Hemp plastic
Encyclopedia
Hemp plastic is a composite material made of hemp fibre, which can be used to replace oil-based raw materials. Hemp Plastic was designed in Europe over 15 years, and is now primarily produced in China
. However, hemp plastic was invented much earlier, since even Henry Ford designed and then produced a hemp plastic car in 1940. The hemp plastic material was said to be "ten times stronger than steel".
is a soft, durable fibre that made from plants of the Cannabis genus, cultivated for commercial use. In modern times, hemp has been used for industrial purposes including paper, textiles, biodegradable plastics, construction, health food, fuel, and medical purposes with modest commercial success. In the past three years, commercial success of hemp food products has grown considerably.
For a crop, hemp is very environmentally friendly (with the exception of chemical fertilizers used in industrial agriculture
) as it requires few pesticide
s and no herbicide
s. Modern research data on soil fertility is limited. Currently, results indicate that high yield of hemp may require total nutrient levels (field plus fertilizer nutrients) similar to a high yielding wheat crop.
The world leading producer of hemp is China with smaller production in Europe, Chile and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.While more hemp is exported to the United States than to any other country, the United States Government does not consistently distinguish between marijuana and the non-psychoactive Cannabis used for industrial and commercial purposes
and high heat tolerance
. It is also biodegradable
and recyclable
. Unlike other plastics, it is also flame retardant
for specific grades. Hemp Plastic can substitute some products including:
tried experimenting with using agricultural products in the manufacture of his automobiles, encouraged by 3 main factors; trying to find a use for the huge food surplus at the time, trying to find an alternative to using metal which was in shortage at the time, and he also said that the plastic body was safer that a steel body, and that it would be difficult for it to be crushed.
He initially hired a member of the Ford Styling Department, Eugene "Bob" Gregorie; however Ford was not fully satisfied with his work, so the task was given to the Soybean Laboratory in Greenfield Village. He was also helped by a chemist, Robert A. Boyer in trying to find the perfect mixture of materials for the body.
Finally, they came up with the perfect solution. The frame of the car was made of tubular steel, and had 14 plastic panels attached to it. The exact formula of the car is still unknown; however one article claims that they were made from soybean, hemp, wheat and flax, amongst other chemicals. Lowell E. Overly, another assistant in the creation of the car, claimed that it was made from a “soybean fibre in a phenolic resin with formaldehyde used in the impregnation".
The car was finally unveiled by Ford on August 13, 1941 at Dearborn Days, which was an annual community festival, and it was later also shown at the Michigan State Fair
grounds.
By late 1941, the plastic car had been scrapped. The reason for this is not 100% certain, but sources say that it was because car manufacturing had stopped during World War II
, and all energy was diverted to war recovery efforts. According to Lowell E. Overly, the car was destroyed by Eugene Gregorie.
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
. However, hemp plastic was invented much earlier, since even Henry Ford designed and then produced a hemp plastic car in 1940. The hemp plastic material was said to be "ten times stronger than steel".
Hemp
HempHemp
Hemp is mostly used as a name for low tetrahydrocannabinol strains of the plant Cannabis sativa, of fiber and/or oilseed varieties. In modern times, hemp has been used for industrial purposes including paper, textiles, biodegradable plastics, construction, health food and fuel with modest...
is a soft, durable fibre that made from plants of the Cannabis genus, cultivated for commercial use. In modern times, hemp has been used for industrial purposes including paper, textiles, biodegradable plastics, construction, health food, fuel, and medical purposes with modest commercial success. In the past three years, commercial success of hemp food products has grown considerably.
For a crop, hemp is very environmentally friendly (with the exception of chemical fertilizers used in industrial agriculture
Industrial agriculture
Industrial farming is a form of modern farming that refers to the industrialized production of livestock, poultry, fish, and crops. The methods of industrial agriculture are technoscientific, economic, and political...
) as it requires few pesticide
Pesticide
Pesticides are substances or mixture of substances intended for preventing, destroying, repelling or mitigating any pest.A pesticide may be a chemical unicycle, biological agent , antimicrobial, disinfectant or device used against any pest...
s and no herbicide
Herbicide
Herbicides, also commonly known as weedkillers, are pesticides used to kill unwanted plants. Selective herbicides kill specific targets while leaving the desired crop relatively unharmed. Some of these act by interfering with the growth of the weed and are often synthetic "imitations" of plant...
s. Modern research data on soil fertility is limited. Currently, results indicate that high yield of hemp may require total nutrient levels (field plus fertilizer nutrients) similar to a high yielding wheat crop.
