Journal article
Affordable composites from renewable resources
Polymer preprints, Vol.39(2), pp.90-90
23 Aug 1998
Abstract
Polymer matrix composites (PMC) are manufactured by embedding strong fibers such as, glass, carbon, aramid or natural fibers in a polymer. The polymer used in the composite, also known as the matrix, may be thermoplastic or thermosetting. Successful liquid moldings such as unsaturated polyesters, vinyl esters and epoxy resins are all synthesized using raw materials derived ultimately from petroleum. Replacing some, or all, of these petroleum derived raw materials with renewable plant-based raw materials is attractive, both economically and socially, as such raw materials are cheaper and their use contributes to global sustainability by not depleting scarce resources. An interdisciplinary (ACRES) group of scientists examined several hundred chemical pathways for the conversion of normal and genetically engineered soyoil to high performance, inexpensive composites and plastics. About a dozen new resin systems were derived from chemically modified triglycerides which gave excellent properties, and at a cost which is a fraction of current resin prices (Patents pending).
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Details
- Title
- Affordable composites from renewable resources
- Creators
- R WoolS KusefogluS KhotR ZhaoG PalmeseA BoydC FisherS BandypadhyayA PaesanoP Dhurjati
- Publication Details
- Polymer preprints, Vol.39(2), pp.90-90
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Chemical and Biological Engineering
- Identifiers
- 991019201359604721