Important Innovations

Alternative Foam that's Biodegradable & Plant-Based Source:  Washington State University New Foam Lightweight, Clean, Green Insulation This biodegradable alternative foam to Styrofoam is more effective and can support up to 200 times its weight.  It provides good insulation but is still lightweight.  It's the innovation of engineers at Washington State University.  The new material is made primarily of cellulose, the most abundant plant material on earth.  The researchers also have developed an environmentally friendly manufacturing process that uses water as the solvent, rather than harmful solvents. Wood is the Base The base of the new foam is wood pulp.  Researchers used acid hydrolysis to break the cellulose bonds in the wood and convert them into nanocrystals.  They added polyvinyl alcohol to the crystals to create the foam that provides good insulation that's light and strong.  It's an e-friendly alternative to petroleum based Styrofoam that's p