Somewhere in the not-so-distant future the raw materials for automobiles may be pineapples and bananas. Brazilian scientists have developed a way to create plastic made from nanocellulose fibers found in bananas and other plants.
Sao Paulo State University researcher Alcides Leão, said in a statement at the 2011 National Meeting & Exposition of the American Chemical Society (ACS) in Anaheim, California, that nanocellulosic plastic is made from entirely renewable and biodegradable materials - bananas, pineapples, coconut shells, agave and curaua (a plant related to pineapple), are all sources of nanocellulose.
Fruit Fiber Technology Applications in the Automotive Industry
Researchers are focusing on replacing automotive plastic parts at the moment, but eventually they hope to be able to replace steel and aluminum auto parts with nanocellulose materials. Wood has long been the prime source of nanocellulose with great potential for paper and paperboard manufacture, but Leão says that "pineapples may be the most promising source of nanocellulose." Nanocellulosic plastic is more resistant to heat, gasoline and water and he envisions using it for dashboards, bumpers and body panels.
Nanocellulose plastic is 30 percent lighter and three to four times stronger than petroleum-based materials, this translates into lighter cars that require less fuel. Ford is already exploring nanotechnology hoping to trim 250 to 750 pounds from its vehicles, according to Wired. These nanocellulose fibers could be an alternative to Kevlar®, a synthetic petroleum-based fiber used to make armor and bullet-proof vests.
Nanocellulose
Cellulose from trees and other plants has been extracted and used for centuries to make paper. Not long ago scientists discovered that intensive processing of wood releases miniscule "cellulose fibers which can be added to raw material used to produce reinforced plastic materials that are more durable.
Leaves and stems of plants are inserted in a device along with certain chemicals and are then heated over several cycles, this produces a material similar to talcum powder. Although processing nanofibers is expensive the high yield is a positive factor - it takes only one pound of nanocellulose to produce 100 pounds of plastic.
In a study conducted by the Department of Applied Physics and Mechanical Engineering at Lulea University of Technology in Sweden, nanocellulose has been found to have excellent physical properties, good heat transfer property and optical transparency. The report also indicates that wood and other plants are among the most abundant resources on earth.
Nanocellulose can also be used as a food additive, thickener, filling and stabilizer in a variety of food products. Its potential application in the automotive industry, however, could revolutionize the industry by producing more eco-friendly cars - at least while pineapple and banana supplies last.
Giovanna De Gennaro - Giovanna is a Canadian citizen who has travelled and worked abroad. She speaks four languages and has worked as an EFL teacher in Italy. ...
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