Research Areas

Hemp-Clay Composites
This research explores the viability of using clay as a binder in hemp-based building composites. The research will compare the mechanical and thermal performance of hemp-clay composites with those of hemp-lime (hempcrete) composites.

Hemp Fiber Composites
The production of the binders commonly used in hemp fiber-based composites such as polymers contributes over 60% of their total environmental impact. This research focuses the development of hemp-fiber composites as a sustainable alternative to widely available synthetic fiber composites which often employ formaldehyde binders. The research explores alternative additives such as paper pulp, casein, and soybean protein.

Life-Cycle Assessment
This research comprises a techno-economic assessment (TEA) to understand how the hemp-based building materials would compare to conventional construction materials. Systems boundaries includes all life-cycle stages of the hemp products, namely. The analysis is geospatially explicit, assessing realistic travel distances for raw feedstocks and finished products within Virginia and beyond.

Composites Reinforced with Hemp Nanocellulose
Plant-based nano materials, as cost-effective and sustainable materials, can provide advantageous material characteristics when included in polymer or cement composites. This research investigates the extraction of micro- and nano-cellulose such as cellulose microfibers, cellulose nanocrystals, and cellulose nanofibrils from hemp stalks and their effects on mechanical, thermal, and/or rheological properties of composite materials.