Algae foam

General Discussion
1

…I decided to put this one in gral forum instead of Industry forum.

The factory distributor sent me this email:

 
Arctic Foam and scientists from the University of California, San Diego Produce Algae-Based Sustainable Surfboard.

Board to be presented to San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer in celebration of Earth Day 2015.

Arctic Foam, the leading polyurethane surfboard blanks manufacturer, announces its collaboration with UC San Diego’s California Center for Algae Biotechnology (Cal-CAB) to produce the world’s first algae-based poly surfboard.

“Three years ago Arctic Foam made the commitment to be leaders in the industry in pursuing not only sustainable and environmentally friendly solutions to replacing petrochemicals in the surfboard building process, but to do so with the goal of mimicking the high performance characteristics of WSL championship-winning polyurethane and EPS surfboards. Just as important, we needed to meet that goal with blanks and boards that would not be so exotic as to be out of the reach of the average surfer’s budget. In this partnership with UC San Diego, we’ve taken the first step,” said Arctic Foam CEO, Jose Lozano. “I also want to say thanks and give a big shout out to Solazyme up in the Bay Area, who have been more than generous in providing us with the algae oil we’ve used to test this concept.”

“What we’ve got cooking for the next phase will take us even closer to a fully “green” surfboard well within our most ambitious time frame,” Lozano added.

“I’m really excited to be able to work with Arctic Foam Oceanside and see them break new ground in eco-construction for surfboards,” said leading North Shore shaper, Jon Pyzel. “Algae could very possibly change the core of what we are making and let us move forward in a more sustainable way towards a greener future for the surfboard industry.”

Marty Gilchrist, Arctic Foam’s head of business development, said “We’re proud to announce our collaboration with UC San Diego in producing the first poly blanks made out of 100% sustainable algae oil. We’ve been amazed at what we’ve been able to get done with Steve Mayfield, Mike Burkart and Skip Pomeroy at UC San Diego. Almost from the first blank out of the mold we were seeing the kinds of density, cell structure, flex, torsion and “shapability” we demand from our top-of-the-line P/U blanks. On top of that, we were able to keep to the aesthetics of our current line-up…avoiding blanks that look like something made out of lawn clippings. Our next step is to fine tune the formula and test the foam under the feet of the best surfers in the world. Stay tuned…more to come!”

“Polyurethane foam derived from algae feedstocks will make a more “ocean-friendly” surfboard blank with a reduced carbon footprint. This is a dramatic advance for polyurethane foam and will accelerate the sustainable transformation of the surfboard industry. We are in the process of testing the Arctic Algae blanks for possible inclusion in the ECOBOARD Project Benchmark.” said Kevin Whilden
Co-Founder of Sustainable Surf.

Cal-CAB is leading the way towards innovative and sustainable solutions to the world’s environmental problems. The surfboard will be unveiled and presented to San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer at a public event on April 21, just before Earth Day, at San Diego Symphony Hall. Mayor Faulconer will host the premiere of National Geographic’s “World’s Smart Cities: San Diego” a documentary film featuring innovations from UC San Diego and other regional innovators, scheduled to air Saturday, April 25 on the National Geographic Channel.

 

—the normal ones are too heavy…I doubt that these ones will be lighter.

2

That’s a nice step in the right direction

 

3

Sounds like they are still manufacturing PolyUrethane foam.  If so, the end product is still the same – polymers of isocyante.  That means the foam input components are the same compounds, whether taken from petrochemicals or algal based “oils.”  The source of the oils being algal does not mean they are more green than petrochemical compounds, just derived from a cultivated source that relies on chlorophyl for the synthesis of base compounds.  “Sovent” extraction is required to remove the oils from the algae.  The end product of isocyanate polymers is no less Environmentally toxic than isocyanate polymers made from petrochemicals.  The only real difference is that base oils can be grown vs. drilled.  Petrochemicals are compounds formed and derived from biological organisms that are millions of years old.

At the end of the synthetic manufacturing process, how green is green?

4

They just need polyols to work with. If they get them from algae oil rather than petroleum, they’ve used less petroleum. How they polymerize and blow might remain the same, but there’s less petro products used in the end product.

5
Beyond the technical challenges of harvest and mono-culture of very specific algal species, Algal derived products require these actions too:
•Cell disruption to extract
•Solvents
•Mechanical Separation
•Further processing
The final consideration is energy and carbon input required for end product.  Do not get me wrong.  The objective(s) is laudable and a step toward a potentially more sustainable source material process.
6

Yeah, it would be a pretty complicated analysis to determine exactly how much less petro is used.

7

Stoneburner, a gold star for you sir.  In additon to the points you’ve made (which are completely valid), note that with a minor amount of research you can find out more about this project: http://www.energy.gov/sites/prod/files/2015/04/f21/algae_mayfield_135130.pdf.

 

 

Note to marketers: be sure you know the full “eco” implications before you make your claims. The above PDF document talks about Arctic Foam’s involvement in this project. Peppered through that document are many prominent uses of “GM” and “GMO” algae. GM and GMO’s are genetically modified organisms in case some here are not aware. 

Substituting the polyol of PU foam with algae is a great step, but if doing so with genetically modified material is highly contentious. The environmental and health aspects of GMO’s remain virtually unknown. Furthermore, anyone with a chemistry background (including myself) knows that GMO-algae polyol would only be a small component of the foam. As Stoneburner points out, isocyanate and health-harming chemicals are still being used here, even if a micro amount of algae is present. 

