Novel bio-based composites of polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA)/distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS)
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Since 1905, the Department of Agricultural Engineering, now the Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering (ABE), has been a leader in providing engineering solutions to agricultural problems in the United States and the world. The department’s original mission was to mechanize agriculture. That mission has evolved to encompass a global view of the entire food production system–the wise management of natural resources in the production, processing, storage, handling, and use of food fiber and other biological products.
History
In 1905 Agricultural Engineering was recognized as a subdivision of the Department of Agronomy, and in 1907 it was recognized as a unique department. It was renamed the Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering in 1990. The department merged with the Department of Industrial Education and Technology in 2004.
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1905–present
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- Department of Agricultural Engineering (1907–1990)
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- College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (parent college)
- College of Engineering (parent college)
- Department of Industrial Education and Technology, (merged, 2004)
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Abstract
The PHA/DDGS composite is a promising low-cost, bio-based material for use in crop containers for the horticulture industry. This research effort has quantified the effects on mechanical and thermal properties of adding different amounts of DDGS to a PHA matrix. PHA and DDGS were mixed using a twin-screw microcompounder. Fracture surface morphology and thermal and rheological properties were evaluated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and rheometer measurements. The adhesion between PHA and DDGS decreased with an increase in DDGS content from 10% to 30%. Melting temperature and crystalline temperature decreased with the increasing content of DDGS filler, indicating that PHA and DDGS interacted favorably. The complex viscosity and elastic shear modulus of the blends were increased by the increasing DDGS content. The storage modulus and glass transition temperature showed little change across the different ratios of DDGS, indicating that DDGS should be a useful filler that can decrease the cost of PHA-based materials significantly while preserving the dynamic mechanical properties and glass transition temperature.
Comments
This is a manuscript of an article published as Lu, Hong, Samy A. Madbouly, James A. Schrader, Micheal R. Kessler, David Grewell, and William R. Graves. "Novel bio-based composites of polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA)/distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS)." RSC Advances 4, no. 75 (2014): 39802-39808. DOI: 10.1039/C4RA04455J. Posted with permission.