I here There is a lot of work being done on a non polluting soy based resin. Any one got any news?
The internet seems to know something…: http://www.google.com/search?q=%22polyester+resin%22%2B%22soy%22
Very interesting. Soy is being used to produce |TA DA| polyurethane. I’m not sure how exciting this should be, and after the build-up I’ve seen in the General forum, it’s actually pretty disappointing. Polyurethane is polyurethane: the soy product will still contain polyols and isocyanates. The articles that the search pull up are mainly soy industry publications, and they emphasize the cost advantages almost exclusively. They barely mention the environmental advantages, saying merely that the end product will contain “less” styrene than the current fossil oil derived polyurethane product. No mention of how much “less”. No comparison to polystyrene, either, and the proponents of that product already claim to be “greener” than polyurethane. If I was working for the United Soybean Board and there were dramatic environmental advantages, I’d certainly say so, and quantify them. That is not to say that this product has no advantages: there are certainly environmental impacts from the consequential activities involved in importing crude oil feedstock; as well as political and economic implications. Also, maybe there is some soy based resin alternative other than polyurethane that I did not find. However, based on what I’ve read so far, to characterize soy-based polyurethane as “green”, as if all products fall neatly into “green” and “non-green” categories appears to be a gross oversimplification, at the very best.
-Samiam