On Sep 8, 2:27 pm, Jangchub wrote:
On Mon, 08 Sep 2008 13:33:05 -0400, Frank



frankdotlogullo@comcastperiodnet wrote:
Jangchub wrote:
everywhere.

One of my favorite fabrics is rayon. I am not sure how they make it,
but I know it is not synthetic so maybe that's why I like it.
Ordinarily I don't like anything synthetic because I can't stand the
way it feels on my skin.

Victoria

Rayon is essentially synthetic but it is made from regenerated
cellulose. I believe they started using cotton linter's, left over
from the cotton gin but there are even cheaper sources of cellulose.
It is an extremely messy, un-environmentally friendly process where the
cellulose is treated with carbon disulfide and caustic and wet spun into
sulfuric acid. Cellophane film was made the same way.

Point I have been trying to make in this thread is that while one might
expect natural fibers and polymers to be more environmentally friendly
than synthetics, the processing necessary to manufacture them into
useful items is often environmentally unfriendly.

Frank

Yes, I'm learning that more and more every day. For example, it takes
more fuel to make a gallon of bio diesel than it makes. Did that come
out right?

Yes, indeed it made perfect sense.

But the attractiveness of biodiesel isn't apparent when you make it
simply to run your cars. We saw that with the whole ethanol
boondoggle, when we paid the agricorps to grow corn, then we bought
corn from them at inflated prices to make the ethanol, that diluted
the gas, which was also overpriced.

No, biodiesel works when you use it for something else, like
lubricants or cooking oils, then collect it and use it in your car.
Then it's energy efficient, as well as atmosphere-friendly (it still
releases CO2, but it has produces lot less soot and other particulate
matter than petrodiesel).

Chris


The real way we are going to make changes is to demystify solar, wind
and renewable energy. I actually did know your point, but was
expressing how I prefer natural fibers against my skin. Polyester has
made some great improvements and many times very hard to tell it's not
silk in many cases.

We need to change the way we waste.

Victoria

"If the present and the future
were contingent on the past,
then the present and the future
would have existed in the past."

-Lama Tsongkhapa

http://gotbodhicitta-wangmo.blogspot.com/