Clemson University TigerPrints All Dissertations Dissertations 8-2017 Design, Synthesis and Sustainable Applications of Animal Protein-Based Thermoset Polymers and Covalent Organic Frameworks Xiaoyan Yu Clemson University Follow this and additional works at: https://tigerprints.clemson.edu/all_dissertations Part of the Automotive Engineering Commons Recommended Citation Yu, Xiaoyan, "Design, Synthesis and Sustainable Applications of Animal Protein-Based Thermoset Polymers and Covalent Organic Frameworks" (2017). All Dissertations. 2088. https://tigerprints.clemson.edu/all_dissertations/2088 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Dissertations at TigerPrints. It has been accepted for inclusion in All Dissertations by an authorized administrator of TigerPrints. For more information, please contact
[email protected]. DESIGN, SYNTHESIS AND SUSTAINABLE APPLICATIONS OF ANIMAL PROTEIN-BASED THERMOSET POLYMERS AND COVALENT ORGANIC FRAMEWORKS A Dissertation Presented to the Graduate School of Clemson University In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Philosophy by Xiaoyan Yu August 2017 Accepted by: Srikanth Pilla, Committee Chair Fadi Abu-farha Craig Clemons Mark Hoffman Annel Greene i ABSTRACT Extensive research has been undertaken in recent times on finding suitable, alternative, non-feed and non-fertilizer applications for proteinaceous materials in the animal rendering industry. In this regard, use of such proteins to derive plastics, especially thermoplastics and derived composites, has emerged as a potentially acceptable choice. However, the widespread use of such proteins for aforementioned applications is limited by their poor mechanical properties, high moisture absorption and their inherent odor. In this study, we have engineered, for the first time, high-strength, toughened thermoset polymers from proteinaceous materials obtained from the rendering industry so that they can be employed in high performance applications, such as in the automotive sector.