Cellulose to make plastics stronger

19-Oct-06

Ways to use cellulose from wood to strengthen plastics are being developed by Researchers at the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry (ESF). This development pulls out nanocrystals of cellulose out of natural materials (trees, willow shrubs, orange pulp and the pomace left behind after apple cider production) and mixes them with plastics to provide a lightweight component that is also biodegradable. Addition of one ounce of crystals to a pound of plastic, increase the strength of the plastic by a factor of 3,000, that on disposal ends up as carbon dioxide and water. In addition to being used as strengtheners in plastics, the nanocrystals can be used in ceramics and in biomedical applications such as artificial joints and disposable medical equipment. Lab tests with a reactor that can process up to 500 grams (about a pound) of material at a time, have been successfully conducted. The next step is to scale it up to a commercial level. The team is currently working on refining the surface of the crystals so they adhere better to the plastic, and disbursing the crystals throughout the material to achieve the best results.