The project, dubbed PUZZLE MATERIAL, is a successor to the SCATAPNUT initiative, a five-year research project that found that nut shells, like pistachio and walnut, contain cells with unique interlocking structures resembling pieces of a jigsaw puzzle. This contributes to their unusual strength and durability.
The presence of these puzzle cells means the nut shells offer different properties than the fibers commonly found in plants like hemp and wood.
Led by BOKU’s Dr. Notburga Gierlinger, the PUZZLE MATERIAL project aims to use the SCATAPNUT findings to make functional materials for use in industrial applications and compostable packaging.
“I think walnut trees might become more important in the future because they are tough, resilient trees with good wood and healthy nuts,” Gierlinger said. “We are always trying to think about which products might become more important in a sustainable society.”