The world leading producer of hemp is China with smaller production in Europe, Chile and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.While more hemp is exported to the United States than to any other country, the United States Government does not consistently distinguish between marijuana and the non-psychoactive Cannabis used for industrial and commercial purposes
Properties
Hemp Plastic is known to compete with most engineering compounds in certain properties, such as stiffnessStiffness
Stiffness is the resistance of an elastic body to deformation by an applied force along a given degree of freedom when a set of loading points and boundary conditions are prescribed on the elastic body.-Calculations:...
and high heat tolerance
Melting point
The melting point of a solid is the temperature at which it changes state from solid to liquid. At the melting point the solid and liquid phase exist in equilibrium. The melting point of a substance depends on pressure and is usually specified at standard atmospheric pressure...
. It is also biodegradable
Biodegradable plastic
Biodegradable plastics are plastics that will decompose in natural aerobic and anaerobic environments. Biodegradation of plastics can be achieved by enabling microorganisms in the environment to metabolize the molecular structure of plastic films to produce an inert humus-like material that is...
and recyclable
Plastic recycling
Plastic recycling is the process of recovering scrap or waste plastics and reprocessing the material into useful products, sometimes completely different in form from their original state. For instance, this could mean melting down soft drink bottles and then casting them as plastic chairs and tables...
. Unlike other plastics, it is also flame retardant
Flame retardant
Flame retardants are chemicals used in thermoplastics, thermosets, textiles and coatings that inhibit or resist the spread of fire. These can be separated into several different classes of chemicals:...
for specific grades. Hemp Plastic can substitute some products including:
- PP or PLA-based NF-FR compounds for the E&E industry, such as housings (e.g. Laptop covers, GPS housing, mobile phone housing), audio/video products (e.g. mobile phone chargers), household products (e. g. Lamps), cookware (e.g. Blenders), personal care and electricity covers (e.g. sockets).
- PP-based NF compounds for industrial construction parts, toys, civil works, railway
- Biodegradable NF compounds for gardening and waterworks
Injection Moulded
Injection moulded plastic is the most commonly used material from hemp. It is produced in VL94, FR VO and V2 grades, and can provide an ecological solution for most applications that require a material of good strength and high performance. Most often blended with biodegradable PLA, PP (up to 80%) and PHB. Common uses of injection moulded hemp plastic are cosmetic containers, bottle caps, toys, audio/video, car parts and much more in the E&E Industry.Films and Packaging
Hemp can also be used for biodegradable and ecological packaging materials for food wrapping, plastic bags, water bottles etc. Most films and packaging are made using extrusion. It can not be currently used to produce transparent materials, such as cling film.100% Hemp
As the name suggests, this plastic is made from 100% hemp. It requires very specific machinery to produce, and is usually more expensive than injection moulded hemp.Henry Ford’s plastic car
In the 1910s, Henry FordHenry Ford
Henry Ford was an American industrialist, the founder of the Ford Motor Company, and sponsor of the development of the assembly line technique of mass production. His introduction of the Model T automobile revolutionized transportation and American industry...
tried experimenting with using agricultural products in the manufacture of his automobiles, encouraged by 3 main factors; trying to find a use for the huge food surplus at the time, trying to find an alternative to using metal which was in shortage at the time, and he also said that the plastic body was safer that a steel body, and that it would be difficult for it to be crushed.
He initially hired a member of the Ford Styling Department, Eugene "Bob" Gregorie; however Ford was not fully satisfied with his work, so the task was given to the Soybean Laboratory in Greenfield Village. He was also helped by a chemist, Robert A. Boyer in trying to find the perfect mixture of materials for the body.
Finally, they came up with the perfect solution. The frame of the car was made of tubular steel, and had 14 plastic panels attached to it. The exact formula of the car is still unknown; however one article claims that they were made from soybean, hemp, wheat and flax, amongst other chemicals. Lowell E. Overly, another assistant in the creation of the car, claimed that it was made from a “soybean fibre in a phenolic resin with formaldehyde used in the impregnation".
The car was finally unveiled by Ford on August 13, 1941 at Dearborn Days, which was an annual community festival, and it was later also shown at the Michigan State Fair
Michigan State Fair
-History:The first official Michigan State Fair was held in 1849, which is claimed by the state of Michigan to be the oldest state fair in the United States. The first fair was held in Detroit, Michigan. Subsequent fairs were held in other cities until it received its permanent home in 1905 at the...
grounds.
By late 1941, the plastic car had been scrapped. The reason for this is not 100% certain, but sources say that it was because car manufacturing had stopped during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, and all energy was diverted to war recovery efforts. According to Lowell E. Overly, the car was destroyed by Eugene Gregorie.