CHITIN NANOWHISKER COMPOSITES, METHODS OF PROCESSING CHITIN, AND ADDITIVE PRODUCTS

摘要

A method for solvent exchange includes (a) receiving a slurry comprising liquid water and chitin nanowhiskers; while a water:solvent ratio in the slurry is above a first threshold amount, continuously: (b) mechanically mixing an incoming stream of water-miscible polar solvent into the slurry; and (c) removing liquid from the slurry while retaining the chitin nanowhiskers. The resultant composition is suitable for use in a subsequent process for distributing substantially non-agglomerated chitin nanowhiskers in an uncured thermoset resin such as an epoxy or polyurethane. A product comprising an uncured thermoset resin component and substantially non-agglomerated chitin nanowhiskers dispersed in the uncured thermoset resin component is usable as an additive product for generally uniformly distributing non-agglomerated chitin nanowhiskers throughout a larger quantity of uncured thermoset resin component to be deployed in some application.