IBM asked the Virginia Tech researchers to develop a good substitute for theplastic board currently used in the computer industry. Chemists and woodscientists went to work and devised a microwave process to produce a resin. And they developed the end product-epoxy resins themselves. Unlike oil-based resources, these materials are renewableand easy to recycle. There are other advantages to using the resin materials.
Cost is significantlylower.
PCB's made of lignin also will reduce dependence on fossil fuels andreduce waste streams in paper mills-lignin is produced in pulp mills in volumessimilar in magnitude to the production of paper. Thanks to an effective partnership among industry, academia, and government,the innovative green technologies will be implemented rapidly.