For an exhibition on materials from nature I came to the cashew nut oil. A nut is very small, and that it is used in such a great industry will surprise the visitor.
The oil is said to be used in the aerospace industry and there is supposed to be info at Southampton University, but I can’t find anything about it…
Answer
Hi Gijs,
an interesting question indeed. I myself have not immediately found what the University of Southampton is doing with the cashew nut, but given the context of the question I can guess. They probably don’t work with oil from the cashew nut itself, but with the oil from the shell of the nut. The shell of the nut is poisonous but contains an oil with a very interesting composition. You can use this oil to synthesize a whole series of bio-based molecules with very interesting properties. Applications are for example in paint, but also as a lubricant and even as an alternative to diesel or as an additive in brake fluid. I don’t know which of these applications they work in Southampton exactly, but you see that there are several options for aircraft: fuel (additive), brake fluid, lubricating oil and even the materials for the wing… In any case, you can remember that that oil has great potential and that’s why research groups are working on it. Hopefully you are a little wiser with this.
Answered by
dr. ir. Bert Lagrain
Catalytic Chemistry, Food Chemistry
Old Market 13 3000 Leuven
https://www.kuleuven.be/
.