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.

由于其重量轻，耐腐蚀性和改善的刚度，因此在汽车行业的许多应用中都使用了聚合物。尽管基于石油的塑料是可回收的，但少于10％的塑料被回收。这导致了我们环境中日益增长的关注。拟议的研究将开发可生物降解的复合材料，这些复合材料由用石灰石填充物颗粒增强的聚乳酸聚合物组成。在正常条件下，聚合物聚合物稳健，可以回收；但是，当暴露于堆肥环境时，它们将在6到24个月内分解，而没有有毒残留物。聚乳酸是一种新的聚合物，因此仍然存在挑战以改善其热和机械性能。例如，它具有低玻璃过渡温度，这将使它不适合高温应用，例如炎热的日子内部汽车零件，它具有低结晶度，它会影响强度和冲击电阻，并且具有低热量失真温度。当暴露于温度升高时，后者会影响负载零件。 已显示石灰石填充剂的添加可改善合成聚合物的玻璃过渡温度，结晶度，韧性和热变形。采石的石灰石的一种替代方法是浪费鸡蛋壳来自鸡蛋加工行业的副产品。蛋壳含有高石灰石内容物，但充满了土地，仅由处理器承担。为这种农业废物增加价值的一种方法是将它们包括在聚合物中以改善特性。长期的目标是开发具有改进的热，机械和可生物降解特性的聚乳酸/蛋壳颗粒物复合材料。为了实现这一目标，将针对四个短期目标：1）确定带有和没有膜的蛋壳（通过热处理）是否对聚乳酸的复合特性有影响，2）确定在两个生产过程中的理想蛋壳粒度，重量分数，重量分数和颗粒表面涂层：压损成型和添加剂的构成/3D打印效果，3D构成的构成，3D构成的效果，3D构造的效果，效应的效果，效应的效果，效应的效果，效应的效果，效应的效果，效应的效果效果，效应的效果效应效果。多乳酸复合材料和4）除了加工和表征外，还要进行技术经济分析（TEA）和生命周期评估（LCA）。该研究计划与加拿大在2021年之前禁止单一使用塑料的立场是一致的，以减少塑料污染。高素质的人员将接受培训，用于用基于蛋壳的填充剂增强的可生物降解复合材料的制造，表征和应用。该研究计划通过将废物转换为增值产品，为农业废物管理开辟了新的途径。