A group from Hitachi Zosen and Casco Co., under a NEDO contract, used a Eucommia (Euophorbia)-derived trans-polyisoprene polymer as a new biomaterial to prepare golf balls („Biospin“) which will be marketed from April 2018. The process includes vulcanization and silanization. In future, this type of biocomposite with high impact resistance and toughness is expected to be also applied to car interiors, etc.
NEDO news release, December 13, 2017
NEDO consortium manufactures golf balls from Eucommia-derived biomass