In Japan, Green Science Alliance has developed a new process to incorporate biomass sources such as plants and waste woods with thermoplastics, creating composites with low thermal expansion coefficient and a higher elasticity modulus. The nano cellulose composites can be used for automotive, aeronautic, and architectural applications.
Thermoplastics-nano cellulose composites produced to date include polyethylene, polypropylene, poly(vinyl chloride), polystyrene, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, polycarbonate, poly(methyl methacrylate), polyamide 6, and poly vinyl butyral.
Green Science Alliance has also produced composites made from the nano cellulose and biodegradable plastics including poly lactic acid, poly butylene adipate terephthalate, poly butylene succinate, polycaprolactone, and polyhydroxyalkanoate.
The company aims to also make food trays and boxes, straws, cups and cup lids with the biodegradable plastic and nano cellulose composite.