US Egypt Cooperative Research: Preparation of nano-fillers from waste materials and their application in papermaking industry

该合作研究项目由佐治亚理工学院佐治亚技术研究公司的邓玉林博士和埃及中央冶金研究开发研究所的赛义德·谢赫博士共同开展，主题是从废旧材料中制备用于造纸工业的纳米填料。这项研究将确定在纸张中加入纳米填料颗粒是否可以在不影响纸张重量或加工特性的情况下改善机械性能(例如，光滑度、增加表面积)。此外，调整纳米填料的形状和结构以增加表面积应该会减少所需的填料总量，而不会对拉伸强度产生不利影响。所制备的纳米填料将从尺寸和相结构、表面形态和结构性质、键类型和纳米结构表面电荷等方面进行表征。对所制备的含纳米填料的纸张进行了光学、物理、力学性能表征。此外，还将重点研究印刷密度、印刷光泽和油墨转移对印刷适性的影响。科学界和造纸业将受益于拟议的研究结果，以探索影响纸张加工关键性能的替代材料。纳米填料可能在特定的工业应用中提供有价值的特殊性质。这些结果还可能为深入了解细碳酸钙颗粒的分散行为以及如何控制表面化学以创建纳米级形貌提供依据。有一个合理的可能性是，可以生产有用的、低成本的矿物产品，这种使用可以帮助缓解废物处理问题，并取代更昂贵的矿物产品。此外，涉及绿色技术的国际交流可能会促进两国未来在相关领域的进展。这项合作是在两个高技能研究机构之间进行的，涉及美国和埃及的初级科学家。该项目由美国-埃及联合基金计划资助，该计划为两国的科学家和工程师提供资助，以开展合作研究。

This collaborative research project is being undertaken by Dr. Yulin Deng, Georgia Tech Research Corporation at the Georgia Institute of Technology, and Dr. Said El-Sheikh, Central Metallurgical Research and Development Institute of Egypt, on the topic of preparing nano-fillers from waste materials for use in the paper industry. The research will determine whether inclusion of nano-filler particles in paper can improve the mechanical properties (e.g. smoothness, increased surface area) without compromising paper weight or processing characteristics. Further, tailoring the shape and structure of the nano-fillers to increase surface area should reduce the overall amount of filler needed without adversely impacting tensile strength. The prepared nano-fillers will be characterized in terms of size and phase structure, surface morphology and structural properties, bond types, and nanostructural surface charge. The prepared paper with incorporated nano-fillers will be characterized in terms of optical, physical, mechanical properties. Printability will be also investigated focusing on print density, print gloss and ink transfer.The scientific community and paper industry will benefit from the results of the proposed research to explore alternate materials for influencing key properties of paper processing. Nano-fillers may offer special properties of value in specific industry applications. The results may also offer insight into the dispersion behavior of fine calcium carbonate particles and how surface chemistry can be controlled to create nanoscale morphologies. There is a reasonable likelihood that useful, low-cost mineral products can be produced and that such use can help alleviate a waste disposal issue and displace more expensive mineral products. Further, the international exchange, involving green technology, may foster future progress in related fields in both countries. The collaboration is taking place between two highly skilled research institutes and involves US and Egyptian junior scientists.The project is funded under the US-Egypt Joint Fund Program, which provides grants to scientists and engineers in both countries to undertake cooperative research.