Biodegradable composites reinforced with eggshell fillers: processing and characterization

用蛋壳填料增强的可生物降解复合材料：加工和表征

• 批准号: RGPIN-2020-06701
• 负责人: Cree, Duncan
• 金额: $ 1.97万
• 依托单位: University of Saskatchewan
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2021
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2021-01-01 至 2022-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=741371
• 关键词: Biodegradable; composites; reinforced; eggshell; fillers

Polymers are used in many applications of the automotive industry due to their light weight, corrosion resistance and improved stiffness. Although petroleum-based plastics are recyclable, less than 10% are recycled. This has led to a growing concern in our environment. The proposed research will develop biodegradable composites consisting of polylactic acid polymers reinforced with limestone filler particles. Under normal conditions polylactic acid polymers are robust and can be recycled; however, when exposed to a compost environment they will break down within 6 to 24 months leaving no toxic residues. Polylactic acid is a new polymer, and thus challenges remain to improve its thermal and mechanical properties. For example, it has a low glass transition temperature which would make it unsuitable for high temperature applications such as interior car parts on a hot day, it has a low crystallinity which affects strength and impact resistance and has a low heat distortion temperature. The latter can affect loaded parts when exposed to elevated temperatures. The addition of limestone fillers has been shown to improve the glass transition temperature, crystallinity, toughness and heat distortion of synthetic polymers. An alternative to quarried limestone are waste chicken eggshells a by-product from egg processing industries. Eggshells contain, high limestone contents but are land-filled at a cost borne solely by the processor. One way to add value to this agricultural waste is to include them in polymers for improved properties. The long-term goal is to develop a polylactic acid/eggshell particulate composite with improved thermal, mechanical, and biodegradable properties. To achieve this goal, four short-term objectives will be targeted: 1) determine if eggshells with and without membranes (by heat treatments) have an effect on the polylactic acid composite properties, 2) identify the ideal eggshell particle size, weight fraction, and particle surface coating in two production processes: injection molding and additive manufacturing/3D printing, 3) investigate the effects of compostable additives on the biodegradability and properties of polylactic acid composites and 4) to carry out a Techno-Economic Analysis (TEA) and Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) in addition to processing and characterization. This research program is in-line with Canada's position to ban single use-plastics by 2021 in order to reduce plastic pollution. Highly qualified personnel will be trained in the manufacturing, characterization and applications of biodegradable composites reinforced with eggshell-based fillers. This research program opens new avenues for agricultural waste management by converting waste into value-added products.

聚合物由于其重量轻、耐腐蚀和提高的刚度而被用于汽车工业的许多应用。虽然石油基塑料是可回收的，但只有不到 10% 被回收。这导致人们对我们的环境日益关注。拟议的研究将开发由石灰石填料颗粒增强的聚乳酸聚合物组成的可生物降解复合材料。在正常条件下，聚乳酸聚合物很坚固并且可以回收利用；然而，当暴露在堆肥环境中时，它们会在 6 至 24 个月内分解，不会留下有毒残留物。聚乳酸是一种新型聚合物，因此提高其热性能和机械性能仍然存在挑战。例如，它的玻璃化转变温度较低，因此不适合高温应用，例如热天的汽车内饰部件；它的结晶度较低，会影响强度和抗冲击性，并且热变形温度较低。当暴露在高温下时，后者会影响负载部件。 添加石灰石填料已被证明可以提高合成聚合物的玻璃化转变温度、结晶度、韧性和热变形。开采石灰石的替代品是废弃鸡蛋壳，这是鸡蛋加工行业的副产品。蛋壳含有大量石灰石，但填埋的费用仅由加工者承担。为这种农业废物增值的一种方法是将它们包含在聚合物中以改善性能。长期目标是开发一种具有改进的热性能、机械性能和可生物降解性能的聚乳酸/蛋壳颗粒复合材料。为了实现这一目标，将实现四个短期目标：1）确定带膜和不带膜的蛋壳（通过热处理）是否对聚乳酸复合材料性能有影响，2）确定理想的蛋壳粒径、重量分数、和颗粒表面涂层在两种生产工艺中的应用：注塑和增材制造/3D 打印，3) 研究可堆肥添加剂对聚乳酸复合材料的生物降解性和性能的影响，4) 进行技术经济分析除了加工和表征之外，还包括 TEA（TEA）和生命周期评估（LCA）。该研究计划符合加拿大到 2021 年禁止一次性塑料以减少塑料污染的立场。高素质人员将接受蛋壳填料增强可生物降解复合材料的制造、表征和应用方面的培训。该研究计划通过将废物转化为增值产品，为农业废物管理开辟了新途径。