Post by Josh on Mar 2, 2005 21:49:08 GMT -5
Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientists say they have developed a method to turn chicken feathers into plastic products. ARS chemist Walter Schmidt created the technology to clean feathers and separate them into chopped fibers and quill pieces.
The material is made on traditional plastics processing equipment using chopped chicken feathers and other easily found, natural materials. The plastic can then be molded just like any other plastic and has qualities very similar to mainstream plastics such as polyethylene and polypropylene.
This new feather-plastic is a unique material. Research by ARS found feather fiber could be added into currently used plastics to make composites. The fibers strengthen the plastic components while reducing the weight of the material.
About 4,000,000,000 pounds of feathers are generated each year during the poultry production process. It is hoped that this new use for feathers will reduced the enviromental hazard the feathers pose.
The material is made on traditional plastics processing equipment using chopped chicken feathers and other easily found, natural materials. The plastic can then be molded just like any other plastic and has qualities very similar to mainstream plastics such as polyethylene and polypropylene.
This new feather-plastic is a unique material. Research by ARS found feather fiber could be added into currently used plastics to make composites. The fibers strengthen the plastic components while reducing the weight of the material.
About 4,000,000,000 pounds of feathers are generated each year during the poultry production process. It is hoped that this new use for feathers will reduced the enviromental hazard the feathers pose.
