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Arboform is a material made from wood components mixed with fibers and natural additives to produce a material that can be used to create domestic products that are currently made from petroleum-based plastics.
"The cellulose industry separates wood into its three main components -- lignin, cellulose and hemicellulose," ICT team leader Emilia Regina Inone-Kauffmann told DPA. "The lignin is not needed in papermaking, however. Our colleagues mix that lignin with fine natural fibers made of wood, hemp or flax and natural additives such as wax. From this, they produce plastic granulate that can be melted and injection-moulded."
Making plastic with lignin has been around for some time, but has been reserved for car parts and other limited uses because of the high sulfur content. Arboform is the first lignin-based plastic material that has a low enough sulfur content to make it worth considering for a wider range of consumer uses.
Not only is Arboform a possible replacement for traditional plastics, but it is also highly recyclable. "To find that out, we produced components, broke them up into small pieces, and re-processed the broken pieces -- 10 times in all. We did not detect any change in the material properties of the low-sulphur bio-plastic, so that means it can be recycled," said Inone-Kauffmann.
via Deutsche Welle
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written by Freddy Nager, March 07, 2009
...is that they don't explain, why tomorrow? Why not today? What's the hold up? Is it lack of funding? Its it government approval? With a little more information, perhaps one of us interested readers could help accelerate the process.
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written by Kyle, March 07, 2009
At first it seems great, but then you have to ask:
So instead of taking oil out of the ground for this purpose, should we cut down more trees? I can't answer that myself, but can someone else?
So instead of taking oil out of the ground for this purpose, should we cut down more trees? I can't answer that myself, but can someone else?
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written by MD, March 07, 2009
WoW.. well not really.
This is actually a tried and true technology.
The Czech Sa vz. 58 rifle has been using this type of "composite" for furniture for years... since 1956 actually.
Everything old is new again!
This is actually a tried and true technology.
The Czech Sa vz. 58 rifle has been using this type of "composite" for furniture for years... since 1956 actually.
Everything old is new again!
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written by Kit England, March 08, 2009
Solving global climate change is a bit like a jigsaw in that oil fuels our society in so many ways, not just in cars. Until now, I've been wondering what we'll do for things like plates, spoons etc in the world and it looks like this is a a distinct possibility.
Whilst it requires greater sources of wood, this doesn't present a real problem as wood is a sustainable source and so once the production cycle really begins, the timber industry will explode - not only reducing carbon levels in hte atmosphere, but providing a lot of jobs which will probably disappear with the end of oil.
Reading this has made me a lot more positive in that there now seems to be a real move towards a more sustainable society in every aspect.
Whilst it requires greater sources of wood, this doesn't present a real problem as wood is a sustainable source and so once the production cycle really begins, the timber industry will explode - not only reducing carbon levels in hte atmosphere, but providing a lot of jobs which will probably disappear with the end of oil.
Reading this has made me a lot more positive in that there now seems to be a real move towards a more sustainable society in every aspect.
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written by russ, March 09, 2009
Please notice - they say they are using the lignin component of wood which it seems is presently a waste product. This is plus-plus if correct.
No extra trees and consuming a waste product.
No extra trees and consuming a waste product.
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written by John, March 09, 2009
So cool! It's Good to get as much petroleum based products out of your house as possible. An easy thing you can do is replace carpeting with hardwood floors when renovating your home. Bamboo is completely sustainable, while indigenous varieties like white pine can be harvested in sustainable ways.
Check out more tips at: http://www.foodandwine.com/greenandblacks
Check out more tips at: http://www.foodandwine.com/greenandblacks
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written by Christian, March 12, 2009
How energy intensive is the process? Soy-based plastics seem great too, but they use more energy than they save over their petroleum counterparts. Until I see some energy accounting, color me skeptical.
Also, what about production with this stuff? Do I have to run my tools hotter, do they wear faster, how much petro-plastic color concentrate do I have to add...? The list goes on and on. It is extremely difficult to quantify whether or not something like this is a net positive.
Also, what about production with this stuff? Do I have to run my tools hotter, do they wear faster, how much petro-plastic color concentrate do I have to add...? The list goes on and on. It is extremely difficult to quantify whether or not something like this is a net positive.
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written by Tomas S., March 20, 2009
If u read the article in the 1st paragraph 'Arboform is a material made from wood components mixed with fibers and natural additives to produce a material...' Then in the next paragraph 'Arboform is the first lignin-based plastic material...' So which is it I think not enough info is given. On another note you don't want sulfur leaching from your plastic into your food would u?
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written by ed hardy clothes, September 24, 2009
Please notice - they say they are using the lignin component of wood which it seems is presently a waste product. This is plus-plus if correct.
No extra trees and consuming a waste product.
No extra trees and consuming a waste product.
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can anybody explain why high sulfur is bad in plastics? It doesn't seem straight forward to me... isn't there sulfur in latex?