New wood-degradable plastic: wood fibers can be recycled
Recently, a study published in the scientific journal Nature Communications by the KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm, Sweden, has attracted everyone's attention: Plastics used in household goods and construction materials can be made of a semi-structural strength. A new type of wood degradable plastic instead. The person in charge of the research team introduced: One of the goals of the initial research and development of this renewable wood composite material is to replace the fossil-based materials currently on the market for home construction and furniture, such as bathroom cabinets, doors, wall panels and Countertops, etc., so the material is strong enough from a safety point of view.
KTH researcher Peter Olsén holds a sample of a new biodegradable plastic extracted from wood. "These new materials, due to their high fiber content and degradability, could be game-changers for the future circular materials economy," he said.
Second, the biggest difference from thermoplastics is that this material can be decomposed without harming the environment. "Degradability makes recycling possible," said Peter Olsén, a researcher at KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm. Prior to this, no one had been able to create a degradable plastic with such a high fiber content, so in order to obtain a higher fiber content, the researchers combined polymer chemistry with a process technology similar to carbon fiber composites. After many experiments Only then did something work.
It is also worth noting that after the material degrades the plastic, the wood fibers in it can also be recycled. As an environmentally friendly material, wood will be used more and more in construction and home furnishing in the future. The production of more recycled wood products can reduce the pressure on global forests.
