The buffing dust waste/polystyrene thermal insulator is a polymer composite containing 0.1%-25% by weight buffing dust waste from a leather tannery, the balance being polystyrene. The composite has extremely low thermal conductivity (e.g., 0.0447 W/m-K for a composite 10% budding dust by weight), making it a good insulator, while still having relatively high mechanical properties. The thermal insulator is made by mixing the buffing dust with the polystyrene polymer in a twin-screw extruder and pouring the mixture into a steel mold. The mold is heated and compressed in a hot press machine, e.g., at 500 kg force at 180° C. for 20 minutes, which may be followed by 500 kg force at 125° C. for an additional 20 minutes. The resulting composite polymer is suitable for use as thermal insulation in buildings.

The buffing dust waste/polystyrene thermal insulator is a polymer composite containing 0.1%-25% by weight buffing dust waste from a leather tannery, the balance being polystyrene. The composite has extremely low thermal conductivity (e.g., 0.0447 W/m-K for a composite 10% budding dust by weight), making it a good insulator, while still having relatively high mechanical properties. The thermal insulator is made by mixing the buffing dust with the polystyrene polymer in a twin-screw extruder and pouring the mixture into a steel mold. The mold is heated and compressed in a hot press machine, e.g., at 500 kg force at 180° C. for 20 minutes, which may be followed by 500 kg force at 125° C. for an additional 20 minutes. The resulting composite polymer is suitable for use as thermal insulation in buildings.

A modified asphalt binder with improved elastic properties and methods of making such modified asphalt binder. The modified asphalt binders may include one or more of an asphalt binder, a solvent deasphalted (SDA) pitch, a polymeric material, and optionally, a ground tire rubber. The disclosed modified asphalt binders exhibit properties consistent with decreased susceptibility to rutting and thus may be used in asphalt concrete applications.

A modified asphalt binder with improved elastic properties and methods of making such modified asphalt binder. The modified asphalt binders may include one or more of an asphalt binder, a solvent deasphalted (SDA) pitch, a polymeric material, and optionally, a ground tire rubber. The disclosed modified asphalt binders exhibit properties consistent with decreased susceptibility to rutting and thus may be used in asphalt concrete applications.

A curable green epoxy resin composition is described. More particularly, the curable green epoxy resin composition includes a biobinder isolated from bio-oil produced from animal waste, such as from swine manure. The biobinder can act as a curing agent for an epoxy resin component in the resin composition. Cured green epoxy resins, prepregs containing the curable green epoxy resin, and related composite materials are described. In addition, methods of preparing the curable green epoxy resin composition and of curing the curable green epoxy resin.

Disclosed herein are systems and methods for processing waste egg shells into (i) a first product including calcified egg shell particles having diameters of 3μ or less, and (ii) a second product including calcified egg shell particles having diameters in a range from about 3μ to about 7μ. The first product may be used as a CaCO.sub.3 substitute for paint compositions and plastics compositions. The second product may be used as a CaCO.sub.3 blasting media substitute for use with abrasive blasting equipment.

An earth plant-based compostable biodegradable composition for the formation of a bioplastic and method of producing said resin, the composition comprising: about 17.5 to 45% ethanol-based green polyethylene by weight, about 20 to 25% calcium carbonate by weight, about 2 to 12% hemp hurd or soy protein by weight, about 32 to 45% starch by weight, and about 0.5 to 1% biodegradation additive by weight to enable biodegradation and composting of the bioplastic; wherein the composition is produced by first mill grinding the ethanol-based green polyethylene, calcium carbonate, hemp hurd or soy protein, starch and the biodegradation additive into fine powders, then mechanically mixing the fine powders one by one into a final mixture for about 5-25 minutes at a time, dry and without heat, and then heating the final mixture to about 220 to 430 degrees Fahrenheit.

The present disclosure provides a method of processing shell material. Shell material processed in accordance with the methods disclosed herein may be biodegradable and may further represent a new type of useful material. By way of example, the processed shell material may be useable as a material to make useful materials, items, objects and/or tools.

The present disclosure provides a fire retardant composition that includes a non-intumescent composition and an intumescent composition, fire retardant coatings including the same, and methods of preparation and use thereof.

The present disclosure provides a fire retardant composition that includes a non-intumescent composition and an intumescent composition, fire retardant coatings including the same, and methods of preparation and use thereof.