dryriver [soylentnews.org] writes:
http://www.bbc.com/autos/story/20140523-car-indust rys-miracle-material [bbc.com]
The BBC reports: 'Poor carbon fibre. What began as a late-20th Century wonder material for military aircraft was then nobly adopted by the motorsport world for strength, low weight and energy dissipation. Yet now, well into its career as a mission-critical material, it has also become window dressing in the aftermarket. Faux carbon fibre key fobs, shift knobs and dash appliques for '60s muscle cars are all generating real sales and real revenue. Real carbon fibre, mind, is still just as wondrous as it was in the last century, even if a bit more commonplace in road cars. But it's still very expensive to make in large pieces and quantities, it requires copious energy to manufacture, can be very brittle if made poorly, is not recyclable and can impose a detrimental impact of the environment when being produced. In other words, it is ripe for disruption. Technology stands still for no one. But could nature provide carbon fibre's replacement? So argues Gary Young, a renowned manufacturer of surfboards who has spent his life pioneering alternative materials use for that industry. "With the right approach, bamboo can be used in many applications in the automotive world where its performance qualities can better carbon fibre's,†Young says. “Plus, it does not have a negative effect on the environment."'
Original Submission
