MRI: Acquisition of Instrumentation for Interdisciplinary Experimental Studies, Teaching and Training: Use of By-Products of Bio-fuel from Swine Manure in Construction Adhesives

0923425

Hamoush

This major research instrumentation (MRI) proposal requests funding for a Dynamic Shear Rheometer, Bending Beam Rheometer, Direct Tension-Blister Test, Sessile drop device, and soil and asphalt test system. This instrumentation will provide important research tools for North Carolina A&T State University. The instruments will be used for interdisciplinary studies of a bio-based and bio-degradable adhesive for construction.

With this instrumentation, the investigators will study the usefulness of by-products of bio-fuel in construction adhesives. In particular, this study will investigate the replacement of petroleum-based adhesives (a non-biodegradable material) with biobased, bio-degradable adhesives from swine manure. This study will investigate the rheological characteristics of bio-based adhesives and compare them with those of petroleum-based adhesives. The requested instrumentation will lead to fundamental improvements in properties of construction adhesives and considerable reduction in the cost of their manufacture. The goals of this research are to both eliminate the need for storing swine manure and to improve the nation's sustainable infrastructural systems through appropriate usage of these by-products in construction adhesives such as asphalt binder and sealant used in highway and airport pavement. This results in major improvements in environmental and economical impacts in both the agricultural and construction sectors. Hence, this project offers a unique, simultaneous approach that addresses increasing depletion of petroleum resources and development of sustainable construction adhesives for infrastructure.