TT2:Plasma reprocessing of waste materials:
Application: Plasma-enabled sustainability – composites from waste materials.
Background: Chicken feathers are composed of over 90% proteins, the main component being beta keratin, a fibrous insoluble protein containing disulfide bonds and also containing 1% lipids and 8% water. They have a unique structure and properties not found in any natural or synthetic fibers. Their low density, excellent compressibility and resilience, ability to dampen sound, retain warmth and distinctive morphological structure of feather barbs make them unique fibers. Due to these properties, chicken feathers have great potential as reinforcement fillers for polymers, but the interfacial bonding between filler and host polymers is a concern that requires new methods be developed to improve the surface properties of filler materials without affecting their bulk properties. We have shown that treating filler materials with LTP modifies chicken feather properties because it creates chemically active species on the surface7. This study was facilitated by a custom-built chamber for 3D plasma treatment of powder samples acquired at TU. The plasma treatment provided a better bonding of filler materials in the matrix and enhanced mechanical properties of composite materials. We will focus on LTP surface modifications of carbon, (from chicken feathers and coconut shells) and calcium-based particles from chicken egg and seashells. The modified fillers derived from waste materials will be incorporated in thermoplastic polymers and tested for thermal and mechanical properties before and after LTP treatments.
Proposed Research: In this project, we will investigate surface modifications of carbon in chicken feathers and coconut shells and calcium particles in chicken eggshells and seashells introduced by LTP treatments.
Integration with Foundational Research: The typically empirical approach to the 3D plasma treatment of samples will be improved by better diagnostics (FR2.1) and utilizing results from simulations of electroninduced non-equilibrium chemistry in gas discharges and plasma-surface interactions (FR1.2(a)).
Impacts: Disposing of billions of pounds of unused chicken products from the worldwide poultry industry is both environmentally challenging8, and important to the AL poultry industry (AESSTR, 4.1). Waste materials from agricultural and animal sources are valuable resources for developing useful materials. LTP processing can recycle waste feathers, eggshells and seashells by creating polymer composites with improved properties and innovative applications.