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toxic sludge and aluminum sourcing for bikes

syadasti

syadasti

i heart mac
Apr 15, 2002
12,690
290
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xy9ine said:
the urge 'veggie' linen fiber helmets are another interesting 'green' composite alternative. curious as to the toxicity of the resin used (if it's just standard stuff). more bamboo framebuilders popping up as well. i fondled a locally built bamboo frame (with hemp lugs), and it was lighter than expected. pretty neat, actually. time for a bamboo dh bike?
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e2e uses soy as the resin. It also cost 50% less than products with conventional resins.

In his lab at the College of Human Ecology, Netravali and his students extracted the protein from soybeans and removed the oil from the remaining solids; this yielded defatted soy flour, which became the resin that is reinforced to form composites. The combination of the powdery soy flour and a mesh of natural fibers (such as jute, hemp, and flax) produced a composite that is five to six times as strong as particle board. Because of its stiffness and strength, the green composites can be manufactured using one-third of the material by weight, compared to standard particle board. The use of soy protein as a resin also eliminated the need for formaldehyde, a volatile organic compound that can cause lung problems as it outgases into the environment, especially in airtight buildings. “The formaldehyde issue is something that we have an elegant solution for that no one else can offer,” says Govang, the company’s president and CEO.
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The reality is that we can take out 50% of the cost of the products we replace. We can make a product that truly reduces our reliance on petroleum, and we can make our shareholders happy because the cost benefits translate to higher margins. We focus on higher performing and more cost effective products that just happen to deliver unparalleled sustainability.
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