Ames, Iowa - Iowa State University researchers promoting the process of making plastic from crops or byproducts of crops will be at the NPE 2009 International Plastics Exposition from 22-26 June in Chicago, a recent statement from the University said.
The Biopolymers and Biocomposites Research Team will be exhibiting samples of plastics, composites, adhesives and coatings they have made from vegetable oils and proteins, plus flower pots and golf tees created from some of the materials they have developed.
"The hope is we can develop new industrial collaborations for research and development of bioplastics and bioproducts," said David Grewell, assistant professor of agricultural and biosystems engineering. "We expect to make contact with engineers and product development staff for bioproducts, who we can work with to develop new applications and products for our bioplastics," he added.
Richard Larock, team member and chemistry professor, outline some of the benefits of the new products the team is developing. "Our natural oil-based resins have excellent damping and shape memory properties that are generally not available in petroleum-based materials," he said. "Our composites are heavily biobased and inexpensive," he added.
Larock said the coatings utilise cheap, readily available natural oil derivatives, are waterborne, contain no volatile organic compounds (VOC), and exhibit properties comparable or better than petroleum-based coatings. (RD)
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