NEC Corp. said Wednesday it has co-developed a plastic that mimics Japanese lacquerware and may be suitable for use in luxury car interiors.
NEC developed the bioplastic in collaboration with the Kyoto Institute of Technology and Yutaro Shimode, a lacquerware artist, using cellulose resin produced from non-edible plants such as grasses and trees.
The new plastic also was developed by mixing in black coloring agents and highly refractive organic ingredients to adjust coloration and light reflecting properties. This makes it resemble the black of lacquerware, the company said.
The plastic material can be mass-produced using a regular plastics molding process.
NEC said it will pursue partnerships aimed at commercializing the new plastic.