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

这个小型企业技术转让（STTR）第二阶段项目的更广泛影响是开发一种可行的、可扩展的工艺，生产一种用于全球低成本屋顶的竹基复合材料。该项目通过公私合作伙伴关系，开发了一种新的生产工艺，用于外部级天然纤维复合建筑产品，该产品来自高度可再生资源竹子。由此产生的屋顶产品将通过被动冷却和降低室内温度来帮助保护用户免受极端高温的影响。此外，该解决方案可用于从高度可再生的天然纤维废物中创造增值节能建筑产品。这项创新具有巨大的潜力，可以在世界许多地区取代有害和危险材料，包括石棉，将捕获的碳储存为长生命周期的产品，并减少供暖和制冷能源的使用。这个小型企业技术转移（STTR）第二阶段项目将：(i)改进用于制造商业尺寸面板的3D面板几何形状的设计，提高其承载能力和可施工性；（ii）改进竹材绞合工艺，评估生物基粘合剂系统，赋予阻燃性，提高面板耐久性，使用新几何形状制造面板，并评估性能；（三）通过实地测试和瓦楞板在室内和外部节能建筑产品中的多功能性，展示和评估瓦楞板作为屋顶材料的使用。这项研究将通过解决长期建筑应用的挑战来推进天然纤维复合材料领域，这些应用可以承受湿热气候，包括防潮性，生物降解性和有效的功能粘合剂。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值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 of this Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase II project is to develop a viable and scalable process to manufacture a bamboo-based strand composite for application in low-cost roofing globally. This project develops a new production process for exterior-grade natural fiber composite building products, derived from a highly renewable resource, bamboo, through public-private partnership. The resulting roofing product will help protect users from extreme heat by passively cooling and reducing indoor temperatures. In addition, this solution can be used to create value-added energy-efficient building products from highly renewable natural fiber waste. The innovation holds immense potential to replace harmful and hazardous materials, including asbestos, in many regions of the world, store captured carbon into long-lifecycle products, and reduce heating and cooling energy use.This Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase II project will: (i) refine the design of the 3D panel geometry used to make commercial-size panels with improved load-carrying capacity and constructability; (ii) improve the bamboo-stranding process, evaluate a bio-based adhesive system, impart fire-retardance, enhance panel durability, manufacture panels using the new geometry, and evaluate performance; and (iii) demonstrate and evaluate panel use as a roofing material through field tests and the versatility of the corrugated panel in interior and exterior energy-efficient building products. This research will advance the field of natural fiber composites by addressing challenges of long-term construction applications that can withstand hot and humid climates, including moisture resistance, biodegradation, and effective binders for functionality.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.