U.S.-Bulgaria Cooperative Research on Environmentally Friendly Manufacturing of Polymeric Materials from Natural Wastes

9514149标志这一美国-保加利亚合作研究奖将研究“利用中性废物制造环境友好型聚合物材料”。主要研究人员是辛辛那提大学的J.E.Mark博士和索非亚大学的B.S.Fakirov博士。理论发展表明，当半刚性链处于变形状态时，通过干燥膨胀的网络可以获得异常良好的力学性能。这种方法最近被证明用于纤维素酯和醚以及一些聚(正烷基硅氰酸酯)，产生的杨氏模量和拉伸强度增加了4到5倍。拟议的研究旨在将这些成功的实验扩展到高度可降解的明胶形式的胶原蛋白。这种材料特别适合于开发这种技术，原因有很多，包括：(1)使用非常温和的加工条件从天然废物中生产的可能性；(2)水的溶解性；(3)生物降解性，没有污染问题；(4)低成本；(5)作为食品的可消耗性。他们的期望是开发实验室规模的技术来制造明胶纤维和明胶薄膜，这些纤维和薄膜具有更好的机械性能，有可能用作商品材料和商品。根据获得的结果，可以尝试将优化后的技术商业化。这项化学研究实现了将美国和保加利亚的顶尖专家聚集在一起，在平等、互惠和互利的基础上，在共同利益和能力强的领域结合互补努力和能力的计划目标。***

9514149 Mark This U.S.-Bulgaria Cooperative Research award will study "Environmentally Friendly Manufacturing of Polymeric Materials from Neutral Wastes." The principal researchers are Dr. J. E. Mark of the University of Cincinnati, and Dr. B. S. Fakirov of Sofia University. Theoretical developments indicate that unusually good mechanical properties can be obtained by drying swollen networks of semi-rigid chains while they are in the deformed state. This approach was recently demonstrated for cellulosic esters and ethers and for some poly(n- alkylisiocyanates), yielding increases in Young's modulus and tensile strength by factors of 4 to 5. The proposed study aims at extension of these successful experiments to collagen in the form of highly-degradable gelatin. This material is particularly suited for the development of such techniques for a number of reasons, including: (1) possibility of production from natural wastes using very mild processing conditions; (2) water solubility; (3) biodegradability, with absence of pollution problems; (4) low cost; and (5) consumability as a food product. The expectation is to develop laboratory-scale technology for manufacturing gelatin fibers and films with improved mechanical properties potentially usable as commodity materials and goods. Depending on the results obtained, an attempt could be made to commercialize the optimized technology. This research in chemistry fulfills the program objectives of bringing together leading experts in the U.S. and Bulgaria to combine complementary efforts and capabilities in areas of strong mutual interest and competence on the basis of equality, reciprocity, and mutuality of benefit. ***