Planting bioplastic in phones

Japanese companies have reinforced bioplastic with fibre from a fast growing plant to make it sufficiently strong and heat resistant to use in electronic devices. The new material is already being used in a mobile phone available on the Japanese market, the NTT DoCoMo FOMA N701iECO..

Japanese companies have reinforced bioplastic with fibre from a fast growing plant to make it sufficiently strong and heat resistant to use in electronic devices. The new material is already being used in a mobile phone available on the Japanese market, the NTT DoCoMo FOMA N701iECO.

 

Biomass-based bioplastics, such as polylactic acid (PLA), which is made from corn, have been hitting the headlines as potential replacements for conventional petroleum-based plastics. However, regular PLA is unsuitable for use in electronic devices as it has insufficient heat resistance and strength.

 

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