Science

The Polack MSgt

(13,793 posts)

14. "boiled in a mix of sodium hydroxide and sodium sulphite"

Fri Feb 9, 2018, 12:11 PM

Feb 2018

Sodium Hydroxide - "As one of the most simple hydroxides, it is frequently utilised alongside neutral water and acidic hydrochloric acid to demonstrate the pH scale to chemistry students." - Wikipedia.
It's already used in dozens of applications, and while it's a very caustic alkali, it's so reactive that it is not a long term problem if spilled...

Sodium Sulphite - "is a product of sulfur dioxide scrubbing, a part of the flue-gas desulfurization process. It is also used as a preservative to prevent dried fruit from discoloring, and for preserving meats, and is used in the same way as sodium thiosulfate to convert elemental halogens to their respective hydrohalic acids, in photography and for reducing chlorine levels in pools." - Wikipedia

So I wouldn't want to drink either, neither is a long term pollution issue as they will break down into inert chemicals in pretty short order. We aren't talking about some esoteric long chain polymers or super solvents...

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Scientists Have Developed a Way to Make Wood as Strong as Steel [View all] Judi Lynn Feb 2018 OP

-1 wheres the real info on relative cost etc. BootinUp Feb 2018 #1

Wooden Vehicles? Who'd a thunk it? Binkie The Clown Feb 2018 #2

. eppur_se_muova Feb 2018 #3

Ah, the beauty of that design. byronius Feb 2018 #4

And if WW2 had lasted several months longer Hitler would have had the bomb... SCantiGOP Feb 2018 #25

All the little things that save us - because authoritarianism and hatred are rife with incompetence. byronius Feb 2018 #28

I wish that were true, marylandblue Feb 2018 #29

Ah, but the vector goes up. byronius Feb 2018 #30

"Weather" vs. "Climate" Binkie The Clown Feb 2018 #35

and this lapfog_1 Feb 2018 #31

Right? Igel Feb 2018 #34

My only problem with this is that I'm a tree-hugger. I'd rather not ever kill trees, period. byronius Feb 2018 #5

renewable Hermit-The-Prog Feb 2018 #9

Yeah, but life-form. byronius Feb 2018 #13

As a vegan, I don't feel too bad about killing carrots and potatoes. Binkie The Clown Feb 2018 #36

I've just started to look at things differently over time. byronius Feb 2018 #37

Hemp: " I could'a been a contender" 10 times stronger than steel. quickesst Feb 2018 #6

Indeed. silverweb Feb 2018 #12

Yep quickesst Feb 2018 #17

It should work with hemp as well, I would think ... eppur_se_muova Feb 2018 #15

I didn't read the article, but I'm guessing it would be lighter, too? C Moon Feb 2018 #7

Does this lead into a Viagra ad? Midnight Writer Feb 2018 #8

And how toxic are the chemicals used to effect this transformation? silverweb Feb 2018 #10

"boiled in a mix of sodium hydroxide and sodium sulphite" The Polack MSgt Feb 2018 #14

Good to know. silverweb Feb 2018 #19

It would probably be similar to making paper in that regard. eppur_se_muova Feb 2018 #18

Sometimes the cost is far too high. silverweb Feb 2018 #20

The cost of electing 45 is well summed up in NNadir's sig line -- eppur_se_muova Feb 2018 #21

Definitely! silverweb Feb 2018 #22

This message was self-deleted by its author silverweb Feb 2018 #23

Ah. Looks like home used to look. Igel Feb 2018 #33

Sounds like an advancement on glulam (glued laminated). CaptainTruth Feb 2018 #11

That's a pretty good way of thinking of it. Apparently some of the wood's natural lignin is saved .. eppur_se_muova Feb 2018 #16

Pound to pound wood is as strong as steel. Canoe52 Feb 2018 #24

A steel woody could be dangerous. Sneederbunk Feb 2018 #26

That's great but one thing. If you strike a match to it does it burn? Lint Head Feb 2018 #27

This message was self-deleted by its author Jim__ Feb 2018 #32