Publication Date
8-2024
Date of Final Oral Examination (Defense)
5-14-2024
Type of Culminating Activity
Dissertation
Degree Title
Doctor of Philosophy in Materials Science and Engineering
Department Filter
Materials Science and Engineering
Department
Materials Science and Engineering
Supervisory Committee Chair
Amy Moll, Ph.D.
Supervisory Committee Member
Kathy Araújo, Ph.D.
Supervisory Committee Member
Eric Jankowski, Ph.D.
Supervisory Committee Member
Aaron Smith, Ph.D.
Abstract
Plastics have been an essential material for over 80 years, yet we have been unable to manage the accumulation of plastic waste. The available solutions for recycling or replacing plastics are complex and costly, and thus have not kept pace with the increasing quantity of plastic waste. This dissertation describes a comprehensive, materials design approach to solving the current and future challenges of plastic waste. Recycled and recyclable materials are developed using commercial feedstocks to reduce barriers for industry adoption. In one approach, unsorted municipal solid waste is compressed at a low temperature and pressure to form rigid composite boards with properties similar to particleboard. In another approach, a copolymer with ethyl cyanoacrylate (i.e., Super Glue) is used as a sacrificial tie layer to facilitate the separation and recycling of poly(ethylene terephthalate) in commercial label release liners. Finally, composite materials, composed primarily of low molecular weight sugars, are prepared as a degradable and recyclable alternative to rigid, persistent plastics for short-term-use applications. Processing of the materials, in each of these systems, uses techniques that are compatible with existing infrastructure. Thus, the materials are designed to be scalable and low-cost.
DOI
https://doi.org/10.18122/td.2246.boisestate
Recommended Citation
Miller-Cassman, Terra M., "Development of Recyclable Materials for Industry Using Non-Petroleum Feedstocks" (2024). Boise State University Theses and Dissertations. 2246.
https://doi.org/10.18122/td.2246.boisestate
