According to The Asahi Shimbun, Japanese researchers have developed a highly heat-resistant bioplastic material that can be used for making car parts and construction materials, a discovery that could open the doors wider to adopting bioplastics in manufacturing.
Scientists from the University of Tokyo, the Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology and other institutions said they made the new plastic material from pulp, an ingredient for producing paper.
The plastic can withstand atmospheric temperatures of up to 500 degrees, which is important because bioplastics have otherwise been limited in their use due to their relatively low heat resistance.
“The material has excellent heat resistance and flame retardance, and it is also lightweight,” said Yasuo Onishi, an applied microbiology professor at the university and research team member. “It can be adopted for components around car engines, as well as parts for aviation and space equipment.”
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