Amherst team eyes sawdust as polystyrene replacement
In Massachusetts, a team of researchers has combined sawdust, cellulose binders, and beeswax into an eco-friendly foam capable of replacing petroleum-based polystyrene. In the lab, Todd Emrick and Isha Farook, both polymer scientists at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, together with colleagues blended sawdust with different combinations of cellulose binders and cross-linking ingredients. Then the researchers poured the mixtures into molds, froze them and freeze-dried the foams to remove all the moisture. A final heat-drying step activated the cross-linked networks.
The prototype foams’ properties varied depending on the cellulose binders; carboxymethyl cellulose versions were stiffer than polystyrene, and hydroxypropyl cellulose produced a softer material. Beeswax increased moisture resistance.
“It can be exciting to use waste products as a starting point for materials fabrication, rather than a chemical catalog,” said Emrick. “We haven’t done a long-term stability study yet. But in the weeks-to-months time frame, the liquid stability appears to be excellent, which is a useful feature during shipping in case of leakage or spills, or simply for production and storage under different environmental conditions.” The findings were published in a recent issue of ACS Applied Polymer Materials.
Category: Chemicals & Materials
