Date of Award

2013

Publisher

North Dakota State University

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Awarded

Master of Science (MS)

Program

Mechanical Engineering

Department

Mechanical Engineering

College

Engineering

Faculty Advisor

Ulven, Chad A.

Description

Green reinforcement in polymer systems have shown great promise in reducing cost, negative environmental effects, and dependency on nonrenewable resources. Both natural fillers and composite regrind can increase mechanical performance, while reducing new resin inputs for polymer based components. PVC and Polyurethane foam are widely used in North America in high volumes. Ground corn cob greatly increased the modulus of a flexible PVC system while minimally reducing maximum strength. The corn cob also showed signs of being a suitable filler in a polyurethane foam composite panel at low concentrations with minimal changes in mechanical performance. Polyurethane composite regrind illustrated great potential being used in new polyurethane composite panels with acceptable material properties. Replacing just a few percent of polyurethane and PVC with green reinforcement could reduce new production of these polymers by millions of pounds per year in North America alone.

Rights

NDSU Policy 190.6.2

Rights Link

https://www.ndsu.edu/fileadmin/policy/190.pdf

Handle Identifier

https://hdl.handle.net/10365/26664

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