This article first appeared on Plastics News.
A research team at North Carolina State University says biobased glucaric-acid or lignin additives can dramatically increase the toughness of polyvinyl alcohol fibers.
As a new anti-plasticizer, the additive can nearly triple the resin's tensile strength and double its modulus, and the enhanced PVA fibers can find uses in biofriendly products such as fibers and polymers, detergents, paints and diapers.