This Project Grant award provided by the National Science Foundation (NSF) Division of Civil, Mechanical, and Manufacturing Innovation (CFDA 47.041 Engineering) will support the development of novel manufacturing principles for high-performance, sustainable packaging films from hierarchically reinforced biopolymers. The $374,160 award to North Carolina State University aims to enable the production of natural material-based films that match or exceed the properties of synthetic polymer films, while using environmentally-friendly, water-based manufacturing processes. The project will establish the key mechanisms and parameters governing the formation of the reinforced biopolymer films, focusing on the use of soft dendritic colloids derived from chitosan as a reinforcement material. This research seeks to transform the manufacturing of polymer substitutes by facilitating a shift to naturally derived, sustainable constituents. The project will also provide student training and broader public outreach and education on sustainable materials and ecologically-friendly manufacturing.
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