SBIR Phase II: Bamboo Fiber Processing for Use in Reinforced Composites

这个小企业创新研究第二阶段项目将消除生产用作聚合物复合材料增强材料的竹纤维的剩余障碍。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，以及增加一条新的创新产品线的国内和国际销售。该项目的成功还将带来支持这些复合材料的研究、制造和销售所需的国内就业机会。在这一第二阶段项目中最后确定的流程将支持基于美国制造的环保产品的新生产品的增长。在推出三年内，预计销售竹纤维将产生超过400万美元的收入。此外，这些新产品带来的竹子种植增加将有助于减轻对环境的不利影响，并改善公众健康。这将通过在植物生长周期中内在地隔离二氧化碳，以及减少与使用高能玻璃纤维和塑料加工技术相关的污染来实现。这一第二阶段项目将解决以下研究主题：品种多样性、可制造性、额外的高价值产品、额外的综合性能、加工和处理优化以及商业放大。该小组将通过使用细丝拉伸测试来评估原料变化的机械和物理影响。针对竹纤维的表面处理将最终完成，目标是增加纤维与基质的界面粘附力，减少吸水率，并至少与三种主要树脂系统兼容。这些处理将通过复合材料拉伸测试、长丝测试和水浸泡测试进行评估。将进行制造研究，以验证与商业规模制造设备的兼容性。小型批处理厂的设计和制造将解决技术和自动化方面的挑战。该工厂将为一个商业规模的工厂提供一座桥梁，该工厂旨在年产600万磅纤维。该项目的其他创新方面在于评估与美国气候相适应的竹子品种，实现原料竹子加工的自动化，以及实施完全优化的多步骤材料功能化过程。

This Small Business Innovation Research Phase II project will eliminate remaining barriers to the production of bamboo fibers for use as a reinforcement in polymer composites. The broader impact/commercial potential of this project will be an increased usage of sustainable materials, increased revenue for US agriculture, and increased domestic and international sales of a new and innovative product line. Success in this project will also lead to domestic job creation needed to support the research, manufacturing, and sales of these composites. The processes to be finalized during this Phase II project will support the growth of a nascent based on US-manufactured, environmentally-friendly products. Within three years of launch, it is expected that over $4 million in revenue will be generated by sales of bamboo fiber. Moreover, increases in bamboo cultivation as a 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 glass fiber and plastics processing techniques.This Phase II project will address the following research topics: species variations, manufacturability, additional high value products, additional composite properties, processing and treatment optimization, and commercial scale-up. The team will assess the mechanical and physical implications of variations in feedstock by the use of filament tensile testing. Surface treatments specific to bamboo fibers will be finalized, with the goal of increased fiber-matrix interfacial adhesion, mitigation of water absorption, and compatibility with at least three major resins systems. These treatments will be evaluated via composite tensile testing, filament testing and water immersion testing. Manufacturing studies will be performed to verify compatibility with commercial scale manufacturing equipment. The design and manufacture of a small scale, batch plant will address technological and automation challenges. This plant will provide a bridge to a commercial-scale plant designed to produce 6 million pounds of fiber yearly. Additional innovative aspects to the project lie in the assessment of a bamboo species compatible with climates in the US, automation of raw bamboo processing, and implementation of a fully optimized multi-step material functionalization process.