MRI: Acquisition of Instrumentation for Interdisciplinary Experimental Studies, Teaching and Training: Use of By-Products of Bio-fuel from Swine Manure in Construction Adhesives

这个主要的研究仪器（MRI）提案要求资助一个动态剪切流变仪，弯曲梁流变仪，直接拉伸-泡试验，固定式跌落装置，以及土壤和沥青测试系统。该仪器将为北卡罗来纳农工州立大学提供重要的研究工具。这些仪器将用于生物基和生物可降解的建筑粘合剂的跨学科研究。利用该仪器，研究人员将研究生物燃料副产品在建筑粘合剂中的用途。特别是，本研究将研究用来自猪粪的生物基、可生物降解的粘合剂取代石油基粘合剂（一种不可生物降解的材料）。本研究将研究生物基胶粘剂的流变特性，并与石油基胶粘剂进行比较。所要求的仪器将从根本上改善建筑胶粘剂的性能，并大大降低其制造成本。这项研究的目标是消除储存猪粪的需要，并通过适当使用这些副产品作为建筑粘合剂，如高速公路和机场路面使用的沥青粘合剂和密封胶，来改善国家的可持续基础设施系统。这大大改善了农业和建筑部门的环境和经济影响。因此，该项目提供了一种独特的、同时解决石油资源日益枯竭和基础设施可持续建筑胶粘剂开发的方法。

0923425HamoushThis major research instrumentation (MRI) proposal requests funding for a Dynamic Shear Rheometer, Bending Beam Rheometer, Direct Tension-Blister Test, Sessile drop device, and soil and asphalt test system. This instrumentation will provide important research tools for North Carolina A&T State University. The instruments will be used for interdisciplinary studies of a bio-based and bio-degradable adhesive for construction.With this instrumentation, the investigators will study the usefulness of by-products of bio-fuel in construction adhesives. In particular, this study will investigate the replacement of petroleum-based adhesives (a non-biodegradable material) with biobased, bio-degradable adhesives from swine manure. This study will investigate the rheological characteristics of bio-based adhesives and compare them with those of petroleum-based adhesives. The requested instrumentation will lead to fundamental improvements in properties of construction adhesives and considerable reduction in the cost of their manufacture. The goals of this research are to both eliminate the need for storing swine manure and to improve the nation's sustainable infrastructural systems through appropriate usage of these by-products in construction adhesives such as asphalt binder and sealant used in highway and airport pavement. This results in major improvements in environmental and economical impacts in both the agricultural and construction sectors. Hence, this project offers a unique, simultaneous approach that addresses increasing depletion of petroleum resources and development of sustainable construction adhesives for infrastructure.