You are here

THE BIODEGRADATION OF SPENT PRE-PREG MATERIALS

Award Information
Agency: Department of Defense
Branch: Air Force
Contract: N/A
Agency Tracking Number: 17833
Amount: $533,603.00
Phase: Phase II
Program: SBIR
Solicitation Topic Code: N/A
Solicitation Number: N/A
Timeline
Solicitation Year: N/A
Award Year: 1993
Award Start Date (Proposal Award Date): N/A
Award End Date (Contract End Date): N/A
Small Business Information
410 Chipeta Way, Suite 222
Salt Lake City, UT 84108
United States
DUNS: N/A
HUBZone Owned: No
Woman Owned: No
Socially and Economically Disadvantaged: No
Principal Investigator
 Gail Bowers-irons
 (801) 582-8080
Business Contact
Phone: () -
Research Institution
N/A
Abstract

THERMOSET RESIN IMPREGNATED YARNS, FABRICS AND TAPES (PREPREGS) COMPRISE A SIGNIFICANT FRACTION OF THE MATERIALS USED IN THE FABRICATION OF CURRENT AND DEVELOPING AIR FORCE AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS. TWO PROBLEMS EXIST, HOWEVER, WITH THE PREPREG MATERIALS. THESE MATERIALS HAVE ONLY A SIX-MONTH SHELF LIFE AND THERE CAN BE RESIDUAL OR NON-SPEC WASTE MATERIALS GENERATED. THE SPENT PREPREG WASTES, NOW REPORTED TO BE ENVIRONMENTALLY UNSAFE, MAY INCLUDE UNCURED RESIN AND REJECTS AT ALL STEPS OF THE FABRICATION PROCESS. CURRENT DISPOSAL METHODS SUCH AS INCENERATION, AUTOCLAVING OR LANDFILLING WILL SOON LACK EPA ACCEPTANCE DUE TO THE PRODUCTION OF POISONOUS DECOMPOSITION PRODUCTS. IN RESPONSE TO THIS TOXIC WASTE PROBLEM, TECHNICAL RESEARCH ASSOCIATES (TRA) PROPOSES TO DEVELOP A REGULATED AND CONTAINED BIODEGRADATION PROCESS WHICH WOULD ELIMINATE THE REPORTED ENVIRONMENTAL AND HEALTH HAZARDS CAUSED BY PRESENT DISPOSAL SYSTEMS. PRELIMINARY WORK HAS SHOWN THAT TRA'S BIODEGRADING BACTERIA AND/OR FUNGI HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO DEGRADE THE SPENT PREPREG THERMOSET RESINS. THIS WOULD ALLOW THE SEPARATED FIBERS TO BE RECYCLED OR SAFELY LANDFILLED.

* Information listed above is at the time of submission. *

US Flag An Official Website of the United States Government