Environmentally Benign Polymer Nanocomposites

这项研究资助通过开发纳米复合材料的环境友好制造工艺，解决了塑料行业提高可持续性的迫切需求。通过工业生物技术对可再生资源进行负责任的转换，并通过纳米技术加以加强，生产出代表三重技术融合的绿色材料。这种融合产生了一类生物塑料，可称为Ecobionanocomposites。本项目的智力价值在于开发可持续的塑料技术。通过开发新的聚乳酸-接枝-纤维素纳米晶须超分子结构，将实现无石油可持续塑料的进展。在双螺杆挤出机反应增容的可行性正在论证和初步的生命周期分析完成。该项目推进了一个新的技术里程碑：基于100%可再生资源的聚合物纳米复合材料。预期的项目成果是与创造一系列可再生资源塑料相关的科学和技术知识。一旦所提出的方法被证明是可行的，新的纳米复合材料配方和加工技术将导致新型生物塑料的经济实用开发和商业化。这些生物塑料每年可以利用数百万磅国内生产的可再生能源，并促进国内就业增长。100亿磅/年的聚苯乙烯市场中有相当大的一部分可以被占领，从而更好地利用可再生能源，同时减少对外国石油的依赖并保护我们的环境。

This research grant addresses the critical need for improved sustainability in the plastics industries through the development of an environmentally benign manufacturing process for nanocomposites. Ecologically responsible conversion of renewable resources through industrial biotechnology, enhanced by nanotechnology, produces green materials that represent a triple technological convergence. This convergence is resulting in a class of bioplastics that can be referred to as Ecobionanocomposites. The intellectual merit of the present project rests in developing sustainable plastics technologies. Progress towards petroleum-free, sustainable plastics will be accomplished by developing new polylactide-graft-cellulose nanowhisker supramolecular structures. The feasibility of reactive compatibilization in a twin-screw extruder is being demonstrated and a preliminary life cycle analysis is completed. The project advances a new technical milestone: polymer nanocomposites based on 100% renewable resources. The expected project outcome is the scientific and technical knowledge associated with creating a series of renewable-resource-based plastics. Once the proposed approach is proven feasible, the new nanocomposite formulations and processing techniques will lead to the economically practical development and commercialization of novel bioplastics. These bioplastics could make use of millions of pounds of domestically produced renewables each year and boost domestic job growth. A sizeable portion of the 10 billion lb/yr polystyrene market could be captured, leading to better use of renewables while reducing dependence on foreign petroleum and protecting our environment.