Pitch
A process by converting fast growing sustainable soft woods into a hard durable material.
Description
Summary
T-rex is very similar to the petrification process that occurs in nature. The process start by putting soft wood (like pine) and putting it in a high pressure container filled with steam or hot water. The process will caused the fibers in the wood to open and expand. From their, the wood is placed in a high pressure mineral rich slurry bath. Preferable, something that is silica or clay based.
The goal is to have the liquid minerals forced into the expanded fibers of the wood. As the wood is set out the dry, the minerals become trapped in the contracting fibers of the wood. The end product is a soft wood that is just as hard as some of the endangered tropical hardwoods.
What actions do you propose?
I would like to work with the timber industry as well as some of the leading home builders. I would like to test some of the practical applications of this new wood. If it works, one of the major bonuses for t-rex is that it would be the first wood designed to be fire resistance. It would also take away the incentive for illegal poaching.
Who will take these actions?
If t-rex become a viable alternative to pressure or chemical treated wood, I see local utilities adopting this design. Like I stated before, the timber industry would be the direct beneficiary of the design. It would allow the to provide a product that would satisfy the full economic spectrum.
For local and nation government, Managing protected area would be a lot easier because we would rotate the use of assign areas. For example, it takes about 75 years for some species of trees to reach maturity. If each state set aside an area the size of Rhode Island; we could rework that acreage without cutting into virgin forest.
For the homeowner, T-rex would be the first wood that would be naturally mold and insect resistance.
Where will these actions be taken?
Illegal harvesting of trees is a global problem. If countries invest in developing a timber industry base on a variety of local sustainable trees; it would diminish the need for poaching.
How much will emissions be reduced or sequestered vs. business as usual levels?
The Amazon Rainforest and the Taiga in Russia has been called the lungs of the planet. If we can leave or increase the size of those forest, we would reduce the effects of global warming.
What are other key benefits?
Like I stated before, T-rex would eliminate the need for chemical to treat or maintain the wood. It would also be fire and insect resistance.
What are the proposal’s costs?
The cost would be comparable to pressure treating wood.
Time line
I expect it would take a few months to work out the kinks and five to ten years to become a industry standard.
Related proposals
Land use.
References
As I stated before, T-rex is based on the petrification that occurs naturally.
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