Waste wood isn’t just suitable as a sustainable polystyrene substitute.
Now, a Finnish research team has created an alternative to petroleum-based resin using sawdust and straw. The presence of petroleum-based bonding agents makes it tricky to recycle composites, which are used for wind turbines, boats and RVs.
The team extracted cellulose and hemicellulose from the waste wood, successfully developing a polyester resin. It displayed a 76% higher tensile strength than fossil-based thermosets.
Composite materials made with these bio-based resins can be separated into their individual components through chemical treatment, making them recyclable and reusable. Opportunity: independence from oil! Patents are pending and industry partners are being sought.
Meanwhile from Switzerland: Â self-repairing composites; and transportable reactors for recycling glass-fibre reinforced plastics.
