Grantee Research Project Results
A GREEN AND UNIQUE THERMOSETTING-THERMOPLASTIC POLYCARBONATE
EPA Contract Number: 68HERD19C0006Title: A GREEN AND UNIQUE THERMOSETTING-THERMOPLASTIC POLYCARBONATE
Investigators: Cameron, Randy E.
Small Business: Instrumental Polymer Technologies, LLC
EPA Contact: Richards, April
Phase: II
Project Period: December 1, 2018 through November 30, 2020
Project Amount: $300,000
RFA: Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) - Phase II (2018) Recipients Lists
Research Category: Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) , SBIR - Manufacturing
Description:
Of the 300 million tons of plastic produced per year most will require 500 years to biodegrade. Currently only 9% is recycled, and 50 million tons of thermoset plastic produced annually that can't be recycled.
This project will develop a sustainable and easily biodegradable polycarbonate plastic that is uniquely a recyclable thermoset resin. We call it a thermosetting thermoplastic because it processes like a thermoplastic, but performs like a thermoset. When heated over 110°C, the tough, cross-linked polymer network fragments into a low viscosity liquid, but upon cooling the resin once again crosslinks. Such a product will revolutionize the thermoset plastic market, not only by its environmental friendliness, but also by providing opportunity for easier processing, cost savings and high performance. Phase I revealed this technology enables powder coatings that cure at very low temperatures, hot melt adhesives that thermoset, glossy decorative coatings that can be spray applied by hot melt, moisture curing coatings that can be applied as thick films and injection moldable plastic that thermosets. These are huge advantages to these multibillion dollar sized markets and to which our company currently sells polycarbonate. Our current production and sales infrastructure can be used to sell this technology.
Progress and Final Reports:
SBIR Phase I:
A Green and Unique Thermosetting-Thermoplastic Polycarbonate | Final ReportThe perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.