STTR Phase II: Advanced Poly(lactide) (PLA) Materials for Extruded and Molding Applications

这个小型企业技术转移研究（STTR）二期项目建议制定和设计化学改性的生物基和可生物降解的聚（丙交酯）基化合物，以产生一种高强度、轻量化、多功能、环保和成本效益高的新型材料，作为石油基聚合物的替代品。NTIC已经成功地将一系列反应性混合生物基和/或可生物降解树脂商业化，用于挤出，成型和涂层应用。然而，由于当前PLAmaterials的机械性能差、价格高和密度大，它面临着一个主要障碍。在第一阶段的研究中，NTIC成功开发了新型的增容化学物质，以制造先进的PLA生物树脂，提高了PLA的韧性。新合成的材料应用于四种不同的加工平台，提供挤出薄膜、注塑餐具、挤出铜版纸和挤出吹塑瓶。第二阶段的资金将允许NTIC在初始试验成功的基础上，建立一个改进的、更广泛的高强度和经济上可行的PLA产品组合。这项研究的更广泛的影响是技术，环境和经济。这项工作将(1)拓宽PLA应用的性能窗口；(2)进一步了解聚乳酸及其化学成分(3)大大增加生物基产品在更大的工业和包装市场的使用，这意味着化石燃料资源的环境保护；(4)为新开发的nature - tec®产品的销售、制造和技术支持创造新的就业机会。

This Small Business Technology Transfer Research (STTR) Phase II project proposes toformulate and engineer chemically modified bio-based and biodegradable Poly(Lactide) basedcompounds, to generate a new class of materials that are, high strength, lightweight,multifunctional, environmentally friendly & cost-effective as an alternative to petroleum basedpolymers. NTIC has successfully commercialized a portfolio of reactive blended bio-basedand/or biodegradable resins for extrusion, molding, and coating applications. However, it faces amajor hurdle due to poor mechanical properties, high prices, and higher densities of current PLAmaterials. NTIC successfully developed novel chemistries of compatibilization to createadvanced PLA bio-resins that offer improved toughness in Phase I of this work. The newlysynthesized materials were applied in four different processing platforms to provide extrudedfilms, injection molded cutlery, extrusion coated paper, and extrusion blow molded bottles.Phase II funding will allow NTIC to build on the success of the initial trials and build animproved, broader portfolio of high strength and economically viable PLA based products.The broader impacts of this research are technical, environmental, andeconomical. This work will (1) widen the window of performance of PLA based applications; (2)further fundamental understanding of PLA and its chemistries (3) greatly increase the use ofbiobased products in larger industrial and packaging markets implying environmentalpreservation of fossil fuel resources; and (4) create new jobs for sales, manufacturing, technicalsupport of newly developed Natur-Tec® products.