Using Soybean Oil-Based Composites to Make Industrial Products Without Molds

Technology Description:

This invention is for a way to use cross-linked soybean oil based composites to make industrial products without using molds-called the Solid Freeforming Fabrication method (SSF). Combining natural fibers with soybean oil and using them as composites is less expensive than using petroleum and other materials. Using this mixture with SFF method, very detailed parts and pieces can be made without the hassle of trying to release the parts from the mold. The ARS mixture can be placed into a syringe and guided with a pre-written computer program to build the needed parts. The advantage of using vegetable oils, such as soybean oil, is that it is biodegradable. Less than 3 percent of vegetable oil is used in non-food applications. This invention opens the door to new industrial applications using modified vegetable oils for materials, as an alternative to petroleum-based products.

Reference:

Please refer to USPN 6,528,571, "Extrusion Freeform Fabrication of Soybean Oil-Based Composites by Direct Deposition," which issued on March 4, 2003.

Inventors:

Sevim Z. Erhan Oil Chemical Research, NCAUR  Peoria, Illinois 61604 (309) 681-6532 / Fax: (309) 681-6340 erhansz@ncaur.usda.gov	Zenghshe Liu (Same as first inventor) (309) 681-6416 / Fax: (309) 681-6340
Paul D. Calvert University of Arizona Tucson, AZ 85712 (520) 322-2994 / Fax: (520) 322-2993