SBIR Phase I: Sustainable Packaging Foam

这个小型企业创新研究(SBIR)第一阶段项目的更广泛的影响/商业潜力是，通过用完全可生物降解和自然来源的替代品取代包装中的一次性塑料，减少造成垃圾填埋废物和海洋污染的一次性塑料。凭借其水基专有技术，该项目开发的材料将把虾壳转化为泡沫，以取代传统的一次性包装。这种材料的优点包括机械性能，在具有成本竞争力的生产中与不可持续的替代品相媲美。这个小型企业创新研究第一阶段项目将开发基本技术，以规模化生产由甲壳素制成的可堆肥和可回收泡沫。甲壳素是从虾壳下脚料中提取的一种多糖。该材料具有与聚苯乙烯泡沫塑料相同的力学性能和隔热性能。目前，这种材料是通过热成型工艺制造的，可以产生高质量的泡沫，但要大规模生产包装行业所需的数量是具有挑战性的。通过这个项目，该公司将开发一种完全可扩展的工艺，并使用现有设备生产聚苯乙烯泡沫塑料，以便更快地采用。新工艺的目标是产生与聚苯乙烯泡沫相同的机械强度、隔热和密度。该团队将改变泡沫成分和工艺参数，以达到所需的性能。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project is the reduction in single use plastics contributing to landfill waste and ocean pollution by replacing them in packaging with a fully biodegradable and naturally sourced alternative. With its water-based proprietary technology, the material developed in this project will transform shrimp shells into foam to replace conventional single-use packaging. The advantages of this material include mechanical properties competitive with non-sustainable alternatives at cost-competitive production. This Small Business Innovation Research Phase I project will develop the basic technology to scale the production of a compostable and recyclable foam made of chitin. Chitin is a polysaccharide derived from shrimp shell waste. The material has the same mechanical properties and thermal insulation as polystyrene foam. Currently, this material is made with a hot molding process that creates high-quality foam, but it is challenging to scale for mass production of the volumes required to service the packaging industry. With this project, the company will develop a process that is fully scalable and uses existing equipment for the production of polystyrene foam for quicker adoption. The goals of the new process are to generate the same mechanical strength, thermal insulation, and density as polystyrene foam. The team will vary the foam composition and processing parameters to achieve the desired properties.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.