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Natural Fiber Welding

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Commercial Applications of Ionic Liquids

Part of the book series: Green Chemistry and Sustainable Technology ((GCST))

Abstract

Ionic liquid -based (IL-based) manufacturing has the potential to revolutionize the materials industry and disrupt overdependence on petroleum-based plastics. Nature provides amazing materials at large scale; however, scalable techniques to mold and shape biomaterials have not existed at scale. Natural Fiber Welding , Inc. (NFW) has developed commercially viable processes and patent-protected materials that are scalable to meet modern challenges while reducing pollution and emissions. This chapter discusses a number of demonstrations that are being scaled for global markets as well as reviews several examples of new functionalities that can be achieved. Practical applications that create composites from waste textiles and new indigo dye processes are discussed. Examples of “exotic” materials that perform catalytic waste -water treatment and wearable energy storage are also reviewed. In all cases, NFW is able to make natural materials, such as cotton and silk , perform in new and unexpected ways. Prospects for scaling commercial applications are also discussed. With economically viable methods to reclaim, recycle, and reuse IL-based solvents , the future looks extremely bright. In the near future, industry-relevant complex natural composites will be produced at cost points that compete with incumbent synthetic plastics . This new way of manufacturing has significant potential to reduce emissions, eliminate pollution, and bring new circularity into, for example, the textile industry.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Natural Fiber Welding, Inc., Peoria, IL, USA

    Luke M. Haverhals

  2. Department of Chemistry, United States Naval Academy, Annapolis, MD, USA

    David P. Durkin & Paul C. Trulove

Authors
  1. Luke M. Haverhals
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  2. David P. Durkin
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  3. Paul C. Trulove
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Luke M. Haverhals .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, USA

    Mark B. Shiflett

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Haverhals, L.M., Durkin, D.P., Trulove, P.C. (2020). Natural Fiber Welding. In: Shiflett, M. (eds) Commercial Applications of Ionic Liquids. Green Chemistry and Sustainable Technology. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-35245-5_9

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