Determining the Performance of Nanoclayes in Polymer Hosts and Blend Systems Dispersibility and Compatibilization for Polymer Nanocomposite Formulations

Envicore Inc.正在设计技术，以便在采矿业中实现可持续和低成本的尾矿缓解，同时提取有价值的颗粒（纳米粘土），这些颗粒可作为聚合物纳米复合材料、钻井液、提高石油采收率、水泥和润滑剂配方的低成本添加剂销售。EnviCore的综合技能使他们能够从多个角度分析废物堆积问题，并设计出包括尾矿处理和再利用在内的创新解决方案。然而，EnviCore并没有设备来进行挤压，以测试聚合物中添加的粘土。这个合作项目的目的是研究EnviCore的纳米粘土在聚合物纳米复合材料配方中的适用性，并找到最有前途的应用。为了实现这一目标，研究团队将测试纳米粘土在几种聚合物基质以及聚合物混合体系中的性能，以测试它们的分散性和相容性能。研究了纳米粘土的加载和加工条件对最终产品性能的影响。该项目的成功将使人们更好地了解EnviCore纳米粘土性能之间的联系，从而产生聚合物纳米复合材料的微观结构和纳米复合材料的机械性能。这种链接将被用作设计聚合物纳米复合材料的工具箱，其性能优于市场上的聚合物纳米复合材料。这将使EnviCore能够扩大其可访问的市场和客户群，并导致商业化，包括油砂和纳米粘土领域的技术开发。进入聚合物纳米复合材料市场将带来显著的经济收益和创造就业机会。对油砂尾矿进行经济效益和环境整治，改善环境，提高油砂声誉。

Envicore Inc. is designing technologies to achieve sustainable and low-cost mitigation of tailings in the miningindustry while extracting valuable particles (nanoclays) marketable as low-cost additives for polymernanocomposites, drilling fluids, enhanced oil recovery, cement, and lubricant formulations. EnviCore'scombined skills enabled them to analyze the waste accumulation problem from several angles and design aninnovative solution that includes both tailings treatment and repurposing. However, EnviCore does not havethe facilities to move on to extrusion to test out the clay additions to polymers.The aim of this collaborative project is to investigate the suitability of EnviCore's nanoclays for the polymernanocomposite formulations and find the most promising application. To achieve this goal, the research teamwill test the performance of nanoclayes in several polymer hosts as well as polymer blend systems to test theirdispersibility and compatibilization performance. The effect of nanoclay loading and processing conditions onthe final product performance will be investigated.The success of the project will lead to a greater understanding of the link between EnviCore's nanoclayproperties, resulting in polymer nanocomposite microstructure, and nanocomposite mechanical properties. Thislink will then be used as a toolbox for the design of polymer nanocomposites with superior properties to thoseon the market. This will enable EnviCore to expand its accessible market and customer base, as well as lead tocommercialization which includes technology development in oil sands and nanoclay sectors. Entering thepolymer nanocomposite market will lead to significant economic gains and job creation. There will also berun-off economic benefit and environmental reclamation efforts for the oil sands tailings, improving theenvironment and the oil sands reputation.