Solving the sustainability challenge

To wood or not to wood, that’s been the question! Ever since oil-based plastics burst onto the manufacturing scene, cost, sustainability, and performance have defined the ongoing woods vs. plastics war. In many applications, plastics tend to dominate in cost efficiency and durability, while wood retains a clear edge in sustainability.

Researchers at the University of Oulu, Finland, may be tipping that balance in wood’s favor – at least in certain applications. The researchers have invented wood-derived alternatives to two of industry’s most widely used resins: polyester and epoxy.

High-performance composite materials are indispensable in the marine, renewable energy, sports, transportation, and construction industries, where material durability and performance are critical.

Polyester resins are everywhere, forming the matrix in glass-fiber composites used in everything from boat hulls and automotive body panels to roofing sheets and sanitary fixtures.

Epoxy resins, meanwhile, serve as structural adhesives and protective coatings, and act as the primary matrix in carbon fiber components for wind turbine blades, aircraft structures, high-end sporting goods, and civil engineering reinforcements.

However, these materials come with significant sustainability challenges. – Full report