R&D 100 Award recipients are determined by an independent judging panel and editors of R&D Magazine, and only the top 100 innovations of the year receive this honor.

 

Plasticizer - Soy-based plasticizer can be used in the processing of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) resin, and is more environmentally friendly, stronger and has more stretching ability than the petroleum-based equivalent.  It also has the potential to be used in latex adhesives.

Toner - Soy-based toner can be used in printers, copiers and fax machines, and is more environmentally friendly that the petroleum-based equivalent.  This product was commercialized by Advanced Image Resources.  www.air-toner.com

Polyols - Soy-based polyols were developed to fully replace the petroleum-based equivalent, and is made from low-cost soybean glycerin.  It also has an absence of odor and color, low viscosities and it requires less energy to produce compared to polyols made from petroleum.  Polyols are used in the production of various foams, coatings and adhesives.

Powder Coating - Powder coating is a common method of coating, or painting, certain commercial products, such as refrigerators and tractor panels. It is sprayed as dry powder and then cured under heat to allow it to bind to the material on which it is applied. Soy-based powder coating was developed to operate at a lower curing temperature, offering energy savings as well as a lower carbon emission.

Polymer - The soy meal-based polymer technology has the potential to be used in nearly any type of molded-plastic application and could be utilized in various industries such as packaging, construction, electrical, furniture and machinery. In addition to reducing the amount of petroleum used, this technology also has the potential to be molded at lower temperatures, further reducing energy costs associated with the manufacturing process.
 

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