Project Number: 5447-41000-002-03
Project Type: Specific Cooperative Agreement

Start Date: Jul 27, 2005
End Date: Jul 26, 2010

Objective:
The first objective of the proposed study is to formulate a novel biocomposite material through the use of corn ethanol processing co-products. The second objective is to conduct a fundamental property study to develop property performance data for potential users of this new material. To accomplish these objectives, it is proposed to carry out a thorough analysis of co-product (biofiller) and resin (plastic) blends; process the blends via compression molding; and quantify the effects of the biofiller level upon mechanical, physical, and environmental properties of the resulting plastic biocomposites. With this information, manufacturers may explore the feasibility of adding inexpensive corn processing co-product filler materials to lower product costs and enhance biodegradability based on their industrial or consumer end product mechanical and physical requirements. (One specific utilization could be as 'green' construction materials.) Thus, the project goals include identification of enhanced properties of manufactured plastic biocomposites, creation of alternative utilization avenues for corn processing co-products, and reduction of plastics production costs.

Approach:
This research study will focus on both theoretical modeling (for performance prediction) and experimental trials (for empirical validation) using 5 major avenues of investigation: 1) theoretical finite element analysis; 2) physical analysis of the raw coproduct/plastic blends; 3) processing of the blends via compression molding; 4) physical analysis of resulting products; and 5) examination of the degradability behavior of the resulting molded products.