To The H.O.D.

Department of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee, 247667 Dated:

Sub: Application for Summer Undergraduate Research Award (SURA) 2013.

Respected Sir, Our team of three students namely Akshay V. Singhal, Iesh Dixit and Aditya Jha of B.Tech. IInd Year of the department are willing to undertake the project titled - " Scope of the use of biodegradable polymer matrix composites as an alternative for petrochemical plastics" under the SURA scheme of the institute. Please find attached the detailed project outline, required finances and facilities and team details with this letter.

Thanking You, Yours Sincerely,

Akshay V. Singhal B.Tech. IInd Year, MMED Enroll No. 11118012 Mobile No. +91 8266800632

Encls: As Above.

Project Outline
Title: Scope of the use of biodegradable polymer matrix composites as an alternative for petrochemical plastics. Objective: The concept of biodegradable plastics is of considerable interest with respect to solid waste accumulation and deforestation. While plastics are undoubtedly superior materials in terms of their costs, processability and functional properties, they are currently derived from fossil resources and they are not readily assimilated by the various ecosystems upon disposal. Among numerous kinds of degradable polymers, poly lactic acid sometimes called polylactide, an aliphatic polyester and biocompatible thermoplastic, is currently a most promising and popular material with the brightest development prospect and is considered as the green eco friendly material. Poly lactic acid (PLA), being a compostable synthetic polymer produced using monomer feedstock derived from corn starch, satisfies many of the environmental impact criteria required for an acceptable replacement for oil-derived plastics. Polymer composite materials often possess mechanical and physical properties that make them better suited for a wide range of applications than the individual polymer components. The use of natural fibres to produce polymer composites having improved mechanical and impact performance is well-documented, and is of particular interest for enhancing the properties of biodegradable polymeric materials like PLA. The purpose of this project is to ascertain the extent to which the PLA polymer matrix composites can be used for the fabrication of components as an alternative material for which various petrochemical plastics are conventionally used. The assessment would be based on a comparison of the impact strength, toughness, durability, formability, biodegradability, ease of printing and texturing and costs involved.

Approach of the R&D work: The wider uptake of PLA in its basic polymeric form is restricted by performance deficiencies, such as its relatively poor impact properties which arise from its inherent brittleness compared with commodity polymers such as polyethylene and polypropylene, but the use of natural fibres to produce polymer composites make PLA better suited both mechanically and physically for a wide range of applications than the individual polymeric components without affecting its biodegradability . In the proposed project it is planned to synthesize different PLA polymer matrix composites by varying: Reinforcement: different natural fibres will be used as reinforcements such as glass fibres, talc, carbon fibres, chicken fibre, rayon fibres, flax and

natural rubber depending upon the desired mechanical and physical properties for various components under study. Reinforcement size: Varying the size of reinforcements also alters mechanical properties like impact strength, toughness, flexibility, etc. There are mainly two possibilities: (1) Short-Fibre Reinforcement (2) Long-Fibre Reinforcement. Fabrication Methods: Fabrication usually involves wetting or mixing or saturating the reinforcement with the matrix, and then causing the matrix to bind together (with heat or a chemical reaction) into a rigid structure. The operation is usually done in an open or closed forming mould, but the order and ways of introducing the ingredients varies considerably. Primarily four techniques are used namely: (1) Vacuum Bag Moulding (2) Pressure Bag Moulding (3) Autoclave Moulding and (4) Resin Transfer Moulding (RTM).

The various components to be undertaken in the research are categorised below under the head of the material for which PLA composites have to be used as an alternative: Polyethylene: Packaging Material. Desired Properties: Flexibility, Transparency, Printability and Water resistance. Poly Vinyl Chloride: Pipes and Electric Cables Desired Properties: Hardness, Elastic Modulus, Poor Electrical Conductivity, Wear and Abrasion. Bakelite: Appliance Casings, Electrical Switches and Boards and Internal panels of automobiles. Desired Properties: Electrical Non-Conductivity, Thermal Resistance and Hardness.

To sum up, the whole project would involve the ascertainment of the various properties of conventional components fabricated from petrochemical plastics and then subsequently achieving those properties through PLA Polymer Matrix Composites.

Faculty Advisors
Guide: Dr. B. S. S. Daniel Associate Professor Department of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, IIT Roorkee Co-Guide: Dr. Inderdeep Singh Associate Professor Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, IIT Roorkee

Dr. B. S. S. Daniel

Dr. Inderdeep Singh

Requirements

Team Details

Akshay V. Singhal B.Tech. IInd Year, Metallurgical and Materials Engineering Department Room No. A-409, Rajiv Gandhi Bhawan Enroll. No. 11118012 Mobile No. +91 8266800632 Email Id: akshaysinghal.iitr@gmail.com Iesh Dixit B.Tech. IInd Year, Metallurgical and Materials Engineering Department Room No. A-415, Rajiv Gandhi Bhawan Enroll. No. 11118044 Mobile No. +91 7895161705 Email Id: ieshdixit22@gmail.com Aditya Jha B.Tech. IInd Year, Metallurgical and Materials Engineering Department Room No. B-433, Rajiv Gandhi Bhawan Enroll. No. 11118007 Mobile No. +91 7417485915 Email Id: @gmail.com