New Technologies for the Environment: Composite Resins from Soyoil

这项研究的目标是以大豆油和其他天然油为原料，开发高性能、低成本的复合树脂，用于液体成型和板材成型制造应用。环境项目拟议的新技术将审查有关使用化学改性甘油三酯以成本效益高的方式合成和制造大豆基高模数树脂的基本问题。这项研究大大扩展了首席研究人员最近的专利发明，并有望通过提供一种负担得起的石油材料替代品来发展基础科学，以支持生物产品。研究的重点将集中在：(1)为大规模生产而设计的液体模塑树脂的优化和合成，如树脂转移模塑、VARTM和SCRIMP(这将通过对模型甘油三酯和单甘酯体系进行化学修饰来实现，包括羟化、甘油分解、马来酸化、环氧化和丙烯化)，以及(2)由这些反应液体开发片状模塑化合物(SMC)。当SMC与玻璃和天然纤维混合时，形成的SMC相当于广泛用于汽车、卡车运输和农业设备行业大规模生产的金属板材。将对反应过程中网络结构的演变进行计算机模拟，以深入了解所获得的交联型分子网络的分形结构。预计生物基材料的热、机械和耐久性能分析，再加上其低成本，将为后续研究中的工业合作伙伴提供适当的商业化激励。

The objective of this research is to develop high performance, low cost, composite resins from soy oil and other natural oils for liquid molding and sheet molding manufacturing applications. The proposed new technology for the environment project will examine the fundamental issues pertaining to the cost-effective synthesis and manufacture of soy-based high modulus resins using chemically modified triglycerides. The research significantly expands on recent patented inventions of the Principal Investigator and is expected to develop the fundamental science to support the bio-based products by providing an affordable replacement for petroleum based materials. The focus of the research will be on: (1) the optimization and synthesis of liquid molding resins designed for mass-production manufacturing such as Resin Transfer Molding, VARTM and SCRIMP (This will be accomplished by chemical modification of model triglyceride and monoglyceride systems involving hydroxylation, glycerolysis, maleinization, epoxidation and acrylation of oils with known fatty acid distribution functions and degrees of unsaturation.), and (2) the development of Sheet Molding Compound (SMC) from these reactive liquids. The resulting SMC, when blended with glass and natural fibers forms the equivalent of sheet metal that is extensively used for mass production in the auto, trucking and ag-equipment industries. Computer simulations of network structure evolution during reactions will be conducted to provide insight into the fractal structure of the crosslinked molecular networks obtained. It is anticipated that the thermal, mechanical, and durability property analysis of the resulting bio-based materials, coupled with their low cost will provide suitable commercialization incentives for industrial partners in the subsequent research.