Greener Plastics Research Projects

The plastics, resins and compounds industries are important sectors in the Massachusetts economy. Products produced from these industries are found throughout the global economy.TURI promotes research into formulations for these products that do not include toxic chemicals. The reports and articles in this section demonstrate the caliber and value to Massachusetts companies of the research TURI has supported. 

Recent examples include:

• BPA-Free Epoxies (2010). Dr. Daniel Schmidt, Assistant Professor at UMass Lowell, studied a potential replacement for BPA used in epoxy resin coatings for food and beverage can applications. The resin studied was an analog to a commercially available BPA-free alternative for rigid plastic uses, such as in water bottles. The results of this initial research were promising and Dr. Schmidt continues the research in collaboration with industry partners. Read the April 30, 2013 article "Substitute for BPA in epoxy looks promising" in Plastics Today.
• 

  UML researchers demonstrate nut-based FR at EPA student design competition event

  Sustainable Processing of Non-Halogenated Flame Retardants (2008-2010). Dr. Ramaswamy Nagarajan and Dr. Jayant Kumar researched naturally derived flame retardants (based on cashew nut oil) and non-halogenated phenol based oligomers for use in textile applications. This research has been recognized by EPA in its People, Planet and Prosperity (P3) program, and was one of 6 student projects awarded a  2011 Extramural Research Grant