Everyone already knows that plastics are one of the top pollutants of the environment. From rigid plastic materials in the ocean to plastic bags in landfills, to microplastics in the air, they are definitely a problem that needs an urgent solution.
However, it is not as easy as avoiding its use because it is in a lot of the products we use every day. Because of this, companies and organizations around the globe have been putting in the effort to find environment-friendly alternatives like promoting the use of reusable bags or straws when applicable or producing biodegradable versions when plastic materials are a requirement.
The problem is that when looking at various alternatives, Physical Chemistry and Soft Matter researcher Sophie van Lange points out that they are either recyclable or strong and hard, but not both. This has inspired their research on developing a method to create durable and reusable plastic.
In a study, van Lange and her colleagues did exactly that. With a new approach, they were able to synthesize plastic sustainably. The researchers explain that on a molecular level, plastics are made of long polymer chains connected by chemical cross-links, which give plastics its durable and strong properties. But because these cross-links are so strong, the final plastic product becomes difficult to recycle.
Based on this chemical principle, the research team looked into how they can form bonds in the polymeric chains without chemical cross-linking. They came up with using adjustable physical forces. They explained that plastics are made up of positively charged chains and negatively charged ones. Bringing these into contact correctly will result in an attraction similar to how magnets work.
Because of this “magnetic” attraction, the chains are connected without chemical cross-links. In application, when heat is applied to the new material, the attraction between the positively and negatively charged parts weakens, making the material easy to reshape and reused.
Van Lange explained that it does not stop there either. The strength of attraction between the positively and negatively charged parts contribute to the strength of the plastic. She explained that those forces are naturally strong so weakening the charge helped create a less brittle material. The researchers used “molecular umbrellas” that weakened those charges in the plastic until they achieved the attraction force that they wanted.
In addition to the potential recyclability of the new plastic that they created, it also showed to be robust when exposed to water. Again, this was attributed to the molecular umbrellas, which were water-repellent. They even created a shoe sole out of the new plastic and tested it against water puddles, proving its sturdiness.
While the results of the study are promising, Van Lange explains that they will continue to improve the material until they believe it is ready for use. They are currently looking into making it more flexible before it is ready for the market.
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