Computer chip made of "wood".

[WereCat]

Source: http://www.news.wisc.edu/23805

And yes I looked if it is in here already posted but I havent seen it so sorry if repost.

 

In an effort to alleviate the environmental burden of electronic devices, a team of University of Wisconsin-Madison researchers has collaborated with researchers in the Madison-based U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Products Laboratory (FPL) to develop a surprising solution: a semiconductor chip made almost entirely of wood.

 

The research team, led by UW-Madison electrical and computer engineering professor Zhenqiang "Jack" Ma, described the new device in a paper published today (May 26, 2015) by the journal Nature Communications. The paper demonstrates the feasibility of replacing the substrate, or support layer, of a computer chip, with cellulose nanofibril (CNF), a flexible, biodegradable material made from wood.

 

"The majority of material in a chip is support. We only use less than a couple of micrometers for everything else," Ma says. "Now the chips are so safe you can put them in the forest and fungus will degrade it. They become as safe as fertilizer."

 

"If you take a big tree and cut it down to the individual fiber, the most common product is paper. The dimension of the fiber is in the micron stage," Cai says. "But what if we could break it down further to the nano scale? At that scale you can make this material, very strong and transparent CNF paper."

 

 

Now we can finaly build wooden PCs and when someone insult you for having one you can just smile and let them scratch their head in confusion!

This is really great. If it is enviroment friendly as they say this may lead to some prety spectacular eco solutions.

This post has been promoted to an article

[ozziestig]

Yes now my PC can be more of a fire hazard.

[Wauthar]

@WoodenMarker?

 

This seems pretty neat, but I don't see it being adapted in large scale in the near future, nor will it have big performances. Sustainability is a plus though

[AlwaysFSX]

Yes now my PC can be more of a fire hazard.

And self degrade over time. This has absolutely no application outside of sticking it in a plant to find out some biological readings.

[ozziestig]

This seems pretty neat, but I don't see it being adapted in large scale in the near future, nor will it have big performances. Sustainability is a plus though

Well if it can be really small I believe we can make "smart" paper.

[WereCat]

And self degrade over time. This has absolutely no application outside of sticking it in a plant to find out some biological readings.

I think that some people will get creative with this and may find a lot of useful applications for it.

[AlwaysFSX]

I think that some people will get creative with this and may find a lot of useful applications for it.

I meant in desktop applications but sure, I'll just nod my head and agree with you.

[rhyseyness]

Brings a whole new meaning to chipboard

[Sidiox]

And self degrade over time. This has absolutely no application outside of sticking it in a plant to find out some biological readings.

Which would be absolutely fantastic...

Computerwaste is a big problem. If we want the "internet of things" it is good that stuff gets biodegradable. 

[FakezZ]

Yes now my PC can be more of a fire hazard.

Do not let AMD know about this!!!!!! /s

[Sauron]

someone seems to have forgotten what happens if wood overheats...

[Nielips]

someone seems to have forgotten what happens if wood overheats...

Someone seems to have no idea what auto ignition temperature is, or how stupid there statement is

[TroubleKlef]

Must. Not. Make. Joke. About. AMD. And. Fire.

[dfsdfgfkjsefoiqzemnd]

Someone seems to have no idea what auto ignition temperature is, or how stupid there statement is

 

Indeed.  for the record, paper has an ignition temperature of around 450°F (230-ish°C), give or take 20° depending on the axact composition.  Wood can auto ignite anywhere between 200 and 450°C.  You could make an entire gaming PC out of this stuff and there would be zero risk of auto ignition.

 

Mind you, if you do get a short-circuit and there's a spark, the PC could indeed burn to the ground.

[Nielips]

Indeed.  for the record, paper has an ignition temperature of around 450°F (230-ish°C), give or take 20° depending on the axact composition.  Wood can auto ignite anywhere between 200 and 450°C.  You could make an entire gaming PC out of this stuff and there would be zero risk of auto ignition.

 

Mind you, if you do get a short-circuit and there's a spark, the PC could indeed burn to the ground.

That's also assuming the nano material follows that of the bulk material, which based on knowledge of other nano materials is unlikely.

[Blackie Sheen]

And self degrade over time. This has absolutely no application outside of sticking it in a plant to find out some biological readings.

It will not self degrade itself if its not on the ground outside. Its biodegradable. Its not oxygen reactant or anything.

[Sauron]

Someone seems to have no idea what auto ignition temperature is, or how stupid there statement is

 

not the point, wood starts suffering from heat damage way before it ignites.

[Nielips]

So does very material, what's your point?

[Guest Generallee]

Do not let AMD know about this!!!!!! /s

 

Must. Not. Make. Joke. About. AMD. And. Fire.

 

 

GET IT EVERYONE IT4S BECAUSE AMD RUNS HOT

[Xeross]

And the new virus... Termites!

[FaustoGomez]

WOOD....

.....

......

 

 

 

 

 

SEMICONDUCTOR................

.......

 

.....

 

 

 

 

 

MUCH WOW, SUCH SUCCESS

[Just Monika]

It it really a good idea to make CPUs biodegradable?

[Toddwjp]

always a plus to find alternate methods of making things. helps prevent disasters

[Ostwind]

Probably has better IPC than FX chips.

[Opcode]

There's a joke in here somewhere... An electrical component made of wood? Wouldn't that be a "woodchip"? Huehuehue