CAREER: Renewable Polymers and Composites Derived from Hydrocarbon-Rich Natural Rosin

技术概述：该研究项目旨在探索潜在的革命性概念，通过从天然资源中寻找新的单体和聚合物来减少对石油的依赖。增加可再生聚合物在商业市场上的份额的主要障碍之一是，与石油化学品生产的合成聚合物相比，它们的成本高，性能差。南卡罗莱纳大学（University of South Carolina）的CAREER项目专注于利用低成本的富含碳氢化合物的自然资源，作为具有定制性能和可控结构的聚合物材料的组成部分。该研究的总体目标是将大体积的苯基松香整合到聚合物框架中，以提高热塑性塑料、可生物降解树脂和生物复合材料的玻璃化转变温度和疏水性。该计划包括开发新的合成方案，通过高效的点击化学和各种控制聚合技术，制造松香衍生的单体和聚合物，并通过平行努力将松香为基础的原料与(1)可生物降解聚乳酸，(2)基于可再生脂肪酸的聚合物，(3)基于木质素和纤维素纳米晶须的生物复合材料结合起来。该项目还旨在研究大分子组成和结构如何决定这些材料的热、表面和机械性能，并建立明确的结构-性能关系。所提出的努力可能最终导致PI实现宏观可加工性和物理性质类似于那些由石油化学品制成的聚合物。非技术总结：合成塑料占全球化石燃料消耗量的7%。能源短缺和环境问题促使寻求开发可再生资源以制造“绿色”塑料的机会。分子工程松香衍生聚合物和复合材料是扩大增值可再生塑料的可行替代材料，这将导致石油化学品需求的减少。该项目将为研究生和本科生提供聚合物合成和表征方面的培训机会。该计划的一个重要组成部分是为高中生、本科生和研究生提供几个综合教育活动，通过增加全球研究和教育培训机会来激发他们对科学和技术的兴趣。所有学生都将接受一些设施的培训，参加地方和国家会议，并在进行研究的过程中与合作者密切互动。制定可持续材料和纳米技术教育国际推广计划，促进在可再生材料和环境影响方面的全球合作/网络，并将加强美国学生的全球能力和竞争力。该项目的一个直接成果将是用于教育示范的可再生聚合物原型的开发。此外，还将支持经济困难的高中生进行暑期研究的“项目种子计划”。代表性不足的学生将是所有教育活动的重要组成部分。这个项目也将作为研究生的综合教育经验。

TECHNICAL SUMMARY: This research program seeks to explore potentially transformative concepts to lessen the dependence on petroleum by seeking novel monomers and polymers from natural sources. One of the major hurdles to increasing the share of renewable polymers in the commercial market is their high cost and inferior performance compared with synthetic polymers produced from petroleum chemicals. This CAREER project at the University of South Carolina is focused on the use of low cost hydrocarbon-rich natural resources as a building block of polymeric materials with tailored properties and controlled structures. The overall goal of the proposed research is to integrate bulky hydrophenanthrene-based rosin into polymeric framework to increase glass transition temperature and hydrophobicity in thermoplastics, biodegradable resins and biocomposites. This program includes the development of new synthetic protocols for making rosin-derived monomers and polymers through highly efficient click chemistry and a variety of controlled polymerization techniques, and through parallel efforts to combine rosin-based feedstock with (1) biodegradable polylactide, (2) polymers based on renewable fatty acids, and (3) biocomposites based on lignin and cellulose nanowhiskers. This project also aims to investigate how macromolecular compositions and architecture dictate thermal, surface and mechanical properties of these materials and to establish a clear structure-property relationship. The proposed efforts may ultimately lead the PI to achieve macroscopic processability and physical properties resembling those polymers made from petroleum chemicals. NON-TECHNICAL SUMMARY: Synthetic plastics account for consumption of ~7% of fossil fuels worldwide. Energy shortage and environmental concerns prompt opportunities to seek developing renewable resources for manufacturing of "green" plastics. Molecularly engineered rosin-derived polymers and composites are viable alternative materials to broaden value-added renewable plastics, which will result in a decrease in demand of petroleum chemicals. This program will provide training opportunities to graduate students and undergraduate students in polymer synthesis and characterization. An important component of this program involves several integrated educational activities for high school, undergraduate and graduate students to stimulate their interest in science and technology with enhanced global research and education training opportunities. All students will be trained on a number of facilities, participate in local and national meetings, and interact closely with collaborators in the process of performing the research. An International Outreach Program for the Education in Sustainable Materials and Nanotechnologies will be developed to facilitate global cooperation/network in addressing renewable materials and environmental impact, and will strengthen the global competence and competitiveness of US students. One direct outcome of this program would be the development of prototype renewable polymers for educational demonstration. Furthermore, a Project Seed Program will be supported to allow high school students from economically disadvantaged families to carry out summer research. Underrepresented students will be an important part of all educational activities. This program would also serve as an integrated educational experience for graduate students.