CAREER: Polymer Design and Recycling to Support Robust U.S. Markets and Domestic Security

The accumulation of plastic waste can have negative effects on ecosystems and human health. The economic benefits or recycling many types of plastic waste are limited. This CAREER project will explore new designs for common polymers used in the packaging industry that will facilitate their biodegradation after use. The project will also find new additives to improve the properties of polymers in plastic waste so that they can be recycled into useful products. Redesigning polymer systems will enable new uses for plastic waste in high value applications. Outcomes of the project could help turn plastic waste into raw materials for new products. The project will provide educational activities for high school teachers, will incorporate research findings into an undergraduate course on sustainable packaging systems, and will conduct outreach to industry to help in transitions to more recyclable packaging products. Polyurethanes and polyesters are two highly produced plastics that have limited end-of-life options. Polyurethanes also present dangers to manufacturers and applicators due to the toxic nature of isocyanates. This CAREER project will investigate the incorporation of labile bonds from renewable sources to discover new bonding motifs and polymer properties for creating biodegradable films, foams, and adhesives, capable of entering industrial or home composting operations. Studies will be conducted to understand how different precursors can be synthesized using a non-isocyanate composition and room temperature to replicate the varied properties available for current polyurethane foam materials. Research will be conducted to understand how renewable material can be used as chain extenders and toughening agents to improve the properties of these undervalued polyester materials and find new markets for value-added and advanced manufacturing products. These research objectives are combined with educational and mentoring activities at the secondary, undergraduate, and graduate level to help train the next generation of leaders in plastic innovation. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria. NSF Award ID: 2543016 | Program: 01002627DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT | Principal Investigator: James Sternberg | Institution: Clemson University, CLEMSON, SC | Award Amount: $499,875 View on NSF Award Search: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/show-award/?AWD_ID=2543016 View on Research.gov: https://www.research.gov/awardapi-service/v1/awards/2543016.html