The emerging prospects for the use of hemp biocomposites in the United States
The developments of the Center for Innovation in the field of natural materials at the University of Cambridge on the development of technologies for the production of hemp-based siding panels will be commercialized and soon brought to the market at least in the United States.
On the pages of the profile electronic edition of national cannabis growers, it was already described how " British architects are" launching "a low-carbon hemp house ", and also emphasized that " Hemp flooring is already being sold in the United States ." Another confirmation of the fact that in economically developed countries of the world there is clearly a trend according to which gradually fossil raw materials in various areas of modern production are being replaced by similar ones, however, of natural origin, is an interview with employees of the Center for Innovation in the field of natural materials in Cambridge, which over the past several For years, they have been actively studying the possibilities of using hemp raw materials for the production of products demanded by the market.
In particular, the staff of the Center emphasize that “Bioplastics and low-carbon building materials produced using hemp raw materials can be used to replace composites of fiberglass, aluminum or other unnatural substances in various areas of modern production. For example, the strong and tough fibers that make up the outside of a hemp plant can be effectively used to make biocomposite materials, including auto parts and even wind turbine blades or siding panels. Siding panels made from biocomposite materials based on industrial hemp are a suitable alternative to aluminum, bitumen-plastic and galvanized steel panels, requiring only 15-60% of the energy required for their traditional production. "
Among other things, hemp can capture atmospheric carbon twice as efficiently as forests, while providing architects and designers with carbon-neutral biomaterials. According to senior researcher at the Center Darshil Shah, “A significant amount of research confirms that industrial hemp is one of the best converters of CO2 to biomass. Moreover, this plant is more effective than trees in coping with the above task. Industrial crops of industrial hemp absorb 8 to 15 tons of carbon dioxide per hectare of crops. For comparison, forests usually capture 2 to 6 tons of CO2 per hectare per year, depending on the age (size) of the trees, the climatic region, their type, etc. ”. Those. Unlike traditional agriculture, which produces large amounts of carbon during the cultivation of plant materials, farms specializing in the cultivation of technical hemp allow you to do the opposite.
Commentary of the specialists of the Association "Ukrainian technical hemp"
The Center for Innovation in Natural Materials, part of the University of Cambridge's Faculty of Architecture, conducts research on biomaterials to "transform traditional building methods to achieve zero carbon emissions." Mr. Shah's work focuses on researching the properties of biocomposite materials made from wood, bamboo and natural fibers, primarily hemp.
Given the general trend of the US Democratic Party aimed at creating the foundations for a "green economy" in the most highly developed country in the world, as well as constant publications in the media describing technologies aimed at using renewable sources of raw materials to produce goods in demand on the market instead of traditional fossil fuels, it is more likely All developments of the Center for Innovation in the field of natural materials at the University of Cambridge on the development of technologies for the production of hemp-based siding panels will be commercialized and soon brought to the market at least in the United States.