PFI-BIC: Superelastomers: New Thermoplastic Elastomers based on Multigraft Copolymers

该创新伙伴关系项目提议通过使用随机间隔的侧链开发基于多元接枝共聚物的热塑性弹性体，这代表了比现有技术更具成本效益的技术，现有技术依赖于难以产生均匀间隔的侧链。热塑性弹性体联合收割机结合了交联弹性体（如汽车轮胎）的理想性能和热塑性塑料的低加工成本和可回收性。这类新开发的基于多元接枝共聚物的热塑性弹性体被称为“超弹性体”，并有望改善用于许多不同产品（如手套、耳塞、避孕套、奶瓶奶嘴等）的橡胶材料的加工性和可回收性。这些设计师弹性体构成了一个新的概念，其中大分子结构（分子的形状）用于创建所需的性能曲线。通过该项目促进的伙伴关系和合作，研究团队将从基础研究产生的知识发展到新产品，这将提高美国的竞争力，合作伙伴公司将获得新的设计师弹性体技术。这项研究的更广泛影响是创造新的就业机会以刺激经济，并通过开发一类新的高度可调的热塑性弹性体来减少全球碳足迹，这些弹性体具有可回收和减少制造过程中能耗的潜力。该项目的合作伙伴是田纳西大学，诺克斯维尔（化学系、工商管理学院、研究基金会），BBB弹性体（小企业，诺克斯维尔，TN），Asius Technologies（small business，Longmont，CO），InaMei Skin Care（small business，Hadley，MA），MAPA GmbH（大型企业，Zeven，德国），富士胶片（大企业，代顿，田纳西州）、技术20/20（非盈利，橡树岭，田纳西州）和风险煽动（区域风险投资公司，橡树岭，田纳西州）。

This Partnerships for Innovation project proposes to develop multigraft copolymer-based thermoplastic elastomers by use of randomly spaced side chains, representing a more cost effective technique than the present technique which depends on difficult to produce evenly spaced side chains. Thermoplastic elastomers combine the desirable properties of crosslinked elastomers (like car tires) with low processing costs and recyclability of thermoplastics. This newly developed class of multigraft copolymer-based thermoplastic elastomers is called "superelastomers" and holds promise for improved processability and recyclability of rubbery materials used in many different products such as gloves, earbuds, condoms, nipples for baby bottles, etc. The superelastomers also have the potential to open up new applications for elastomer materials. These designer elastomers constitute a new concept where macromolecular architecture (the shape of the molecule) is used to create the desired property profile. Through partnerships and collaborations fostered by this project, the research team will progress from knowledge generated by fundamental research toward new products that will enhance U.S. competitiveness, and the partner companies will have access to new designer elastomer technology. The broader impacts of this research are the creation of new jobs to stimulate the economy, and the reduction of the worldwide carbon footprint by developing a new class of highly tunable thermoplastic elastomers that have the potential to both be recyclable and reduce energy consumption during manufacturing. Partners at the inception of this project are the University of Tennessee, Knoxville (Department of Chemistry, School of Business Administration, and Research Foundation), BBB Elastomers (small business, Knoxville, TN), Asius Technologies (small business, Longmont, CO), InaMei Skin Care (small business, Hadley, MA), MAPA GmbH (large business, Zeven, Germany), Fuji Film (large business, Dayton, TN), Technology 20/20 (non-profit, Oak Ridge, TN), and Venture Incite (regional venture capital firm, Oak Ridge, TN).