2020 R&D 100 Award for Biomacromolecule Engineering by Soft Chain Coupling Technology

  • Ozcan, Soydan (Recipient), Tekinalp, Halil (Recipient), Li, Kai (Recipient), Wang, Yu (Recipient) & Meng, Xiangtao (Recipient)

Prize: Honorary award

Description

Polylactic acid, or PLA, is a commonly used bioplastic and its biocompatibility, biocompostability, high strength and stiffness make it ideal for use in biomedical devices, films, packaging and 3D printing. However, its brittle nature limits its use in many applications.

ORNL researchers have developed a biomacromolecule soft-coupling technology that improves the ductility and toughness of PLA through a melt-phase process that creates droplets in the polymer microstructure, increasing its toughness up to 20 times compared to the original polymer. This process gives PLA the properties of ductility and super-toughness without sacrificing its tensile strength.

Funding for this project was provided by the DOE Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Advanced Manufacturing Office.

Soydan Ozcan led the ORNL development team which included Halil Tekinalp, Kai Li, Yu Wang, and Xiangtao Meng.

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