A research consortium in Japan, headed by  Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute (FFPRI) is developing lignin based applications; hybrid films, flexible electronic devices, gasket materials and carbon fiber. Miyagi Kasei Co, a consortium member has teamed up with Mitsuoka Motor and the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) to develop automobile components made from 40% glass fiber and 17% lignin. The results indicated that incorporating lignin lowered the weight by 4% and the emissions of formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, and styrene during processing. Continue to original story…