ORNL Invention to Innovation Webinar 2: Lignin-derived plastics
(EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the next in a series of webinars that Oak Ridge National Laboratory is hosting to provide overviews of various inventions and highlights of specific commercial opportunities approaching market readiness. Each webinar concludes with a roundtable session for Q&A and market feedback.)
TECHNOLOGY OPPORTUNITIES IN MANUFACTURING SYSTEMS
Featured Technology: Lignin-derived High Performance Plastics
June 25, 2014
New manufacturing technologies are needed to enable companies to rapidly produce the energy-efficient, competitively priced, high-quality products that will rejuvenate U.S. manufacturing. ORNL can provide industry with affordable and convenient access to unique capabilities and facilities, and novel manufacturing technologies. Researchers at ORNL recently demonstrated new processing routes for immediate commercial formulations of lignin-based thermoplastics and melt-processible elastomers. The resulting bioplastics can be used for polymer matrix composite applications. Given the fact that the main feedstock (lignin) is an industrial by-product, it is believed that this material will be very cost effective in polymer matrix composite applications. This technology provides an opportunity that is partially decoupled from petroleum pricing (unlike most plastics), with low costs of goods, and would allow manufacturers to avoid costly VOC regulations.
PRESENTERS:
- Dan Miller, Manager, Industrial and Economic Development Partnerships
- Amit Naskar, PhD, Group Leader, Carbon and Composites Group
