Researchers at the University of Wisconsin Platteville are looking at milk for uses beyond food.

Mechanical engineering professor John Obielodan and chemistry associate professor Joseph Wu are experimenting with dairy proteins and lignin from grasses as a material for 3-D printing.

Wu says he’s encouraged by the research so far. “Me, and my student working over the summer tried to turn this into a thermoplastic. We see a lot of challenges, but we also see some promising aspects.”

And, Wu says the materials they are using are biodegradable.

…