt, J.K., (2003), “Local rewetting and distortion of paper”, Nordic Pulp and Paper Research Journal, 18, (1),

Doroudiani, S., Kortschot, M.T., (2003), “Polystyrene Foams. I. Processing-Structure Relationships”, J.Ap.Polym.Sci., 90 (5), pp. 1412 - 1420

Doroudiani, S., Kortschot, M.T., (2003), “Polystyrene Foams. II. Structure-Impact Properties Relationships”, J.Ap.Polym.Sci., 90 (5), pp. 1421-1426

Doroudiani, S., Kortschot, M.T., (2003), “Polystyrene Foams. III. Structure-Tensile Properties Relationships”, J.Ap.Polym.Sci., 90 (5), pp. 1427-1434

Farhid, I., Kortschot, M.T., Spelt, J.K., (2002), Wood-Flour Reinforced Polyethylene: Viscoelastic Behavior and Threaded Fasteners, Polymer Engineering and Science, 42 (12), pp. 2336-2350.

Okada, R., Kortschot, M.T., (2002) “The Role of the Resin Fillet in the Delamination of Honeycomb Sandwich Structures”, Composites Science and Technology, 62 (14), pp. 1811-1819.

Doroudiani, S., Chaffey, C. E., & Kortschot, M. T. (2002). Sorption and diffusion of carbon dioxide in wood-fiber/polystyrene composites. Journal of Polymer Science, Part B: Polymer Physics, 40 (8), 723-735.