NER: Biodegradable Green Nanocomposites for Automotive Applications

0210681 Drzal该提案是对纳米科学与工程倡议NSF 01-157，类别NER的响应。绿色纳米复合材料是未来的潮流，被认为是下一代材料。 美国政府为创建生物经济设定的崇高目标对工业，学术界和农业提出了重大挑战。该提案寻求通过用于汽车应用的新方法来从相容化粘土增强的纤维素生物塑料替代/替代现有的石油衍生的聚丙烯/TPO（热塑性烯烃）基纳米复合材料。 通过纳米科学方法从可再生资源中获得的新生物基产品;具有回收能力和触发生物降解性（即在其预期寿命内稳定，并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，在此高风险探索性研究（NER）提案中被称为可持续绿色纳米复合材料。 该提案的主要目标是用基于可再生资源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。 一种新的马来酸化的相容剂是有针对性的，以有效地结合粘土和纤维素生物塑料在相容的绿色nanocomposites.Expected Results我们的研究已经证明了“概念证明”的纤维素生物塑料在设计绿色纳米复合材料的高冲击和高强度的应用前景的潜力。 从我们的初步数据中，我们发现令人鼓舞的结果，其中热膨胀系数（CTE）降低了约50%，吸水率降低了约14%，纤维素塑料的增强量为5重量%。如所接收的商业粘土。 然而，随着相容剂的存在，我们期望得到我们的目标纳米复合材料的性能大大改善。 马来化增容剂、生物塑料开发和新工艺的协同作用将导致制造具有工业吸引力的可持续生态友好型绿色纳米复合材料。通过大学与产业的互动，这一预期的研究计划有望在年轻的研究生/本科生中创造一种意识，增加新的绿色纳米复合材料的材料和工艺工程知识，并创造独特的纳米技术的日益重要性，为21世纪的世纪汽车工业生产生态友好的负担得起的绿色材料。纤维素生物塑料在设计高冲击和高强度应用的绿色纳米复合材料方面的潜力。 从我们的初步数据中，我们发现令人鼓舞的结果，其中热膨胀系数（CTE）降低了约50%，吸水率降低了约14%，纤维素塑料的增强量为5重量%。收到的商业粘土。 然而，随着相容剂的存在，我们期望得到我们的目标纳米复合材料的性能大大改善。 马来化增容剂、生物塑料开发和新工艺的协同作用将导致制造具有工业吸引力的可持续生态友好型绿色纳米复合材料。通过大学与产业的互动，这一预期的研究计划预计将在年轻的研究生/本科生中创造一种意识，增加新的绿色纳米复合材料的材料和工艺工程知识，并创造独特的纳米技术的日益重要性，以产生21世纪世纪汽车工业的环保型负担得起的绿色材料。

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.