Vulcanized fibre is a laminated plastic composed of only
cellulose. The material is a tough, resilient, hornlike material that is lighter than
aluminium, tougher than
leather, and stiffer than most
thermoplastics. The newer wood-laminating grade of vulcanized fibre is used to strengthen wood laminations used in
skis,
skateboards, support beams and as a sub-laminate under thin
wood veneers. A product very similar to vulcanized fibre is
leatheroid. Leatheroid, however, is made using a different chemical process.