University of Maine rolls out its prototype golf balls made out of Lobster shells
Scientists at the University of Maine have been successfully able to design golf balls out of the lobster shells which were previously thrown out and dumped at the landfill sites. Professor David Neivandt, who teaches at the university’s Chemical and Bioengineering
department, revealed a golf ball with its core made out of Lobster shells.
“Instead of dumping the shells at landfills, the idea is to add value to the product, which hopefully will funnel back into the industry,” said Neivandt.
Maine has been famous for its signature Lobster and seafood attractions and the shells have been previously used in decorative mantle pieces and glass carrying coasters. Professor Neivandt also disclosed various other products designed out of ground lobster
shells.
Professor along with one of his students, Alex Caddell shared some of the insights of their prototype golf ball but refrained from sharing everything about the design as their product is still waiting to be patented.
The core of the ball is formulated by mixing ground lobster shells with a heavy adhesive while the outer shell is also made out of biodegradable substance. The ball is initially designed for short or medium driving ranges and is in accordance with the international
standards in terms of weight and outer grooving.
“The first time I hit it, I was surprised it didn't shatter into a million pieces,” Caddell said. “And it flew straight. I usually have a pretty bad slice, so to hit it straight was amazing.”
Alex, who played golf in the high school also, said that they had been trying balls made of different biodegradable products but have found that most of them cracked.
The ball not only attracts the golfers in terms of being lower in cost but also because of its slight advantage over the ordinary balls. With the iron the ball covers around the same distance as the normal ball but with a driver it covers an extra 60 to
70 percent of the distance. While the other biodegradable balls in the market costs $1 on the average, the ball designed from lobster shell is approximately worth 19cents.
The University has formally applied for the patent rights of the product while professor Neivandt thinks it would be better if a private company would buy the license to start production on a commercial scale or maybe university itself would spin out a company
for bulk production.
Lobster shells along with other waste products like the clam shells from the fishing industry are increasingly being used to produce more biodegradable products. Alex and Neivandt also came up with an idea to design plant pots out of the shells which will
provide extra calcium to the plants.
Bob Bayer, head of the university’s Lobster Research and Education Organization, was pleased with the efforts of his colleagues and students and termed it as a successful venture that would create more jobs.
“The whole idea is to add value to our lobster,” he said. “The more value we can extract, the more fishermen will be paid and more jobs will be created.”
Under the strict international laws, dumping golf balls into the sea is banned. The balls are made out of plastics which can pose a potent threat to the marine life. With the approval of the patent, it would not be long before the ball finally makes it on
the course, marking another successful conversion of waste to a useful product.
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