SBIR Phase I: An Environmentally Sustainable Approach to PVC-Free Flooring

SBIR 第一阶段：无 PVC 地板的环境可持续方法

• 批准号: 1248584
• 负责人: Gregg Bennett
• 金额: $ 15万
• 依托单位: Interfacial Solutions LLC
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2013
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2013-01-01 至 2013-06-30
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1248584&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: SBIR; Phase; Environmentally; Sustainable; Approach

This Small Business Innovation Phase I project proposes to develop technology and products that will eliminate the use of polyvinylchloride (PVC) in one of its largest volume uses, flooring materials. Interfacial Solutions has recently demonstrated that a high volume low cost plastic waste stream can be converted into a valuable flooring sheet product by using innovative material compounding and novel continuous sheet processing techniques. The high volume low cost plastic waste stream comprises polyolefins that have been reclaimed from waste streams typically having little value and usually discarded to landfills. Innovations to effectively homogenize the variability in the waste stream and remove contaminants have been developed to create a plastic compound that can be converted into flooring sheet materials and potentially useful as a replacement to PVC in the flooring market. A novel process to continuously create sheet materials has also been determined. To complete the development of this technology and disrupt incumbent products, the new technology needs to be advanced to improve the adhesive bonding between layers in the flooring construction, engineer flame retardant properties to meet industry specifications, and demonstrate a cost effective process with the durability and performance of current products. The broader impact/commercial potential of this project is the removal of PVC from flooring products and the conversion of a significant plastic waste steam into useful products. The waste stream being utilized is largely scrapped into landfills today. From an environmental and health risk standpoint, PVC is problematic. Worldwide, government agencies and NGOs are seeking alternatives for PVC replacement. Furthermore, PVC cannot be easily recycled, and therefore a significant source of waste once it has reached a products? end of life, also with significant health and environmental consequences during disposal due to its propensity to liberate dioxins. By developing this new technology to convert a low cost plastic waste stream into composite materials with properties comparable or exceeding PVC, an opportunity exists to remove some 2 billion square meters of PVC flooring per year. The technology platform developed by this proposal can also be of utility in replacing chemically treated plywood used in outdoor signage, marine plywood and concrete forms.

这个小企业创新第一阶段项目建议开发技术和产品，以消除聚氯乙烯（PVC）在其最大的用途之一，地板材料中的使用。 Interfacial Solutions最近证明，通过使用创新的材料复合和新型连续板材加工技术，可以将大量低成本塑料废物转化为有价值的地板板材产品。 高容量低成本塑料废物流包含聚烯烃，所述聚烯烃已经从通常具有很少价值的废物流中回收并且通常被丢弃到垃圾填埋场。 已经开发了有效地使废物流中的可变性均匀化并去除污染物的创新，以产生可以转化为地板片材的塑料化合物，并且可能用作地板市场中PVC的替代品。 还确定了一种连续制造片材的新方法。 为了完成这项技术的开发并颠覆现有产品，需要推进新技术，以改善地板施工中层间的粘合剂结合，设计阻燃性能以满足行业规范，并展示具有当前产品耐久性和性能的成本效益工艺。该项目更广泛的影响/商业潜力是从地板产品中去除PVC，并将大量塑料废蒸汽转化为有用的产品。今天，被利用的废物流大部分被废弃到垃圾填埋场。 从环境和健康风险的角度来看，PVC存在问题。 在世界范围内，政府机构和非政府组织正在寻找PVC替代品。 此外，PVC不易回收，因此一旦到达产品，它就是一个重要的废物来源。由于其易于释放二恶英，在处置过程中也会对健康和环境造成严重后果。 通过开发这种新技术，将低成本的塑料废物转化为性能与PVC相当或超过PVC的复合材料，每年有机会消除约20亿平方米的PVC地板。 该提案开发的技术平台也可用于替代室外标牌、船用胶合板和混凝土模板中使用的化学处理胶合板。