KASI Radio, Ames
09-06-06
STUDYING "BIOPLASTICS" AT ISU
IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY RESEARCHERS ARE HOPING BIO-PLASTICS-MADE FROM CORN, SOYBEANS, AND BIO-BASED OILS - MAY BE A WAY TO
REDUCE THE NATION'S DEPENDENCE ON OIL. CHEMISTRY PROFESSOR
RICHARD LAROCK (luh-ROCK') SAYS THEY'VE FOUND SOME INTERESTING
"PROPERTIES" WHEN COMBINING BIO-PLASTICS WITH OTHER
THINGS...LIKE GLASS FIBERS. RESEARCHERS USED THE BIO-PLASTICS TO
CONSTRUCT A STURDY HOG FEEDER FOR AN ILLINOIS MANUFACTURER.
LAROCK SAYS THE BIO-PLASTICS ALSO CONDUCT SOUND FREQUENCIES
WHICH COULD OPEN THE DOOR TO A DEVICE THAT COULD ALERT A
FARMER WHEN IT'S TIME TO "RE-LOAD" FEED.