Summary
This document is a foundational experimental protocol titled Feasibility Study of Hemp-Derived Carbon Nanosheet Reinforcement in Epoxy and Bio-Based Vitrimer Composites. Authored by Marie-Soleil Seshat Landry and published by Landry Industries Inc. and Seshat's Composites based in Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada, the protocol carries version number 1.5 and is dated October 27, 2026. Designated at Technology Readiness Level 1-2, the protocol sets out rigorous hypotheses, methods, and decision criteria for a research and development initiative, deliberately containing no experimental results to ensure that all stated thresholds and benefits remain design targets rather than validated figures.
The primary objective of the study is to determine whether epoxy-impregnated hemp-derived carbon nanosheets provide measurable improvements in composite mechanical and physical properties compared to untreated nanosheets. Secondary objectives include quantifying epoxy uptake, evaluating compatibility with bio-based epoxy vitrimer systems, establishing processing baselines for future scale-up, and benchmarking nanosheets against conventionally carbonized hemp char from the same feedstock. The protocol explores multiple filler loading ranges from dilute to maximum limits, tests various dispersion routes including ethanol-assisted mixing and furfuryl glycidyl ether (FGE) reactive diluents, and screens interphase agents designed to improve interfacial load transfer.
The protocol is structured into comprehensive sections covering background and rationale, research objectives, hypotheses, materials, experimental design, nanosheet impregnation procedures, and epoxy uptake determination. It details composite manufacturing protocols, testing specimens and standards, mechanical and physical characterization, microscopy analysis, and bio-based vitrimer evaluation including stress relaxation and reprocessability. Further sections address loading sweeps, maximum loading calculations, interphase agents, Phase 2 extensions to other matrix classes, data analysis procedures, success criteria, safety and handling guidelines, and a comprehensive list of references.
A central focus of the protocol is the unique morphology of hemp bast fibre-derived interconnected carbon nanosheets, initially developed for supercapacitor electrodes by David Mitlin's group at the University of Alberta. The protocol proposes redeploying these nanosheets, tentatively designated as Mitlinite, as structural reinforcement phases. It investigates whether vacuum or ambient pre-impregnation of porous nanosheets prior to compounding drives resin into the pore network and enhances micromechanical interlocking, thereby improving matrix adhesion and mechanical strength over conventional chars.
The experimental design outlines five distinct experimental groups: neat matrix controls, untreated nanosheets, ambient-soaked impregnated nanosheets, vacuum-impregnated nanosheets, and conventional hemp char comparison groups. Loadings are methodically swept across multiple regimes, accompanied by extensive testing according to ASTM standards for tensile, flexural, compressive, hardness, and density properties. Special attention is given to bio-based epoxy vitrimers, assessing whether dynamic bond-exchange, reprocessability, and self-healing potentials are maintained after filler incorporation.
Phase 2 of the protocol extends the methodology beyond epoxies and vitrimers to other matrix classes including unsaturated polyesters, thermoplastics, elastomers, ceramics, metals, and cementitious binders. Each class is subjected to specific dispersion recommendations, matching neat controls, and stringent comparison criteria. The protocol also establishes explicit success criteria, such as achieving at least five percent increases in tensile and flexural strengths alongside reduced void content and improved nanosheet distribution.
This protocol serves as an essential resource for composite materials researchers, polymer scientists, bio-based materials engineers, and industrial R&D teams seeking sustainable reinforcement strategies. It provides a complete roadmap for transitioning agricultural waste streams into high-performance structural nanocomposites, complete with record sheets, safety precautions, and precise mathematical formulas for calculating epoxy uptake, void content, and blend stoichiometry.
