PRESS-NEWS.org - Press Release Distribution
PRESS RELEASES DISTRIBUTION

'Green' cars could be made from pineapples and bananas

2011-03-28
(Press-News.org) Contact: Michael Bernstein
m_bernstein@acs.org
714-765-2012 (Meeting, March 27-31)
202-872-6042 (Before March 27) Michael Woods
m_woods@acs.org
714-765-2012 (Meeting, March 27-31)
202-872-6293 (Before March 27) American Chemical Society
'Green' cars could be made from pineapples and bananas ANAHEIM, March 27, 2011 — Your next new car hopefully won't be a lemon. But it could be a pineapple or a banana. That's because scientists in Brazil have developed a more effective way to use fibers from these and other plants in a new generation of automotive plastics that are stronger, lighter, and more eco-friendly than plastics now in use. They described the work, which could lead to stronger, lighter, and more sustainable materials for cars and other products, here today at the 241st National Meeting & Exposition of the American Chemical Society (ACS).

Study leader Alcides Leão, Ph.D., said the fibers used to reinforce the new plastics may come from delicate fruits like bananas and pineapples, but they are super strong. Some of these so-called nano-cellulose fibers are almost as stiff as Kevlar, the renowned super-strong material used in armor and bulletproof vests. Unlike Kevlar and other traditional plastics, which are made from petroleum or natural gas, nano-cellulose fibers are completely renewable.

"The properties of these plastics are incredible," Leão said, "They are light, but very strong — 30 per cent lighter and 3-to-4 times stronger. We believe that a lot of car parts, including dashboards, bumpers, side panels, will be made of nano-sized fruit fibers in the future. For one thing, they will help reduce the weight of cars and that will improve fuel economy."

Besides weight reduction, nano-cellulose reinforced plastics have mechanical advantages over conventional automotive plastics, Leão added. These include greater resistance to damage from heat, spilled gasoline, water, and oxygen. With automobile manufacturers already testing nano-cellulose-reinforced plastics, with promising results, he predicted they would be used within two years.

Cellulose is the main material that makes up the wood in trees and other parts of plants. Its ordinary-size fibers have been used for centuries to make paper, extracted from wood that is ground up and processed. In more recent years, scientists have discovered that intensive processing of wood releases ultra-small, or "nano" cellulose fibers, so tiny that 50,000 could fit inside across the width of a single strand of human hair. Like fibers made from glass, carbon, and other materials, nano-cellulose fibers can be added to raw material used to make plastics, producing reinforced plastics that are stronger and more durable.

Leão said that pineapple leaves and stems, rather than wood, may be the most promising source for nano-cellulose. He is with Sao Paulo State University in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Another is curaua, a plant related to pineapple that is cultivated in South America. Other good sources include bananas; coir fibers found in coconut shells; typha, or "cattails;" sisal fibers produced from the agave plant; and fique, another plant related to pineapples.

To prepare the nano-fibers, the scientists insert the leaves and stems of pineapples or other plants into a device similar to a pressure cooker. They then add certain chemicals to the plants and heat the mixture over several cycles, producing a fine material that resembles talcum powder. The process is costly, but it takes just one pound of nano-cellulose to produce 100 pounds of super-strong, lightweight plastic, the scientists said.

"So far, we're focusing on replacing automotive plastics," said Leão. "But in the future, we may be able to replace steel and aluminum automotive parts using these plant-based nanocellulose materials."

Similar plastics also show promise for future use in medical applications, such as replacement materials for artificial heart valves, artificial ligaments, and hip joints, Leão and colleagues said.

### The scientists acknowledge funding from the government of Brazil, Pematec, Toro Industria and Comercio Ltd., and other private companies.

The American Chemical Society is a non-profit organization chartered by the U.S. Congress. With more than 163,000 members, ACS is the world's largest scientific society and a global leader in providing access to chemistry-related research through its multiple databases, peer-reviewed journals and scientific conferences. Its main offices are in Washington, D.C., and Columbus, Ohio.


ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:

Vesa Peltonen Design Endorses GLOBAL ArtXchanges Org. Humanitarian Work, Which Sends Art Supplies to Needy Youth Art Groups Worldwide

2011-03-28
GLOBAL ArtXchanges is focused on art being an integral part of helping enrich the lives of youth, in any impoverished community, large or small. Recent News: "At this moment we are working with a needy youth art school in Kathmandu, who have no proper art supplies. We work to maintain and help the art groups to try to sustain themselves, motivating youth to freely express their visions through art. We seek to aid through 'artaid' into the poorer regions worldwide, to war-torn places, to make a positive difference and create hope in the lives of youth." GLOBAL ArtXchanges ...

Walnuts are top nut for heart-healthy antioxidants

2011-03-28
Contact: Michael Bernstein m_bernstein@acs.org 714-765-2012 (Meeting, March 27-31) 202-872-6042 (Before March 27) Michael Woods m_woods@acs.org 714-765-2012 (Meeting, March 27-31) 202-872-6293 (Before March 27) American Chemical Society Walnuts are top nut for heart-healthy antioxidants ANAHEIM, March 27, 2011 — A new scientific study positions walnuts in the No. 1 slot among a family of foods that lay claim to being among Mother Nature's most nearly perfect packaged foods: Tree and ground nuts. In a report here today at the 241st National ...

Organizers pick key presentations at ACS 241st National Meeting & Exposition

2011-03-28
Contact: Michael Bernstein m_bernstein@acs.org 714-765-2012 (Meeting, March 27-31) 202-872-6042 (Before March 27) Michael Woods m_woods@acs.org 714-765-2012 (Meeting, March 27-31) 202-872-6293 (Before March 27) American Chemical Society Organizers pick key presentations at ACS 241st National Meeting & Exposition ANAHEIM, March 27, 2011 — Organizers of the technical program at the American Chemical Society's 241st National Meeting & Exposition have identified these highlights from their own division or committee's presentations. The technical ...

Charlotte Dentist Helps Area Families Through Dental Alternative To High Cost Insurance

2011-03-28
Established in 1984, Bateman Family Dental, sedation dentistry in Charlotte, shows their commitment to their patients through alternative solutions for affordable dental health care. As the healthcare debate rages nationally, this Charlotte dentist has decided to do something tangible to help individuals and families afford quality dental care. "Statistically speaking, more than 60% of Americans don't have dental insurance," said Dr. Richard Bateman, Charlotte cosmetic dentist, from his dental practice on Park Cedar Drive in south Charlotte. "This means that a large ...

Chemists play important roles as advisers for science-based television shows, movies

2011-03-28
Contact: Michael Bernstein m_bernstein@acs.org 714-765-2012 (Meeting, March 27-31) 202-872-6042 (Before March 27) Michael Woods m_woods@acs.org 714-765-2012 (Meeting, March 27-31) 202-872-6293 (Before March 27) American Chemical Society Chemists play important roles as advisers for science-based television shows, movies ANAHEIM, March 27, 2011 — Do television shows like House, Breaking Bad, and Zula Patrol — major sources of information about science and technology for millions of people — try to get it right? Or do they play fast and loose ...

Dentist In Pasadena Adds Operating Microscopes To Practice

2011-03-28
Dr. H. Robert Stender, Pasadena dentist, is pleased to announce the recent addition of operating microscopes to his practice. The operating microscopes allow this Pasadena cosmetic dentist to perform an array of dental procedures more precisely. It also allows patients to view their procedure in real time. There are various types of surgical operating microscopes that are used for different applications. Operating microscopes aid in diagnosis and treatment of your teeth. While magnification, in general, undoubtedly offers many benefits to both the dentist and patient, ...

Research across the universe spans multibillion-dollar industry at home

2011-03-28
Contact: Michael Bernstein m_bernstein@acs.org 714-765-2012 (Meeting, March 27-31) 202-872-6042 (Before March 27) Michael Woods m_woods@acs.org 714-765-2012 (Meeting, March 27-31) 202-872-6293 (Before March 27) American Chemical Society Research across the universe spans multibillion-dollar industry at home ANAHEIM, March 27 2011 — Scientists are spending scarce government money to study mysterious black stripes in the rainbow of light given off by celestial objects millions of light-years across the universe. There is no practical use for ...

