SBIR Phase I: Feasibility of US Grown Bamboo Fiber Processing for Use in Reinforced Composites

这个小企业创新研究第一阶段项目将解决目前限制全球复合材料竹纤维生产的三个主要因素。首先，所有的天然纤维从空气中吸收水分，并与环境直接接触。其次，天然纤维复合材料的强度小于用玻璃纤维增强的复合材料。这种强度降低的部分原因是纤维和树脂基体之间的粘合不良。劳动密集型的原材料加工要求是阻碍美国发展竹业的第三个因素。所有这三个问题都将通过一种新的纤维提取和处理工艺来解决。竹纤维增强材料的开发将推动植物纤维产品的发展。该过程的其他重要创新方面在于能够在美国种植的竹子品种的评估，原料竹子加工的自动化，利用废料中和处理废水以及实施完全优化的多步骤材料功能化过程。该项目的更广泛的影响/商业潜力将是增加可持续材料的使用，增加美国农业的收入，增加新的创新产品线的国内和国际销售，以及支持竹纤维增强复合材料的研究、制造和销售的额外工作。特别是竹子可以为制造商提供成本较低的增强材料，具有与玻璃纤维相似的特定机械性能。竹纤维在复合热塑性塑料中用作增强材料，在热固性复合材料中用作纤维增强材料，市场尚未开发。一种新的加工技术的发展将使该团队能够通过提供可以与传统玻璃纤维竞争的产品来利用这个市场。这一过程将支持一个全新产业的诞生，扩大美国农业，并鼓励美国制造的环保产品在全球分销。此外，这些新产品增加了竹子的种植，将有助于减轻不利的环境影响，改善公众健康。这将通过植物生长周期内在的二氧化碳封存和减少与使用高能纤维加工技术有关的污染来实现。

This Small Business Innovation Research Phase I project will address the three major factors currently limiting the global production of bamboo fibers for composites. First, all natural fibers absorb water from the air and direct contact from the environment. Second, the strength of natural fiber composites is less than that of composites reinforced with glass fibers. Part of this reduced strength is a result of the poor bonding between the fiber and the resin matrix. The labor-intensive raw material processing requirements constitute a third factor which inhibits the US in particular from developing a bamboo industry. All three of these issues will be addressed through a novel fiber extraction and treatment process. Development of bamboo fiber reinforcements will advance the state-of-the-art for plant fiber products. Additional significant innovative aspects of this process lie in the assessment of a bamboo species capable of being grown in the US, automation of raw bamboo processing, utilization of waste products for neutralization of treatment wastewater and implementation of a fully optimized multi-step material functionalization process. The broader impact/commercial potential of this project will be an increased usage of sustainable materials, increased revenue for US agriculture, increased domestic and international sales of a new and innovative product line, and additional jobs in support of research, manufacturing, and sales of bamboo fiber-reinforced composites. Bamboo in particular can provide manufacturers with a reduced-cost reinforcing material that has similar specific mechanical properties to fiberglass. An untapped market exists for the use of Bamboo fibers as reinforcements in compounded thermoplastics and as fiber reinforcement material in thermoset composites. The development of a novel processing technique will enable the team to capitalize on this market by supplying products which can compete with traditional fiberglass. This process will support the birth of an entirely new industry that expands US agriculture and encourages global distribution of US-manufactured, environmentally friendly products. Moreover, increases in Bamboo cultivation as result of these new products will help mitigate adverse environmental impacts and improve public health. This will be done by the inherent sequestration of carbon dioxide in the plant growth cycle, and a reduction in the pollution associated with the use of high-energy fiber processing techniques.