2408935
Project Grant
Overview
Grant Description
Sbir Phase I: Transparent Clay-Pet Nanocomposite for Lightweight Packaging with Extended Product Shelf Life -The broader impact of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project includes reducing plastic pollution, food waste, and CO2 emissions. The project focuses on new and economical ways of manufacturing clay-polyethylene terephthalate(PET) nanocomposite. The nanocomposite displays significantly improved material properties.
The improvement in properties enables the use of up to 20% less plastic per package and reduces food and beverage waste by extending product shelf-life 5x-6x. The end beneficiaries of the technology are consumer packaged goods companies. Using the proposed technology, they can save costs from raw materials and product shelf-life extension and meet their sustainability goals.
The company has several patents and trade secrets that have been developed over 30 years and the chemistry concept behind the project can be used to develop multiple additive product lines for different polymers. The estimated total addressable market size for inorganic polymer additives is $33B. The company intends to commercialize initially in specialty packaging followed by carbonated drinks.
This Small Business Innovation Research Phase I project aims to make clear PET soda bottles with a 2-3x improvement in CO2 barrier that displays industry acceptable yellow index. The team can achieve 5-6x improvement in the CO2 barrier on lab-scale films and is working to convert lab-scale performance to the final soda bottle package.
This project aims to understand the barrier performance and haziness of the packages made from our clay-PET composite. The team will use a variety of microscopy and characterization techniques to study the nanocomposite through the bottle making process to determine if particle agglomeration, rapid crystallization, and/or micro-voids are causes for haziness.
Depending on the findings, the team will develop co-monomers, high-temperature injection processes, and different compatibilizers to manage haze while maintaining CO2 barrier properties. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria. - Subawards are not planned for this award.
The improvement in properties enables the use of up to 20% less plastic per package and reduces food and beverage waste by extending product shelf-life 5x-6x. The end beneficiaries of the technology are consumer packaged goods companies. Using the proposed technology, they can save costs from raw materials and product shelf-life extension and meet their sustainability goals.
The company has several patents and trade secrets that have been developed over 30 years and the chemistry concept behind the project can be used to develop multiple additive product lines for different polymers. The estimated total addressable market size for inorganic polymer additives is $33B. The company intends to commercialize initially in specialty packaging followed by carbonated drinks.
This Small Business Innovation Research Phase I project aims to make clear PET soda bottles with a 2-3x improvement in CO2 barrier that displays industry acceptable yellow index. The team can achieve 5-6x improvement in the CO2 barrier on lab-scale films and is working to convert lab-scale performance to the final soda bottle package.
This project aims to understand the barrier performance and haziness of the packages made from our clay-PET composite. The team will use a variety of microscopy and characterization techniques to study the nanocomposite through the bottle making process to determine if particle agglomeration, rapid crystallization, and/or micro-voids are causes for haziness.
Depending on the findings, the team will develop co-monomers, high-temperature injection processes, and different compatibilizers to manage haze while maintaining CO2 barrier properties. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria. - Subawards are not planned for this award.
Awardee
Funding Goals
THE GOAL OF THIS FUNDING OPPORTUNITY, "NSF SMALL BUSINESS INNOVATION RESEARCH (SBIR)/ SMALL BUSINESS TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER (STTR) PROGRAMS PHASE I", IS IDENTIFIED IN THE LINK: HTTPS://WWW.NSF.GOV/PUBLICATIONS/PUB_SUMM.JSP?ODS_KEY=NSF23515
Grant Program (CFDA)
Awarding / Funding Agency
Place of Performance
Somerville,
Massachusetts
02143-3260
United States
Geographic Scope
Single Zip Code
Berkm was awarded
Project Grant 2408935
worth $274,424
from National Science Foundation in June 2024 with work to be completed primarily in Somerville Massachusetts United States.
The grant
has a duration of 1 year and
was awarded through assistance program 47.084 NSF Technology, Innovation, and Partnerships.
The Project Grant was awarded through grant opportunity NSF Small Business Innovation Research / Small Business Technology Transfer Phase I Programs.
SBIR Details
Research Type
SBIR Phase I
Title
SBIR Phase I: Transparent Clay-PET Nanocomposite for Lightweight Packaging with Extended Product Shelf Life
Abstract
The broader impact of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project includes reducing plastic pollution, food waste, and CO2 emissions. The project focuses on new and economical ways of manufacturing clay-polyethylene terephthalate(PET) nanocomposite. The nanocomposite displays significantly improved material properties. The improvement in properties enables the use of up to 20% less plastic per package and reduces food and beverage waste by extending product shelf-life 5X-6X. The end beneficiaries of the technology are consumer packaged goods companies. Using the proposed technology, they can save costs from raw materials and product shelf-life extension and meet their sustainability goals. The company has several patents and trade secrets that have been developed over 30 years and the chemistry concept behind the project can be used to develop multiple additive product lines for different polymers. The estimated total addressable market size for inorganic polymer additives is $33B. The company intends to commercialize initially in specialty packaging followed by carbonated drinks.
This Small Business Innovation Research Phase I project aims to make clear PET soda bottles with a 2-3X improvement in CO2 barrier that displays industry acceptable yellow index. The team can achieve 5-6X improvement in the CO2 barrier on lab-scale films and is working to convert lab-scale performance to the final soda bottle package. This project aims to understand the barrier performance and haziness of the packages made from our clay-PET composite. The team will use a variety of microscopy and characterization techniques to study the nanocomposite through the bottle making process to determine if particle agglomeration, rapid crystallization, and/or micro-voids are causes for haziness. Depending on the findings, the team will develop co-monomers, high-temperature injection processes, and different compatibilizers to manage haze while maintaining CO2 barrier properties.
This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
Topic Code
AM
Solicitation Number
NSF 23-515
Status
(Complete)
Last Modified 6/10/24
Period of Performance
6/1/24
Start Date
5/31/25
End Date
Funding Split
$274.4K
Federal Obligation
$0.0
Non-Federal Obligation
$274.4K
Total Obligated
Activity Timeline
Additional Detail
Award ID FAIN
2408935
SAI Number
None
Award ID URI
SAI EXEMPT
Awardee Classifications
Small Business
Awarding Office
491503 TRANSLATIONAL IMPACTS
Funding Office
491503 TRANSLATIONAL IMPACTS
Awardee UEI
PVTXSDCD4E36
Awardee CAGE
None
Performance District
MA-07
Senators
Edward Markey
Elizabeth Warren
Elizabeth Warren
Modified: 6/10/24