I-Corps: Commercialization Feasibility of Biodegradable Thermoplastics Cornstarch (TPS) Hybrid Multi-layer Blown Films and 3D Printing Filaments by Novel Processes

该项目的主要目标是验证新开发的共熔吹膜工艺的概念，以及开发3d打印技术的新材料，这可能有助于减少持续不可生物降解的塑料废物的数量。通过绿色创新，该项目有可能成为生产由可生物降解玉米淀粉热塑性塑料（TPS）混合材料和可生物降解长丝制成的多层共聚薄膜的领导者。在项目结束时，研究人员计划展示以下能力：通过新工艺生产的可生物降解多层薄膜，用于3d打印的新型可生物降解细丝，以及由新型可生物降解材料制成的3d原型产品。最近，全球对用可生物降解的混合材料取代石油基合成聚合物产生了兴趣，以利用可再生资源，并有可能减少持久性不可生物降解塑料废物的数量。如果成功，这个项目的成果将产生一种新的可生物降解的多层膜。此外，通过该项目，研究人员计划开发一种以绿色创新为重点的教育模式，以促进STEM领域的本科研究。

The primary goals of the project are to validate the concept of newly developed co-ex blown film processes and to develop new materials for the filament of 3-D printing technology which may help in reducing the amount of persistent non-biodegradable plastics waste. This project has the potential to be a leader in producing multilayer co-ex films made of biodegradable cornstarch thermoplastic (TPS) hybrid materials and biodegradable filaments for 3-D printing through green innovation. At the end of the project, researchers plan to demonstrate the following capabilities: biodegradable multi-layer films produced by novel processes, new biodegradable filaments for 3-D printing, and 3-D prototype products made of the new biodegradable materials. There has been a recent global interest in replacing petroleum-based synthetic polymers with biodegradable hybrid materials to use renewable resources and potentially reduce the amount of persistent non-biodegradable plastics waste. If successful, the outcomes of this project would result in a new biodegradable multi-layer film. Additionally through this project researchers plan to develop an educational model focused on green innovation to promote undergraduate research in the STEM fields.