PFI: Polymer Nanocomposites Manufacturing Partnership

这个创新伙伴关系（PFI）项目将建立聚合物纳米复合材料制造伙伴关系（PNMP），这是南卡罗来纳大学（USC）、南卡罗来纳州和位于南卡罗来纳的聚合物制造公司的共同努力。PNMP有一个单一的愿景：将新的聚合物纳米复合材料知识转化为聚合物制造工艺和增值塑料产品，这将推动南卡罗来纳州的经济发展。参与研究、开发、技术转让和制造的各级学生将成为南卡罗来纳州聚合物纳米复合材料制造领域变革的推动者和明天的创新者。该合作伙伴关系由南加州大学纳米中心管理，将通过对层状（纳米）材料的合成和表征的基础研究，将其纳入聚合物纳米复合材料的途径，以及加速评估纳米复合材料性能的方法，促进聚合物制造的创新；大学/工业联合开发聚合物纳米复合材料技术，以实现近期商业化；通过参与研究、跨学科教育和工业实习来发展劳动力。在大学内部，PNMP将包括来自化学工程、化学与生物化学和摩尔商学院的教师和学生，以及南加州大学纳米中心和南加州大学商业链接（南加州大学五个支持单位的融合，涉及经济发展、技术转让和知识产权）的工作人员。聚合物制造业对南卡罗来纳州的经济和生活水平至关重要，但该州面临着来自PET（即聚对苯二甲酸乙二醇酯树脂，通常是瓶装水的包装选择，例如）和尼龙的商品化以及其制造和营销的全球化的真正经济威胁。聚合物纳米复合材料制造的持续创新将有利于南卡罗来纳州的聚合物制造商，该州的经济，并最终有利于其公民的生活水平和福祉。伙伴关系项目将支持多种具有广泛影响的教育和专业发展活动。该合作项目将与南加州大学现有的四个REU项目、一个斯隆基金会奖学金项目和美国国家科学基金会研究生教育联盟（AGEP）项目产生协同作用。由于PFI伙伴关系项目与南加州大学现有的招聘、留住和指导少数族裔学生的项目密切相关，因此PNMP的更广泛影响将是将少数族裔学生与涉及其工业合作伙伴的研究、实习和合作经验联系起来。合作伙伴：合作伙伴包括南卡罗莱纳大学（牵头机构）；南卡罗来纳州；以及三家已确认的工业合作伙伴：伊士曼化学公司、米其林美洲公司、PBI性能产品公司和MeadWestvaco。

This Partnerships for Innovation (PFI) project will establish the Polymer Nanocomposites Manufacturing Partnership (PNMP), a joint effort of the University of South Carolina (USC), the State of South Carolina, and polymer manufacturing companies located in South Carolina. The PNMP has a single vision: transformation of new polymer nanocomposites knowledge into polymer manufacturing processes and value-added plastic products that will fuel economic development in South Carolina. Students at all levels participating in research, development, technology transfer, and manufacturing will be the agents of this transformation and tomorrow's innovators in polymer nanocomposite manufacturing in South Carolina. Administered by the USC NanoCenter, the Partnership will foster innovation in polymer manufacturing through basic research in synthesis and characterization of layered (nano) materials, routes to their incorporation in polymer nanocomposites, and accelerated methods for evaluating nanocomposite performance; joint University/industry development of polymer nanocomposite technology for near-term commercialization; and workforce development through involvement in research, cross-disciplinary education, and industrial internships. Within the University, the PNMP will involve faculty and students from Chemical Engineering, Chemistry & Biochemistry, and the Moore School of Business, as well as staff from the USC NanoCenter and USC businessLINK (a fusion of five USC support units involved in economic development, technology transfer, and intellectual property).Polymer manufacturing is crucial to South Carolina's economy and standard of living, but the state faces real economic threats from commoditization of PET (i.e., polyethylene terephthalate resin, which is commonly the packaging of choice for bottled water, for example) and nylon as well as globalization of their manufacture and marketing. Sustained innovation in polymer nanocomposites manufacturing will benefit South Carolina's polymer manufacturers, the State's economy, and ultimately, the standard of living and well being of its citizens. The Partnerships project will support many kinds of education and professional development activities with broad impacts. The Partnership programs will have synergy with existing programs at USC: four REU programs, a Sloan Foundation fellowship program, and NSF Alliances for Graduate Education in the Professoriate (AGEP) program. Because the PFI Partnerships project is well connected with existing USC programs for recruiting, retaining, and mentoring minority students, the broader impact of the PNMP will be to connect minority students with research, internship, and co-op experiences involving their industrial partners.Partners: Partners include University of South Carolina (Lead Institution); State of South Carolina; and three confirmed industrial partners: Eastman Chemical Company, Michelin Americas, PBI Performance Products and MeadWestvaco.