Innovative idea: Producing artificial wood from straw

TVU – A group of students from Tra Vinh University wins the First Prize in the 2024 “Student Startup Ideas at Tra Vinh University” competition with their groundbreaking concept of creating artificial wood from rice straw.

This highly innovative idea comes from a team of students, including Son Tran Minh Man, Nguyen Xuan Thanh, and Nguyen Thi Thuy Duong. Their product concept addresses agricultural waste issues and creates a highly sustainable material. Artificial wood made from straw is environmentally friendly and highly durable, with the potential for widespread application in construction and furniture manufacturing.

Representing the group, Nguyen Xuan Thanh, a 2022 Music Studies major, explains: “The Mekong Delta’s ideal natural conditions for rice cultivation result in an abundance of straw. This abundance inspired our project to produce wood from straw. Currently, straw is used for various purposes, but burning rice straw after harvest still occurs, wasting resources and polluting the environment.”

Preliminary quality tests of the product samples show that the artificial wood made from straw has a formaldehyde content of ≤ 0.02 mg/L, meeting the E0 standard (EN 717-1), with near-zero emissions, ensuring safety for consumer health and the environment. The straw-based wood has significantly lower formaldehyde content than other wood products, guaranteeing absolute safety for users.

The product’s elasticity reaches a minimum index of 2500 MPa, 20% higher than existing artificial wood products. This demonstrates better flexibility and less cracking when used in projects requiring high flexibility, such as furniture or outdoor structures. The static bending strength is at least 18 MPa, 25% higher than similar products. The straw wood product is durable and suitable for high load-bearing applications.

Additionally, the moisture resistance with thickness swelling after 24 hours of water immersion is below 5%, 50% lower than the current standard for particleboard. This indicates high durability in humid environments, with minor deformation, making it suitable for outdoor use or in bathrooms and kitchens. The termite resistance index is over 95%, 30% higher than natural wood. Straw wood is virtually unaffected by termites and suitable for high-risk areas.

The fire resistance meets the TCVN 9311-1:2012 standard with a fire resistance time of at least 30 minutes, showing good fire resistance and reducing fire risks in construction projects. The tensile strength reaches a minimum of 1.5 MPa, 15% higher than the standard for industrial wood. The product has good tensile strength and is not easily delaminated or cracked during use.

The project meets ISO 14001 environmental management standards and green product certification for recycled products. The straw wood product is environmentally friendly, helps reduce CO2 emissions, and efficiently uses recycled resources.

Samples of straw wood immersed in common chemical solutions show resistance to ordinary chemicals (mild acids, alkalis, solvents) without degradation of the product’s mechanical properties. Straw wood maintains its properties after contact with chemicals and is suitable for industrial environments or applications requiring chemical contact.

The project idea has participated in several domestic and international competitions. The team completed the sample product about two months ago and has displayed it at competitions in the province and Ho Chi Minh City, attracting significant investor’s interest.

By TD
ĐL-MN