Biobased and Recyclable Composite Materials

The future of automotive plastics will be dictated by their recyclability potential. Currently, all the metals in automobiles are recycled, whereas the plastics end up in a landfill. Recyclable composite material concepts under study include: 1. Biobased thermoplastic matrices that provides increased adhesion to fiber, and in which the thermoplastic can be effectively recycled. 2. New functionalized thermoplastic matrices in which the reinforcing fiber is composed of wood or modified wood fibers. 3. New thermoset matrix composites with "tailored linkages" amenable to being broken or reformed by specific chemical triggers.

Biodegradation and Composting Studies

Biodegradation studies on polymeric materials. Fundamental studies and field trials on composting selective waste streams, which includes the new biodegradable materials, and plastics to quality, humic-rich compost. Study and model effect of process parameters and configurations on the composting process, compost characteristics, and microbial populations.

Engineering and Design of Natural-Synthetic Polymer Composite Systems

New approaches to tailor-made cellulose/starch/lignin-synthetic polymer graft copolymers with precise control over molecular weight, degree of substitution, backbone-graft linkage, and the overall grafting process are being studied. Cross-linked graft copolymers with exactly defined polymer chain segments between crosslink points have been prepared. The graft copolymers exhibit a two-phase morphology and can function effectively as compatibilizers/interfacial agents to alloy cellulosic and lignocellulosic materials with synthetic polymers. This approach opens up new opportunities for economically combining lignocellulosic materials with plastics to engineer new materials with unique balance of properties targeted for precise end-use applications. Structure-property relationship, morphological studies, processability and potential applications of such binary and ternary blend systems are under intense study. Some exciting applications are in the preparation of biodegradable plastics for packaging applications.

Reactive Extrusion Processing

The ability of extruders to function as "mini-reactors" and the favorable environmental impact of not using any solvent makes this area an exciting one. Studies are underway to functionalize synthetic polymers via reactive extrusion and to model such processes. Using maleic anhydride functionalized synthetic polymers, preparation of cellulose/starch - synthetic polymer alloys are being studied. In-situ grafting reaction between the hydroxyl group on the natural polymer backbone and the anhydride functionality on the synthetic polymer the graft copolymer compatibilizing agent.

Reviewed Journal Publications

Tran, P.; Graiver, D.; Narayan, R. "BioComposites synthesized from chemically modified soy oil and biofibers," J. Appl. Polym. Sci., in press.

Baber, T.M.; Graiver, D. ; Lira, C. T. ; Narayan, R. "A Novel Application of Catalytic Ozone Chemistry for Improved Biodiesel Synthesis," Biomacromoles 6 (3), 1334-1344, (2005).

Tran, P.; Graiver, D.; Narayan, R. "Ozone-mediated Polyol Synthesis from Soybean Oil," J. Am. Oil Chemists Society, JAOCS. 82(9), (2005).

Tran, P.; Seybold, K.; Graiver, D.; Narayan, R. "Free radical maleation of soybean oil via a single-step process," Journal of the American Oil Chemists' Society. 82(3), 189-194, (2005).

Dege´e, JM.; Dubois, P.; Narayan, R. "Melt-Stable Poly(1,4-dioxan-2-one) (Co)Polymers by Ring-Opening Polymerization via Continuous Reactive Extrusion," Polymer Eng. & Science. 45(4), 622-629, (2005).

Raquez, Jean-Marie; Degee, Philippe; Narayan, Ramani; Dubois, Philippe. Synthesis of melt-stable and semi-crystalline poly(1,4-dioxan-2-one) by ring-opening (co)polymerization of 1,4-dioxan-2-one with different lactones. Polymer Degradation and Stability, 86(1), 159-169, (2004).

Balakrishnan, Sunder; Krishnan, Mohan; Dubois, Philippe; Narayan, Ramani. Kinetic and thermodynamic considerations in the synthesis of a new three-arm poly(e-caprolactone), Polymer Engineering and Science, 44(8), 1491-1497, (2004).

Shin, Boo-Young; Lee, Sang-Ii; Shin, Young-Sub; Balakrishnan, Sunder; Narayan, Ramani. Rheological, mechanical and biodegradation studies on blends of thermoplastic starch and polycaprolactone. Polymer Engineering and Science, 44(8), 1429-1438, (2004).

Raquez, Jean-Marie; Degee, Philippe; Narayan, Ramani; Dubois, Philippe. Diblock copolymers based on 1,4-dioxan-2-one and e-caprolactone: Characterization and thermal properties. Macromolecular Chemistry and Physics, 205(13), 1764-1773, (2004).

