Mark T. Kortschot

Professional Engineers of Ontario (PEO)
Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Engineering (CAE)

Research

Optimizing the Performance of Polymers and Composites

The properties of materials cannot 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 a variety of polymers and polymer composites, 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.

Mechanical Behaviour of Composite Materials

We study the fundamentals of composite reinforcement in short fibre composite materials. We have recently published novel and simplified models for polymer composite viscoelasticity, and will use this framework to understand long term performance of composites.

Additive Manufacturing

Additive manufacturing, or 3D printing, is a method of producing solid objects by building them layer-by-layer on a platform using a digitally controlled deposition process. In order to produce structurally sound materials from polymers, fibres can be added to provide reinforcement. We study the 3D printing and the resultant properties of fibre composites produced on both thermoplastic and thermosetting 3D printing systems. While the mechanics of composite materials are well understood, the production of composites using 3D printing is still in its infancy.

**Please note that Professor Kortschot is not taking new graduate students at this time**

Selected Publications

Kortschot, M.T., Beaumont, P.W.R., “Damage Mechanics of Composite Materials I: Measurements of Damage and Strength”, Comp. Sci. Tech., Vol. 39, 289-301, 1990.

Jayaraman, K., Kortschot, M.T., “Correction to the Fukuda-Kawaji Young’s Modulus Theory and the Fukuda-Chou Strength Theory for Short Fibre-Reinforced Composite Materials”, Journal of Materials Science, Vol. 31, No. 8, pp. 2059-2064, 1996.

Doroudiani, S., Park, C.B., Kortschot, M.T., “Effect of the Crystallinity and Morphology on the Microcellular Foam Structure of Semi-Crystalline Polymers”, Journal of Polymer Engineering and Science, Vol. 36, pp. 2645-2662, 1996.

Doroudiani, S., Chaffey, C.E., Kortschot, M.T., “Sorption and Diffusion of Carbon Dioxide in Wood-Fibre/PolyStyrene Composites”, J. Polym. Sci. B: Polym. Phys., Vol. 40, No. 8, pp. 723-735, 2002.

Chakraborty, A., Sain, M. and Kortschot, M. “Cellulose Microfibrils: A Novel Method of Preparation using High Shear Refining and Cryocrushing”, Holzforschung, 59 (1): 102-107, 2005

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

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

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), pp. 2454-2466.

Du, Y., N. Yan, and M. T. Kortschot. (2014). “Novel lightweight sandwich-structure bio-fiber-reinforced poly(lactic acid) composites.” Journal of Materials Science. 49 (5): 2018-2026.