SBIR Phase II: New Approaches to Using Renewable Biomass Derived Materials in Epoxy and Vinyl Ester Resin Products to Reduce Styrene and Other Petroleum Based Raw Materials

该小型企业创新研究(SBIR)第二阶段项目旨在通过将全部或部分高VOC(挥发性有机化合物)有毒单体替换为生物质衍生材料来降低商业乙烯基酯-苯乙烯树脂配方和其他聚合物中的苯乙烯含量。先前的结果表明，在不增加成本或不损失聚合物物理性能的情况下，可以将苯乙烯含量从45%降至35%或更低。第二阶段的工作将包括与三个客户进行商业开发，将工艺工程扩大到商业水平，并将技术扩展到更广泛的热固性市场。这项技术的商业应用是在聚合物和树脂市场，其中使用了苯乙烯和其他以石油为基础的高VOC单体。这些都是巨大的市场，这些产品被用于数百种应用。这些替代品的成功引入将减少我们对进口石油的依赖，促进国内农作物资源的使用，并减少高VOC污染物的使用。

This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project seeks to reduce the levels of styrene in commercial vinyl ester-styrene resin formulations and other polymers by replacing all or a portion of the high VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds) toxic monomer with a biomass-derived material. Prior results have shown that the styrene content can be reduced from 45% to 35% or lower without increase in cost or the loss of polymer physical properties. Phase II work will entail commercial development with three customers, scale-up process engineering to commercial levels and expansion of the technology into the broader thermoset market. The commercial application for this technology is in polymer and resin markets where styrene and other petroleum based, high VOC monomers are used. These are huge markets, and the products are used in hundreds of applications. Successful introduction of these replacements will reduce our dependence on imported oil, promote the use of domestic, crop-based resources, and reduce the use of high VOC pollutants.