Graiver, D.; Waikul, L. H.; Berger, C.; Narayan, R.. Biodegradable soy protein-polyester blends by reactive extrusion process. Journal of Applied Polymer Science, 92(5), 3231-3239, (2004).

Rutot-Houze, Delphine; Degee, Philippe; Gouttebaron, Rachel; Hecq, Michel; Narayan, Ramani; Dubois, Philippe. In-depth characterization of granular starch-graft-polyester compositions as obtained by in situ polymerization of lactones from the starch surface. Polymer International, 53(6), 656-663, (2004).

Dubois, P.; Narayan, R. "Biodegradable compositions by reactive processing of aliphatic polyester/polysaccharide blends," Macromolecular Symposia 198, 233-243, (2003).

Graiver, D.; Farminer, K.W.; Narayan, R. "A Review of the Fate and Effects of Silicones in the Environment," Journal of Polymers and the Environment, 11(4), 129-136, (2003).

Books, Chapters, Monographs

Patel, M.; Narayan, R. "How sustainable are biopolymers and biobased products? the hope, the doubts, and the reality," In Natural Fibers, Biopolymers, and Biocomposites; Mohanty, A K.; Misra, M.; Drzal, L T.; CRC Press LLC: Boca Raton, Fla, 833-853, (2005).

Mohanty, A.K.; Liu, W; Tummala, P; Drzal, L. T.; Misra, M; Narayan, R. "Soy protein-based plastics, blends, and composites," In Natural Fibers, Biopolymers, and Biocomposites; Mohanty, A.K.; Misra, M; Drzal, L. T.; CRC Press LLC, Boca Raton, Fla, 699-725, (2005).

Conference Proceedings

Narayan, R. "Plastics From Renewable Resources" GPEC 2005, Global Plastics Environmental Conference - Creating Sustainability for the Environment, February 23-25, (2005).

Farminer, K.W.; Graiver, D.; Narayan, R.; Tran, P. "Modifications of soybean oil using novel ozone based chemistry," Polymer Preprints (American Chemical Society. Division of Polymer Chemistry), 46(1), 282, (2005).

Narayan, R. "State of the art: biobased & biodegradable polymer technologies," Polymer Preprints (American Chemical Society, Division of Polymer Chemistry), 46(1), 319-320, (2005).

Narayan, R. "Review, Analysis, Recommendations for Incorporating Small Scale Microbial Oxidative-Degradation Analyzer (MODA) test scheme into ISO -14855" 2nd Workshop on Round-Robin Test for Confirmation of CD (ISO 14855-2) Kyoto, Japan, February 16-18, (2005).

R. Narayan Drivers and rationale for use of biobased materials using LCA (Life Cycle Assessment), Proceedings, Society for Plastic Engineers (SPE), GPEC -- 2004, February 18-20, 2004, Detroit ,MI

Ryan Vicray, Dan Graiver, K. Farminer, & R. Narayan, Thermally stable lubricants from vegetable oils, Proceedings, Society for Plastic Engineers (SPE) GPEC�2004, February 18-20, 2004, Detroit, MI

R. Narayan, Drivers for use of biobased and biodegradable polymer materials, Invited Speaker, Proceedings of the 40th International Symposium on Macromolecules - IUPAC World Polymer Congress MACRO 2004, July, 2004, Paris, France

Narayan, Ramani. BioPlastics from renewable resources: Laboratory to market. Abstracts of Papers, 227th ACS National Meeting, Anaheim, CA, United States, March 28-April 1, 2004 (2004), CELL-013.

Narayan, R. "Environmentally friendly packaging in the USA, and globally," Proceedings, European Seminar on Eco-Friendly Packaging, Environmentally Friendly Packaging in the USA and Globally, joint EcoPac/ PackTech two day seminar on eco-friendly packaging (23rd & 24th April 2003, Valencia, Spain) www.packtech.org, (2003).

Narayan, R. "Engineering and Design of Biobased and Biodegradable Packaging Materials," Proceedings, 3rd International Packaging Congress & Exhibition, Izmir, Turkey, December 3-6, (2003).

Narayan, R. "Biobased, Biodegradable Plastics in the USA - An assessment," Invited lecture, Proceedings, International Symposium, Advanced BioPlastics, IBAW, February 2003; www.ibaw-symposium.com, (2003).

Other Works

Narayan, R. "Rationale and Design for Biodegradable Plastics," Invited paper, Society of Manufacturing Engineers, EM03-104; (2003).