03/26/2026
By Danielle Fretwell

The Francis College of Engineering, Department of Plastics Engineering, invites you to attend a Master's Thesis defense by Anirudh Thorbole on: " Utilizing Enzymatic Degradation and Phase Separation to Generate Micro/Nano-Scale Mass Transport Networks in Organic Binder Systems for Ceramic Green Bodies."

Candidate Name: Anirudh Thorbole
Degree: Master’s
Defense Date: Thursday, April 9, 2026
Time: 10 a.m. - noon
Location: Ball Hall 313

Committee:

  • Advisor: Amy Peterson, Professor, Plastics Engineering, University of Massachusetts Lowell
  • Jay Park, Associate Professor, Plastics Engineering, University of Massachusetts Lowell
  • Christopher Hansen, Professor, Mechanical Engineering, University of Massachusetts Lowell

Abstract: 

A common approach to fabricating ceramic components involves forming a composite of ceramic powders within an organic binder, followed by debinding and sintering. While the binder phase plays a critical role in processing and final part quality, its design and morphology are often an afterthought since they do not appear in the final product. This study investigates the role of phase separation and morphology in multi-component binder system consisting of polycaprolactone (PCL) and paraffin wax and creating mass transport network through enzymatic degradation. Binder morphology and phase distribution were characterized using atomic force microscopy (AFM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and fluorescence microscopy with staining of the PCL phase. Combined, these microscopy approaches confirmed the presence of PCL-rich domains and network-like structure within the binder system. 

Enzymatic degradation using lipase was employed to selectively cleave ester bonds in the PCL phase, leading to removal of PCL. SEM and fluorescence microscopy of enzymatically degraded samples revealed sites of polymer degradation on the surface and towards the interior, with no penetration to the core. Despite the formation of these transport pathways, the structural integrity of the green body was maintained, with alumina particles remaining well bonded within the matrix. Overall, this study explores characterization of phase separation and selective enzymatic degradation that can provide a controlled strategy for creating a micro/nano-scale mass transport network to improve debinding behavior without compromising structural stability in ceramic green bodies.