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We’ve seen laptop’s made of wood, bamboo, carbon fibre and — most recently — glass. Now, a new plastic replacement based on recycled paper might be making its way to a computer on your lap.
Developed by PEGA, Paper PP Alloy is a paper-based material that’s designed to be strong, sturdy, and environmentally friendly. The ideas is that it could happily replace plastics — but because it’s made of paper it should, in theory, be far, far easier to recycle.
The material is made from a combination of recyclable paper and polypropylene, and it can be formed using injection molding methods. While some commentators have suggested that it might be difficult to easily separate polypropylene from paper fibers come recycling—pointing out that polylactic acid may have been a better choice—it’s still an amazing concept.
For now, this is a great start. PEGA assures us that you’ll start seeing the material in commercial use in the very near future. [PEGA]
So it’s a bit like the body panels of a Trabant then…
As long as batteries won’t spontaneously combust on you, this will be a great idea. It’s happened to all the major laptop makers over the years so no one is safe…
Of course, the first person to steal the 3D printing plans for laptop cases and put them on The Pirate Bay will make manufacturers think again.
Expect more 3D widgets ending up on the pirate bay. Things like dishwasher wheels and trays that frequently break.