SBIR Phase II: Surface Modified Polypropylene and Ultra- High Strength Polyethylene Fibers and Their Composites

这个小企业创新研究第二阶段项目的目标是完成选定的环氧树脂和水泥复合材料的开发和扩大规模的研究。第二阶段的计划包括：（1）开发和扩大磷酸化的聚乙烯和聚丙烯纤维;（2）开发和扩大聚乙烯环氧复合材料和水泥复合材料的基础上的聚乙烯或聚丙烯纤维;（3）确定和合作的制造合作伙伴建设中试规模的表面活化设施;（4）准备和评估原型的寻求产品;（5）在市场分析结束时准备复合材料中试工厂的全面生产计划。第三阶段的活动将包括试验工厂的建设/生产和复合系统的实地评价。该项目是第一阶段完成的三个部分中的两个部分的延续。 后者的目的是，并确定了使用表面活化的高分子量聚乙烯（PE-PE）纤维增强环氧树脂和丙烯酸树脂和水泥在非常低的负荷，以改善拉伸强度和冲击韧性的可行性。 阶段I的结果表明，不仅化学活化的聚乙烯，而且聚丙烯（PP）纤维可以改善环氧树脂和水泥，并在较小程度上，在约0.3至2.5%的纤维负载量的丙烯酸树脂的所寻求的性能。这一点，以及与用作骨水泥的丙烯酸复合材料相关的监管问题，导致II期研究集中在环氧树脂和骨水泥复合材料上。 本复合材料技术有望产生新一代高强度、抗冲击的水泥复合材料，其纤维含量为1%或更少（按体积计），环氧树脂复合材料的纤维含量为5-30%。这些系统的潜在应用包括它们用作（I）环氧树脂、用于装甲板和器具的复合材料;和（2）用于桥梁修复、水泥板和排水管道的水泥复合材料。

This Small Business Innovation Research Phase II project objective is to complete the development and scale-up study of selected epoxy and cement composites. Phase II plans include (1) developing and up-scaling the phosphonylation of UHMW-PE and PP fibers; (2) developing and up-scaling UHMW-PE epoxy composites and cement composites based on UHMW-PE or PP fibers; (3) identifying and collaborating with a manufacturing partner in constructing pilot-scale surface activation facilities; (4) preparing and evaluating prototypes of sought products; and (5) preparing composite pilot plant full manufacturing plans at the conclusion of market analysis. Phase III activities will include pilot plant construction/production and field evaluation of composite systems. This project represents a continuation of two of the three segments completed in Phase I. The latter was intended to and did determine the feasibility of using surface activated ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (UHMW-PE) fibers for reinforcing epoxy and acrylic resins and cement at very low loadings for improved tensile strength ad impact toughness. Phase I results show that not only chemically activated UHMW-PE but also polypropylene (PP) fibers can improve the sought properties of epoxy resin and cement and, to a lesser extent, an acrylic resin at fiber loadings of about 0.3 to 2.5% by volume. This, and the regulatory issues associated with acrylic composites for use as bone cement led to the focusing of Phase II study on epoxy and cement composites. The subject composite technology is expected to lead to the creation of a new generation of high strength, impact-resistant cement composites with 1% or less (by volume) fiber loading and epoxy composites with 5-30% fiber contents. Potential application of these systems include their use as (I) epoxy, composites for armor plates, and appliances; and (2) cement composites for bridge rehabilitation, cement boards, and drainage conduits.