US Egypt Cooperative Research: Preparation of nano-fillers from waste materials and their application in papermaking industry

该合作研究项目由乔治亚理工学院佐治亚理工研究公司的Yulin Deng博士和埃及中央冶金研究与发展研究所的Said El-Sheikh博士共同承担，研究的主题是利用废料制备纳米填料用于造纸工业。该研究将确定在纸张中加入纳米填料颗粒是否可以在不影响纸张重量或加工特性的情况下改善机械性能（例如平滑度，增加表面积）。此外，调整纳米填料的形状和结构以增加表面积应减少所需填料的总量，而不会对拉伸强度产生不利影响。制备的纳米填料将从尺寸和相结构、表面形貌和结构性能、键类型和纳米结构表面电荷等方面进行表征。所制备的纳米填料纸将在光学、物理和机械性能方面进行表征。印刷适性也将调查，重点是印刷密度，印刷光泽和油墨转移。科学界和造纸业将受益于拟议的研究结果，以探索影响纸张加工关键性能的替代材料。纳米填料在特定的工业应用中具有特殊的价值。该研究结果还可以为细碳酸钙颗粒的分散行为以及如何控制表面化学以产生纳米级形态提供见解。有一种合理的可能性是，可以生产出有用的、低成本的矿物产品，这种使用可以帮助减轻废物处理问题，取代更昂贵的矿物产品。此外，涉及绿色技术的国际交流可能促进两国在相关领域的未来进步。这项合作是在两个高技能的研究机构之间进行的，涉及美国和埃及的年轻科学家。该项目由美国-埃及联合基金项目资助，该项目向两国的科学家和工程师提供赠款，以开展合作研究。

This collaborative research project is being undertaken by Dr. Yulin Deng, Georgia Tech Research Corporation at the Georgia Institute of Technology, and Dr. Said El-Sheikh, Central Metallurgical Research and Development Institute of Egypt, on the topic of preparing nano-fillers from waste materials for use in the paper industry. The research will determine whether inclusion of nano-filler particles in paper can improve the mechanical properties (e.g. smoothness, increased surface area) without compromising paper weight or processing characteristics. Further, tailoring the shape and structure of the nano-fillers to increase surface area should reduce the overall amount of filler needed without adversely impacting tensile strength. The prepared nano-fillers will be characterized in terms of size and phase structure, surface morphology and structural properties, bond types, and nanostructural surface charge. The prepared paper with incorporated nano-fillers will be characterized in terms of optical, physical, mechanical properties. Printability will be also investigated focusing on print density, print gloss and ink transfer.The scientific community and paper industry will benefit from the results of the proposed research to explore alternate materials for influencing key properties of paper processing. Nano-fillers may offer special properties of value in specific industry applications. The results may also offer insight into the dispersion behavior of fine calcium carbonate particles and how surface chemistry can be controlled to create nanoscale morphologies. There is a reasonable likelihood that useful, low-cost mineral products can be produced and that such use can help alleviate a waste disposal issue and displace more expensive mineral products. Further, the international exchange, involving green technology, may foster future progress in related fields in both countries. The collaboration is taking place between two highly skilled research institutes and involves US and Egyptian junior scientists.The project is funded under the US-Egypt Joint Fund Program, which provides grants to scientists and engineers in both countries to undertake cooperative research.