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Brannum_Dissertation Final.pdf (3.47 MB)

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Biomimicry: Utilizing Nature’s Abundant Materials

Brannum, Daniel Jacob
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=case1499685911325712

Abstract Details

, Doctor of Philosophy, Case Western Reserve University, Macromolecular Science and Engineering.
Interest in biomimicry has opened up a number of fields and thoughts on how nature efficiently uses materials that are ubiquitous and familiar. This research aims to understand specific systems in their natural environments and develop processes to realize desired end applications. The systems of interest include collagen, mammals’ most abundant proteins, and silica, one of nature’s most abundant minerals. The first system of interest is collagen and its hierarchical structure in the body. Isolating and processing collagen using benign combinations of solvents and salts while retaining or reforming its natural structure could encourage a broader spectrum of applications. In previous work, using a benign solvent system consisting of salt, water, and alcohol, the natural structure was substantially present. The present research utilized this approach and varied the different components to determine optimal windows for processing and to develop a deeper understanding of the system. Collagen, with no solubility in highly-concentrated salt solution or alcohol, is solubilized in large amount with the mixture of all three. Using the Hofmeister series, sodium salts with varying anions showed a consistent trend of larger solubility windows as the anions became more chaotropic. The role of the alcohol is still undetermined. The second system was inspired by the natural flame-retardant properties of Cladophora sp., a species of algae coated with silica diatoms. Toward that end, a silica sol-gel method was employed to improve the fire resistance of common, open-cell polyurethane foams. Due to the phase-out of halogen-free flame retardants, there is a large demand for new, `green’ flame retardant alternatives. Specifically, the Stober process, with components 2-propanol, water, tetraethyl orthosilicate and ammonium hydroxide, was employed for silica nanoparticle synthesis on the walls and struts of urethane foam. Electron microscopy revealed a thin interphase layer of silica and urethane rather than a sharp silica-urethane interface. Upon ignition, the treated foams initially burn followed by initiation and propagating of a char front leading to self-extinguishment without dripping of flaming residues common with untreated foams. These observations, coupled with the ease of application, suggest a viable approach to the mitigation of burning of common open-cell urethane foams.
Gary Wnek (Advisor)
129 p.
Polymers

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Brannum, D. J. (2017). Biomimicry: Utilizing Nature’s Abundant Materials [Doctoral dissertation, Case Western Reserve University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=case1499685911325712

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Brannum, Daniel. Biomimicry: Utilizing Nature’s Abundant Materials. 2017. Case Western Reserve University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=case1499685911325712.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Brannum, Daniel. "Biomimicry: Utilizing Nature’s Abundant Materials." Doctoral dissertation, Case Western Reserve University, 2017. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=case1499685911325712

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

case1499685911325712
390
© 2017, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by Case Western Reserve University School of Graduate Studies and OhioLINK.