This federal Project Grant award from the National Science Foundation's Mathematical and Physical Sciences program (CFDA 47.049) is providing $1.1M to Purdue University and subawardees to develop sustainable, hemp-derived bioplastics with exceptional properties and recyclability. The goal is to accelerate the displacement of legacy petrochemical-based plastics, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and microplastics.
The project will investigate novel hemp-derived monomers to synthesize a variety of tunable polyester biopolymers. Key research activities include characterizing structure-property relationships, determining optimal processing parameters, assessing protective and conductive properties for electronics, and evaluating thermal reprocessing and biodegradation. Demonstration products like printed electronics for medical devices and environmental sensors will be developed to showcase the materials' capabilities and enable industry adoption. Workforce development initiatives from middle school to graduate levels are also included to build a pipeline of talent for sustainable manufacturing careers.
Subawards support this effort through the involvement of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and the University of Connecticut, leveraging their expertise in materials science, engineering, and industry partnerships.
Generated 6/18/24, 2:12 AM