Toyoda Gosei : Develops Glycol Lignin Plastic Using Wood Biomaterial
May 21, 2024 at 12:07 am EDT
Share
May 21, 2024
Replacement of some petroleum-derived material with constituent of Japanese cedar
Toyoda Gosei Develops Glycol Lignin Plastic Using Wood Biomaterial
JP Ver.
Kiyosu, Japan, May 21, 2024: Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd. and the Forest Research and Management Organization's Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute have jointly developed1 a glycol lignin plastic, an environmentally-friendly plastic that includes a constituent of Japanese cedar, a species of tree native to Japan.
As part of its efforts toward decarbonization, Toyoda Gosei is reducing the environmental impact of its plastic and rubber products by mixing plant-derived materials. In the newly-developed plastic, glycol lignin extracted from Japanese cedar is mixed into plastics like urethane and nylon used in automobile steering wheels. Glycol lignin is made through the process in which lignin is chemically extracted from Japanese cedar for use as an industrial material, and has advantages including superior heat resistance and workability. Toyoda Gosei's material technology has enabled to replace some of the petroleum-derived material in plastic products with this glycol lignin. Promotion of use of glycol lignin is a part of efforts for effective use of Japanese cedar, which exists in abundance in all regions of Japan, by enhancing added-value of the wood, and may also contribute to reducing Japanese cedar pollen, which is an allergen.
The company will continue its development efforts with the aim of practical application as steering wheels and other interior and exterior products.
This technology will be shown at the Toyoda Gosei booth at the Automotive Engineering Exposition 2024, which will be held over three days starting on May 22, 2024 at Pacifico Yokohama (Yokohama, Japan).
Toyoda Gosei's efforts to use wood biomaterials
1 The Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute, a National Research and Development Agency, is a representative institution conducting joint development in the "High Performance Lignin Material Development Consortium," which pursues the realization of decarbonized society.
2 Urethane for steering wheels is being developed by Toyoda Gosei, while steering wheel inserts are being jointly developed with Tendo Co., Ltd.
Attachments
Original Link
Permalink
Disclaimer
Toyoda Gosei Co. Ltd. published this content on
21 May 2024 and is solely responsible for the information contained therein. Distributed by
Public, unedited and unaltered, on
21 May 2024 04:06:04 UTC.
TOYODA GOSEI CO., LTD. is a company primarily engaged in the manufacture and sale of automobile parts and optoelectronic products. The Company operates in two business segments. The Automobile Parts segment is engaged in the manufacture and sale of body sealing products, such as door weather strip and glass run; functionality parts, including functionality system components and fuel tank modules; interior and exterior parts, such as instrument panels and console boxes; safety system products, such as handles and air bag modules, as well as metal molds and machinery, among others. The Optoelectronic Product segment is engaged in the manufacture and sale of high luminosity light-emitting diode lamp chip for liquid crystal backlights/ illumination light source.
TOYODA GOSEI CO., LTD. 
