Nano-structure controlled bioplastics and their hierarchical green nano-biocomposites

本提案旨在开展可再生资源型生物塑料及其增值生物材料的基础研究，促进向生物基经济的快速过渡。最近备受关注的两种生物塑料是聚乳酸酯（PLA）和聚羟基烷酸酯（pha）。它们特别令人感兴趣，因为它们的可再生来源，生物降解性和声称在减少温室气体排放方面的环境可持续性。迫切需要提高这些新兴生物塑料的多功能性，以获得更广泛的应用，使它们准备好与传统的不可生物降解塑料竞争。通过将纳米结构结合到生物塑料中，包括革命性的材料组合，开创了一种创造新型智能生物材料的变革性方法。将纳米技术的优势整合到新的可持续生物材料中被认为是一种温和的方法。申请人的研究团队最近的成就是利用一种基于纳米添加剂的新技术，创造了一种改性生物塑料，它在韧性和刚度方面表现出独特的平衡。这一发现对进一步探索以科学为基础的知识经济的多功能生物塑料用途具有重要意义。新型生物塑料基质的科学和工程原理将进一步扩展，使用额外的增强剂，如纳米粘土、天然纤维和滑石，以产生新的智能生物材料。这种材料被称为分层纳米生物复合材料。新发现的生物塑料的增值生物材料将应用于更环保的汽车工艺、建筑产品、家具和刚性包装。这不仅有助于为农业和制造业提供更多的用途和新的市场，而且还将补充和取代现有的以石油为基础的对应产品。这意味着通过使用生物材料和减少我们对石油的依赖，温室气体排放量将大幅减少。这项研究的结果将创造新的基础知识，以刺激进一步的研究。我们的目标是教育未来的学生如何推动新兴的绿色科技创新。

This proposal targets to carry-out fundamental research on renewable resource-based bioplastics and their value-added biomaterials, to facilitate rapid transition to a biobased economy. Two recently highlighted bioplastics are polylactides (PLA) and polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs). They are of particular interest because of their renewable origin, biodegradability and claimed environmental sustainability in reducing green house gas emission. There is a pressing need to enhance the versatility of these emerging bioplastics for more wide spread applications, making them ready to compete with traditional non-biodegradable plastics. A transformative approach in creating a new range of smart biomaterials was initiated by incorporation of nanostructures into bioplastic, including revolutionary material combinations. Integrating the advantage of nanotechnology in bringing-out new sustainable biomaterials is considered a gentle approach. Recent accomplishment by the applicant's research team was utilization of a new technology, based on nanoscopic additive, to create a modified bioplastic which exhibits a unique balance in toughness and stiffness. This discovery is imminent to further explore the science-based knowledge economy for multifunctional bioplastic uses. The science and engineering principles of new bioplastic matrices will be expanded further, using additional reinforcements, such as nano-clay, natural fibres and talc to generate new smart biomaterials. Such materials are called hierarchical nano-biocomposites. The value-added biomaterials from new discovered bioplastics will have applications in greener auto-arts, building products, furniture and rigid packaging. This will not only help in providing additional uses and new markets for agriculture and manufacturing industry, but will also supplement and substitute the existing petroleum-based counterparts. This means a tremendous reduction in green house gas emission through use of biomaterials and reducing our dependency on petroleum. The out-come of this research will create new fundamental knowledge to stimulate additional research. The vision is to educate future students in driving-forward the emerging green technology innovation.