Author Topic: Forest Service to Produce new Wonder Material  (Read 1106 times)

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Offline Weisshaupt

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Forest Service to Produce new Wonder Material
« on: August 24, 2012, 08:30:33 AM »
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Nanocellulose is very similar to glass fiber or Kevlar — it’s very stiff, lightweight, and it has eight times the tensile strength of steel. The crystalline form of nanocellulose is transparent, too — and perhaps most importantly, unlike other wonder materials such as graphene, nanocellulose can be produced in large quantities very cheaply. In crystalline form, nanocellulose is gas impermeable — and when used as the basis for foams/aerogels, it’s highly absorbent.

In July, the US Forest Service opened the country’s first nanocellulose plant in Madison, Wisconsin. This is only the third nanocellulose plant in the world, with the other two being in Canada and Sweden. The CelluForce factory in Montreal is now producing a tonne of nanocellulose per day. After a ramping-up period of a couple of years, the US Forest Service expects to sell nanocellulose for just a few dollars per kilo.

Wait. The U.S. Forest Service is spending Tax Dollars on a manufacturing plant? 1.7 Million to be precise but

Quote
In a time of tight budgets, the Forest Service alone cannot advance nanotechnology, said Sherman. “We need to build our public/private partnerships.”

Sherman said he welcomes discussion with industry leaders about expanding cooperation at the Federal level to develop effective partnerships. “My door is open…” said Sherman, “to talking about how we can expand at the Federal level our resources and commitment to what is occurring here today.” Such partnerships demonstrate how “we are all stepping to the plate, rolling up our sleeves, and putting our shoulder to the wheel” Sherman said.

The facility will support an emerging market for wood-derived renewable nanomaterials, helping to spur forest-based job growth and contribute an estimated $600 billion to the American economy by 2020.

Oh, they are looking for cronies to help. That is okay then.
Seriously, this could be a huge business in 10 years, but the fact that the govt is picking the early winners and losers depresses me.



Offline Libertas

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Re: Forest Service to Produce new Wonder Material
« Reply #1 on: August 24, 2012, 10:59:09 AM »
 ::facepalm::

SOTS! (Sick of this sh*t!)
We are now where The Founders were when they faced despotism.

Offline AlanS

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Re: Forest Service to Produce new Wonder Material
« Reply #2 on: August 24, 2012, 06:15:18 PM »
Seriously, this could be a huge business in 10 years, but the fact that the govt is picking the early winners and losers depresses me.

I agree. But what's keeping private enterprise from using the technology and making factories?
"Malo periculosam, libertatem quam quietam servitutem."

Thomas Jefferson

Offline Weisshaupt

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Re: Forest Service to Produce new Wonder Material
« Reply #3 on: August 24, 2012, 07:13:00 PM »
Seriously, this could be a huge business in 10 years, but the fact that the govt is picking the early winners and losers depresses me.

I agree. But what's keeping private enterprise from using the technology and making factories?
There are already at least two companies, one in Canada and another in Europe already producing.  The thing here is, why should company A with political connections get access to a $1.7 Million taxpayer paid for facility when Company B does not.  How many regulatory  problems were waived to allow the Forest service to build this site, that Company B will spend years fighting in court?

A public/private effort - especially one where the public owns the means of production ( you aren't bidding to provide services to the government) inherently subsidizes those with political pull, and penalizes those without.Being first to market, especially in new technological fields, can  have long lasting effects.  If its a wonderful idea, it should be able to find  its own private  funding.  If its such a wonderful but difficult idea we need to add a public incentive- then it should be using an X-prize model to sweeten the pot.

charlesoakwood

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Re: Forest Service to Produce new Wonder Material
« Reply #4 on: August 24, 2012, 08:47:34 PM »

We'll fix this in January.


Offline Libertas

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Re: Forest Service to Produce new Wonder Material
« Reply #5 on: August 24, 2012, 10:51:16 PM »

We'll fix this in January.



There is a lot on that list!  Everything will not get done, much will be left sitting, and if the Senate isn't flipped we will be stuck with ObamaCare.

 ::gaah::
We are now where The Founders were when they faced despotism.

charlesoakwood

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Re: Forest Service to Produce new Wonder Material
« Reply #6 on: August 24, 2012, 10:57:52 PM »

Proper response to all bureaucracies and crats.

It's one thing.  
                           "Just say no."
                                               Nancy Reagan


Hitler Saying Nein 10 Minutes



Offline Libertas

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Re: Forest Service to Produce new Wonder Material
« Reply #7 on: August 24, 2012, 11:14:34 PM »
Yup, hope Romney likes saying no a lot, otherwise January will look a lot like all the preceding months...
We are now where The Founders were when they faced despotism.