Extracing polyol from algae oil is very, very difficult. It doesn’t take a genius to see why they would need to genetically modify it in order to get more consistent extraction rates. Kudos to everyone and anyone who is trying to improve materials and products for the environment, but know what you are getting into from all points before you do so.

Proceed with caution!

 

 

 

 

 

8

You’re not eating  it.  You’re shaping it.  The GMO part of it wouldn’t matter to me.  But thus a bullshit marketing technique similar to the recycled EPS foam.    Everybody wants to appear “Green”.  Appearance is everything.

9

–what a coincidence, but today this was in my mail box:
It s from a site dedicated to plastics, etc.

PULLMAN, Wash. – Researchers have developed a new way to use plant oils like olive and linseed oil to create polyurethane, a plastic material used in everything from foam insulation panels to tires, hoses and sealants.

Polyurethane is extremely tough and corrosion- and wear-resistant, but researchers would like a more environmentally friendly alternative to the petroleum-based product. About 14 million tons of polyurethane was produced in 2010, and production is expected to increase by almost 30 percent by 2016. While there are already some polyurethanes made from plant materials, Kessler’s research group developed a new method that uses vegetable oils to create materials with a wide variety of flexibility, stiffness and shapes. Plant oils are inexpensive, readily available, and renewable and can be genetically engineered.

In the study, the researchers made polyurethane using olive, canola, grape seed, linseed and castor oils. While other researchers have struggled with using petroleum-based solvents, the WSU researchers, working with colleagues from Iowa State and from Cairo universities, didn’t use solvents or a catalyst in their production. To make polyurethane, manufacturers combine two types of chemical compounds in a reaction. One of the chemicals is a polyol, which is a compound with multiple hydroxyl functional groups that are available for reaction.

Some oils, like linseed oil, have five or six reactive sites, making the material stiffer. Others, such as olive oil, have fewer reactive sites, making the material more flexible. “What’s new about this is specifically the way we make the polyols,” said Kessler, who compared the process to building with Legos. “It is the same concept with these chemical groups. They click together and form a chemical bond. “The novelty of this particular work is that these polyurethanes are using a new chemistry made by a combination of castor oil fatty acid and modified vegetable oils,” he said. Kessler, who is director of the Center for Bioplastics and Biocomposites, hopes that the method is appealing to the plastics industry. The center, collaboration between WSU and Iowa State University, is the first industry and university cooperative research center devoted to the development of biologically based plastics. It got underway earlier this year with a grant from the National Science Foundation and brings together partners to conduct research that is particularly relevant for industry with a high potential for commercialization. A total of 24 companies are members of the center.

About WSU
Washington State University is a public research university based in Pullman, Washington, in the Palouse region of the northwest United States. Founded 125 years ago in 1890, WSU is the state’s only land-grant university.

10

…if you punch first you would punch two times…

-formal presentation:

http://ucsdnews.ucsd.edu/feature/surfing_into_a_greener_future

ahh, nothing like the good ole marketing.

11

According to them: “Arctic Foam, the largest surfboard blank manufacturer in North America”. Is this true?

12

250.a week to Lost is what I recently heard.  Other containers going Worlwide.  Millenium is steadily gain ground though.  Certain people will always be loyal to Us Blanks.  Personally I think they are the dingiest and softest of the three, but they get the job done.

13

“The environmental and health aspects of GMO’s remain virtually unknown”

http://www.ibtimes.com/gmo-health-risks-what-scientific-evidence-says-1161099

http://www.geneticliteracyproject.org/2015/01/26/10-studies-proving-gmos-are-harmful-not-if-science-matters/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GMO#Controversy

The anti-GMO crowd are the same bunch as the Rudolf Steiner Anti-Waxx freaks. GENES? WUT!? IT ARE MUST BE DANGRUS!!!

 

14

GMO algae isn’t going to kill you. What’s different; selective breeding of an organism until the genome is how we want it, or modifying the genome in the lab? Not much, considering the end result is the same. Humans have been ‘modifying’ things for years. What do you think happens when you keep breeding your corn, or dogs, cats, horses and whatever else? You select the genes you want until the genome of the organism in question is modified to your liking. Modern techniques are just a quicker, more efficient route, rather than you replanting the biggest corn over several seasons. 

Do people not realize that gm’d organisms produce insulin, antibotics and other useful stuff for us humans?

Interesting concept. I’d be nice to see them just pull the proper stuff from an algae pond with minimal effort and processing inthe future. Id’ be concerend about the disposal of the foams afterwards. Even if you start with a potentially more green source, you’re still making pu foam. 

15

Selective breeding doesn’t involve the alteration of the genome of a plant or animal by the addition of new genetic material—genetic modification does. So where does one draw the line on genetic modification then? Nature didn’t intend for vegetables to contain scorpion venom (http://ind.pn/1Quo7B5) in the case of our food supply. It’s okay for surfboards, but not for food? Any 10 or 20+ year studies that show the long-term implications on the environment? What if the genetic franken-algae becomes invasive or toxic to wildlife in the natural environment? What then? Any studies on the potential health or allergenic implications of the GM algae when inhaled (think shaping dust) or airborne? Here’s a good example of unintended allergens from genetically modifed soybeans: http://nyti.ms/1IaJC6u. Not enough is known about the unintended consequences from this contentious area of development.

From this Swaylockian’s point of view I’d be cautious with my surfboard brand marketing this stuff. I for one will not be using it. Again, proceed with caution!

*Edited because the original links weren’t pasted in full

16

For those that desire more information regarding the implications of GM: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eUd9rRSLY4A

Now back to the topics of shaping…