Sustainable plastics and the center for bioplastics and biocomposites

International Conference and Exhibition on Biopolymers & Bioplastics

August 10-12, 2015 San Francisco, USA

David Grewell

Keynote: J Material Sci Eng

Abstract :

In this presentation, we review the basic concepts and history of bioplastics and biocomposites. We then provide an overview
of the current state of the field. While there have been many early developments in bioplastics and examples of biocomposites
in the last 60 years, today this technology has gained increased interest with many applications, and there are new products
and materials under development and commercialization. The National Science Foundation (NSF) has recently funded an
Industry/University Cooperative Research Center (I/UCRC) focused on bioplastics and bioplastics. Designated as the Center
for Bioplastics and Biocomposites (CB2), this center is led by Iowa State University and Washington State University. The
thrust of this new NSF center will be reviewed along with the center’s benefits to the bioplastics and biocomposites industry.

Biography :

David Grewell received a BS, MS and PhD in Welding Engineering from The Ohio State University with minors in biomedical engineering and polymer processing
in 1989, 2002 and 2005, respectively. He holds 14 patents and has published 50 journal, nearly 100 refereed conference papers, two books and has been an
invited lecture to 7 international conferences. He is a Society Fellow within the Society of Plastic Engineers. His interests include bio-fuels, bio-materials, joining of
plastics, micro-fabrication and laser processing of materials. He is currently at Iowa State University as a Professor in the department of Agricultural and Biosystems
Engineering and has courtesy appointments with the Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering Department, Food Science Department as well as at
Erlangen University in Germany. He is also the Director of the NSF center on Bioplastics and Biocomposites (CB2).