According to a report from Chemical & Engineering News (C&EN), researchers have discovered that a solution of 10% polyethylene, the world’s most common plastic, and 90% vegetable oil yields stronger plastic fibers than currently available. Plastic fibers are short and entangled, but adding vegetable oil improves covalent bonding, surface energetics, mechanical interlocking, and disentangles plastic fibers.
Adhesion-Adhesives (Image Courtesy http://www.ingentaconnect.com/)
A paper from Cornell University, “Interfaces in Green Composites: A Critical Review” provides more examples of “green composites,” how they are made, and explains their properties. A new book published by Scrivener Publishing, “Nanocellular Polymer Nanocomposites,” discusses nanotechnology aspects of the use of renewable materials in chemical engineering.
