STTR Phase I: A non-woven bamboo-based strand composite process to manufacture low-cost roofing

STTRI期项目更广泛的影响/商业潜力是刺激天然纤维复合材料的新经济，使木材制造商和其他行业有机会扩张为盈利和可持续的企业，改善生计。开发一种合适的石棉水泥波纹板替代品，可以为世界上1.25亿在工作场所接触石棉的人带来新的行业和工作机会。此外，一种安全和负担得起的替代方案将减少数百万家庭未来接触这种有害和有毒物质。提供具有成本效益、节能的屋顶将在家庭层面上对环境和健康产生影响，并导致能源节约和生产力的提高，同时还可以减少与热有关的压力和疾病。展示天然纤维复合材料作为结构建筑材料的潜力，将促进低能源生产过程，并通过可持续和可再生的草和纤维封存二氧化碳，这可以在整个亚洲和非洲资源有限的环境中进行推广。这个小型企业技术转移第一阶段项目寻求开发一种商业上可行的、可扩展的工艺，以生产一种用于全球低成本屋顶的竹基纤维复合材料。拟议项目的智力优势在于致力于实现以下技术目标：(I)确定理想的原料特性以生产合适的竹股，以形成三维人造板(3D)；(Ii)开发适当的树脂应用系统，以有效地将竹股加固和粘合成耐用人造板；以及(Iii)生产夹芯板原型，并评估其结构性能、抗吸湿性、尺寸稳定性和导热性。这一新知识预计将显著推动天然纤维复合材料领域的发展，解决长期建筑应用中的几个现有技术挑战，包括颗粒几何形状和水分含量的理想分布、生物降解和有效的功能性粘结剂。将设计和制造用于屋顶应用的非织造竹基复合材料的工艺原型，以确保其能够在资源有限的环境中大规模部署用于工业生产。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

The broader impact/commercial potential of this STTR Phase I project is the stimulation of a new economy for natural fiber composites, allowing wood manufacturers and other industries an opportunity to expand into a profitable and sustainable venture, improving livelihoods. Developing a suitable replacement to asbestos cement corrugated sheets can drive new industry and work opportunities for the 125 million people in the world who are exposed to asbestos in the workplace. Further, a safe and affordable alternative will reduce millions of families future exposure to the harmful and toxic substance. Providing a cost-effective, energy-efficient roof will have both an environmental and health impact at a household level and lead to increases in energy savings and productivity while also reducing heat-related stress and illnesses. Demonstrating the potential of natural fiber composites as structural construction materials will promote a low-energy production process and sequestration of carbon dioxide through sustainable and renewable grasses and fibers, which can be scaled in resource-limited settings throughout Asia and Africa. This Small Business Technology Transfer Phase I project seeks to develop a commercially viable and scalable process to manufacture a bamboo-based strand composite for application in low-cost roofing globally. The intellectual merit of the proposed project resides in undertaking technical objectives to (i) determine ideal feedstock characteristics to produce suitable bamboo strands for formation into three-dimensional (3D) panels (ii) developing proper resin application systems to effectively consolidate and bond bamboo strands into durable panels and (iii) produce a prototype sandwich panel and evaluate its structural performance as well as resistance to moisture uptake and dimensional stability, and thermal conductivity. This new knowledge is expected to significantly advance the field of natural fiber composites by addressing several existing technical challenges for long-term construction applications that can withstand hot and humid climates, including ideal distribution of particulate geometry and moisture content, biodegradation, and effective binders for functionality. A prototype of the process to manufacture a non-woven bamboo-based strand composite for a roofing application will be designed and built to ensure it can be deployed at scale for industrial production in resource-limited settings.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.