Ut-battelle, Inc.

University of Tennessee Research Foundation

Fiberlean Technologies Limited

Halil L Tekinalp

Soydan Ozcan

Xianhui Zhao

Kai Li

James William Klett

Sean Ireland

Yu Wang

Xiangtao Meng

Oluwafemi Oyedeji

Erin G Webb

Jon Phipps

Justin Figley

A process for producing dried, vinyl carboxylate surface-modified microfibrillated cellulose having improved mechanical properties and a microfibril structure and a process for producing a vinyl carboxylate, surface-modified microfibrillated cellulose-thermoplastic polyester or thermoplastic polyolefin composite material having improved mechanical strength properties utilizing dried, vinyl carboxylate surface-modified microfibrillated cellulose.

Surface-modified and dried microfibrillated cellulose reinforced thermoplastic biocomposites

A method for fractionating biomass material according to ash content, the method comprising: grinding the biomass material to produce a ground biomass and sieving the ground biomass through a first screen to yield: a) a first fraction of biomass particles that does not pass through the first screen and which has a first particle size, and b) a second fraction of biomass particles that passes through the first screen and which has a second particle size, wherein the second particle size is smaller than the first particle size, and wherein the second fraction of biomass particles has a higher ash content than the first fraction of biomass particles; and optionally further comprising: passing the second fraction of biomass particles through a second screen having a finer mesh size to produce a third fraction having a smaller particle size and a higher ash content than the second fraction of biomass particles.

Biomass fractionation method for producing biomass of varying ash content and uses thereof

A method of forming a catalyst is provided herein. The method comprises combining a binder, a support, and an active metal to form a slurry composition. The method further comprises applying the slurry composition using an additive manufacturing process to form a green part. The method further comprises exposing the green part to heat at a temperature of from about 10&#xb0; C. to about 150&#xb0; C. to form the hardened part. The method further comprises applying a ceramic-based coating material to the hardened part to form the catalyst.

Active metal catalyst

A toughened polyester composite comprising: (i) a polyester matrix and (ii) droplets of a high boiling point liquid having a boiling point of at least 140&#xb0; C. dispersed in said polyester matrix, wherein the high boiling point liquid is present in an amount of 0.1-10 wt % by weight of the toughened polyester composite, and wherein the composite may further include: (iii) a modifier selected from polycarboxylic, polyol, and polyamine compounds, wherein the modifier is present in an amount of 0.1-10 wt % by weight of the toughened polyester composite. Methods for producing the polyester composite are also described.

Toughened polyester composites containing polyester matrix and droplets of high boiling liquid therein

A composite composition includes a thermoset resin and about 3 wt. % to about 35 wt. % of at least one material selected from the group consisting of cellulose nanofibrils (CNF), micro-sized cellulose fibers (MFC), and cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) dispersed therein as measured with respect to the overall weight of the composite composition. The cellulose nanofibrils and/or nanocrystals have an average diameter of about 5 nm to about 500 nm and an average aspect ratio in the range of about 5:1 to about 500:1. The cellulose micro-sized fibers have an average diameter of about 5 &#x3bc;m to about 100 &#x3bc;m and an average aspect ratio in the range of about 5:1 to about 250:1.

Thermoset composite having thermoplastic characteristics

A silane-modified polyester blend comprising a polyester polymer homogeneously blended with silane molecules containing two or three alkoxy groups bound to the silicon atom, wherein said silane molecules are present in said polyester blend in an amount of 0.05-20 wt % (or, e.g., 0.05-10 wt %, 0.05-5 wt %, or 0.05-2 wt %). The polyester polymer may, in particular embodiments, be a polyhydroxyalkanoate, terephthalate-based polyester, adipate-based, or succinate-based polyester. The silane molecule may be according to the formula (RO)SiRR, wherein Rgroups are independently selected from alkyl groups containing 1-4 carbon atoms; and Rand Rare independently selected from ORgroups and alkyl groups containing 1-12 carbon atoms, provided that at least one of Rand Ris an alkyl group, wherein the alkyl group optionally includes one or more heteroatoms selected from oxygen, nitrogen, halogen, sulfur, phosphorus, and silicon. Methods for producing the silane-modified polyester blend are also described.

Growing community of inventors

Knoxville, TN, United States of America

Halil L Tekinalp