STTR Phase II: Advanced Poly(lactide) (PLA) Materials for Extruded and Molding Applications

这个小企业技术转移研究（STTR）第二阶段项目提出了制定和工程化学改性生物基和生物降解聚（丙交酯）为基础的化合物，以产生一个新的一类材料，高强度，轻质，多功能，环境友好的成本效益作为石油基聚合物的替代品。NTIC已成功地商业化了一系列用于挤出、模塑和涂层应用的反应性混合生物基和/或生物可降解树脂。然而，由于现有PLA材料的机械性能差、价格高和密度高，它面临着一个主要障碍。NTIC成功地开发了新型的相容性化学物质，以取代先进的PLA生物树脂，在这项工作的第一阶段提供更好的韧性。新合成的材料应用于四个不同的加工平台，以提供挤出薄膜，注塑餐具，挤出涂布纸和挤出吹塑瓶。第二阶段的资金将允许NTIC建立在初步试验的成功，并建立一个改进的，更广泛的高强度和经济上可行的PLA产品组合。这项研究的更广泛的影响是技术，环境和经济。这项工作将（1）拓宽基于PLA的应用的性能窗口;（2）进一步了解PLA及其化学性质;（3）大大增加生物基产品在更大的工业和包装市场中的使用，这意味着化石燃料资源的环境保护;（4）为新开发的Natur-Tec®产品的销售、制造和技术支持创造新的就业机会。

This Small Business Technology Transfer Research (STTR) Phase II project proposes toformulate and engineer chemically modified bio-based and biodegradable Poly(Lactide) basedcompounds, to generate a new class of materials that are, high strength, lightweight,multifunctional, environmentally friendly & cost-effective as an alternative to petroleum basedpolymers. NTIC has successfully commercialized a portfolio of reactive blended bio-basedand/or biodegradable resins for extrusion, molding, and coating applications. However, it faces amajor hurdle due to poor mechanical properties, high prices, and higher densities of current PLAmaterials. NTIC successfully developed novel chemistries of compatibilization to createadvanced PLA bio-resins that offer improved toughness in Phase I of this work. The newlysynthesized materials were applied in four different processing platforms to provide extrudedfilms, injection molded cutlery, extrusion coated paper, and extrusion blow molded bottles.Phase II funding will allow NTIC to build on the success of the initial trials and build animproved, broader portfolio of high strength and economically viable PLA based products.The broader impacts of this research are technical, environmental, andeconomical. This work will (1) widen the window of performance of PLA based applications; (2)further fundamental understanding of PLA and its chemistries (3) greatly increase the use ofbiobased products in larger industrial and packaging markets implying environmentalpreservation of fossil fuel resources; and (4) create new jobs for sales, manufacturing, technicalsupport of newly developed Natur-Tec® products.