NER: Biodegradable Green Nanocomposites for Automotive Applications

该提案是根据纳米尺度科学与工程计划NSF 01-157， NER类别收到的。绿色纳米复合材料是未来的潮流，被认为是下一代材料。美国政府为创造生物经济而设定的崇高目标对工业、学术界和农业提出了重大挑战。该提案旨在通过一种新的汽车应用方法，取代现有的石油衍生聚丙烯/热塑性烯烃（TPO）基纳米复合材料，由相容粘土增强纤维素生物塑料制成。通过纳米科学方法从可再生资源中获得的新型生物基产品；在这项高风险探索性研究（NER）提案中，具有回收能力和触发生物降解性（即在其预期使用寿命内稳定，在堆肥条件下处理后可生物降解），具有商业可行性和环境可接受性的材料被称为可持续绿色纳米复合材料。本提案的主要目的是用可再生资源为基础的生物可降解聚合物取代这种石油衍生的不可生物降解聚合物。纳米粘土和生物塑料之间的相容性是取得成功的关键。一种新型马来化增容剂可以有效地结合粘土和纤维素生物塑料在增容绿色纳米复合材料中。我们的研究证明了纤维素生物塑料在设计高冲击高强度绿色纳米复合材料方面的“概念验证”。从我们的初步数据中，我们发现了令人鼓舞的结果，其中热膨胀系数（CTE）下降了~ 50%，吸水率下降了~ 14%，纤维素塑料的增强量为5%，与收到的商业粘土相同。然而，随着相容剂的存在，我们期望得到的目标纳米复合材料的性能得到很大的改善。马来化增容剂、生物塑料开发和新工艺的协同作用将导致可持续的环保绿色纳米复合材料的工业吸引力。这一计划中的研究项目通过校企互动，旨在让年轻的研究生/本科生意识到增加新型绿色纳米复合材料的材料和工艺工程知识，并使他们意识到独特的纳米技术在为21世纪的汽车工业生产环境友好、价格合理的绿色材料方面日益重要。我们的研究证明了纤维素生物塑料在设计高冲击高强度绿色纳米复合材料方面的“概念验证”。从我们的初步数据中，我们发现了令人鼓舞的结果，其中热膨胀系数（CTE）下降了50%，吸水率下降了14%。然而，随着相容剂的存在，我们期望得到的目标纳米复合材料的性能得到很大的改善。马来化增容剂、生物塑料开发和新工艺的协同作用将导致可持续的环保绿色纳米复合材料的工业吸引力。这一计划中的研究项目通过校企互动，旨在让年轻的研究生/本科生意识到增加新型绿色纳米复合材料的材料和工艺工程知识，并使他们意识到独特的纳米技术在为21世纪的汽车工业生产环境友好、价格合理的绿色材料方面日益重要。

0210681 Drzal This proposal was received in response to the Nanoscale Science and Engineering Initiative NSF 01-157, category NER.Green nanocomposites are the wave of the future and are considered as the next generation of materials. The lofty goals set by U.S. Government for the creation of bio-based economy present significant challenges to Industry, Academia and Agriculture. This proposal seeks to replace/substitute existing petroleum derived polypropylene/TPO (thermoplastic olefin) based nanocomposites from compatibilized clay reinforced cellulosic bio-plastic through a novel approach for automotive applications. A new bio-based product derived through nano-science approach from renewable resources; having recycling capability and triggered biodegradability (i.e. stable in their intended lifetime and would biodegrade after disposal under compost conditions) with commercial viability and environmental acceptability is termed as sustainable green nanocomposites under this high-risk exploratory research (NER) proposal. The main objective of this proposal is to replace such petro-derived nonbiodegradable polymers with renewable resource-based biodegradable polymers. Compatibilization between the nanoclay and bioplastic is the key to achieving success. A new maleated compatibilizer is targeted to effectively bind both the clay and cellulosic bio-plastic in the compatibilized green nanocomposites.Expected Results Our research has proved the "proof of concept" on promising potentiality of cellulosic bio-plastic in designing green nanocomposites for high impact and high strength applications. From our preliminary data we find encouraging results where the coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) decreased by ~ 50% and water absorption decreased by ~ 14% on reinforcement of cellulosic plastic with 5 wt.% as received commercial clay. However with the presence of compatibilizer we expect to get much improved properties of our targeted nanocomposites. The synergy to be gained by maleated compatibilizer, bio-plastic development and novel processing will result in making sustainable eco-friendly green nanocomposites of industrial attractions. This intended research program through University-Industry interactions is expected to create a consciousness among young graduate/undergraduate students in adding knowledge of materials and process engineering of new green nanocomposites and to create the growing importance of unique nano-technology to generate eco-friendly affordable green materials for 21st century automotive industries.Expected Results Our research has proved the "proof of concept" on promising potentiality of cellulosic bio-plastic in designing green nanocomposites for high impact and high strength applications. From our preliminary data we find encouraging results where the coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) decreased by ~ 50% and water absorption decreased by ~ 14% on reinforcement of cellulosic plastic with 5 wt.% asreceived commercial clay. However with the presence of compatibilizer we expect to get much improved properties of our targeted nanocomposites. The synergy to be gained by maleated compatibilizer, bio-plastic development and novel processing will result in making sustainable eco-friendly green nanocomposites of industrial attractions. This intended research program through University-Industry interactions is expected to create a consciousness among young graduate/undergraduate students in adding knowledge of materials and process engineering of new green nanocomposites and to create the growing importance of unique nano-technology to generate eco-friendly affordable green materials for 21st century automotive industries.