Debut of the first practical 'artificial leaf'

2011-03-28
Contact: Michael Bernstein m_bernstein@acs.org 714-765-2012 (Meeting, March 27-31) 202-872-6042 (Before March 27) Michael Woods m_woods@acs.org 714-765-2012 (Meeting, March 27-31) 202-872-6293 (Before March 27) American Chemical Society Debut of the first practical 'artificial leaf' ANAHEIM, March 27, 2011 — Scientists today claimed one of the milestones in the drive for sustainable energy — development of the first practical artificial leaf. Speaking here at the 241st National Meeting of the American Chemical Society, they described an advanced ...

Kansas City Dentist Enhances Patient Interaction With Online Contact Forms

2011-03-28
Leading dentist in Leawood, Dr. Gregory Stiver, invites patients to visit his practice's state-of-the-art website to access new online contact forms. Patients can simply visit the website to access and submit dental health information to the office via the online the contact forms. The contact forms were added by Dr. Gregory Stiver, Kansas City oral surgery dentist, to create a new avenue for patients to ask questions or simply state how their visit was. Dr. Stiver encourages patients to contact the practice whenever a concern or interest may arise about cosmetic dentistry ...

Research shows not only the fittest survive

2011-03-28
Darwin's notion that only the fittest survive has been called into question by new research published today (27 March 2011) in Nature. A collaboration between the Universities of Exeter and Bath in the UK, with a group from San Diego State University in the US, challenges our current understanding of evolution by showing that biodiversity may evolve where previously thought impossible. The work represents a new approach to studying evolution that may eventually lead to a better understanding of the diversity of bacteria that cause human diseases. Conventional wisdom ...

LAST 30 PRESS RELEASES:

Record-breaking 2024 Amazon fires drive unprecedented carbon emissions and ecosystem degradation

Birds thrive despite pollution from ‘forever’ chemicals

Deadwood brings wild orchids to life

Changes in gut microbiota influence which patients get AIG-related neuroendocrine tumors

Medicaid expansion linked to improved long-term survival in cancer patients

Women with surgical menopause may exit workforce earlier, but hormone therapy could help

Trailblazing Young Scientists honored with $250,000 prizes at Blavatnik National Awards Gala

Revolutionary blood test for ME / Chronic Fatigue unveiled

Calorie labelling linked to 2% average reduction in energy content of menu items

Widely prescribed opioid painkiller tramadol not that effective for easing chronic pain

Exercise snacks may boost cardiorespiratory fitness of physically inactive adults

15,000 women a year with breast cancer could benefit from whole genome sequencing, say researchers

Study highlights risks of Caesarean births to future pregnancies

GLP-1 agonists pose emerging challenge for PET-CT imaging, study finds

Scripps Research scientists unlock new patterns of protein behavior in cell membranes

Panama Canal may face frequent extreme water lows in coming decades

Flash Joule heating lights up lithium extraction from ores

COMBINEDBrain and MUSC announce partnership to establish biorepository for pediatric cerebrospinal fluid and CNS tissue bank

Questionable lead reporting for drinking water virtually vanished after Flint water crisis, study reveals

Assessing overconfidence among national security officials

Bridging two frontiers: Mitochondria & microbiota, Targeting Extracellular Vesicles 2025 to explore game-changing pathways in medicine

New imaging tech promises to help doctors better diagnose and treat skin cancers

Once dominant, US agricultural exports falter amid trade disputes and rising competition

Biochar from invasive weed shields rice from toxic nanoplastics and heavy metals

Rice University announces second cohort of Chevron Energy Graduate Fellows

Soil bacteria and minerals form a natural “battery” that breaks down antibiotics in the dark

Jamestown colonists brought donkeys, not just horses, to North America, old bones reveal

FIU cybersecurity researchers develop midflight defense against drone hijacking

Kennesaw State researcher aims to discover how ideas spread in the digital age

Next-generation perovskite solar cells are closer to commercial use

[Press-News.org] 'Green' cars could be made from pineapples and bananas