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Why not write about it?I stuck a wiki and a journal together because I'm complicated like that. The journal is for passing thoughts and observations, the wiki is for more sketched out ideas. Sometimes you'll see a link to a wiki page that hasn't been written yet. Don't worry, it will be at some point. |
I've had these samples on my desk for a couple of weeks now and I find myself liking them more and more. They're called 'biocomposites', and they are basically recycled materials (such as newsprint) and/or materials such as straw and other agricultural waste that are glued together with a 'bio-based' resin to create something that resembles a cross between granite and hardwood. They don't out-gas or give off VOC (volatile organic compounds) so they're perfect for interior applications (but they are not recommended for exterior use or kitchen countertops because they can absorb moisture). There are different types made out of different materials:  They're kind of like MDF or OSD boards (boards made out of wood chips and glue, basically), except much more high-end and eco-friendly. Where as MDF and OSD has always felt soft and almost crumbly to me, these biocomposites feel very solid and despite the resin they don't feel like plastic at all. Like MDF they need to be sealed with a finish to keep them from absorbing moisture but unlike MDF they don't require a veneer to be used in finished applications (countertops, furniture). They don't specify what sort of finish is on the samples but whatever it is it's very scratch resistant and I can detect no odor. I believe the edges of these samples are unfinished, so you can get an idea of what the unfinished material is like in this photo:  I didn't like the look of the samples at first (except for the dark piece) but they've definitely grown on me. They're very naturalistic even though they don't have grain like wood does. Unlike wood they should be very dimensionally stable. They'd obviously make great work table tops. The material is a bit on the expensive side however, and they don't seem to be set up for small quantity orders, which is a shame. I don't have a current use for them, but I'm going to keep them in mind for my house project. They also make a "microstrand" material out of wheat that they say can be used in place of plywood, but I haven't been sent a sample of it yet. If I could buy it by the board locally I'd have an immediate use for it! The web site is http://environbiocomposites.com/ |
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