A new type of plastic is able to evaporate in the air and in sunlight and will contribute decisively to the fight against pollution
For years now, the world has been at war with plastic. Thousands of objects made of non-recyclable materials, from fishing nets to disposable cups up to the components of cell phones, threaten the environment by devastating entire ecosystems and for this reason many governments are taking action. There are more than 300 million tons of plastic waste currently produced per year, according to estimates by the United Nations. According to scientists, we are at a “point of no return” in terms of environmental damage.
Alternatives are beginning to appear with increasingly innovative inventions: from bacteria in cows to silk in spiders, scientists around the world are working to solve one of the main problems facing our planet. Now a new invention promises to give a decisive breakthrough in the fight against non-biodegradable materials.
Evaporating plastic: new invention made “by accident”
A team of Chinese scientists has invented a new type of plastic that evaporates, meaning it degrades when exposed to sunlight and air.
The researchers of Huazhong University of Science and Technology in Wuhan, China, admitted that they made this amazing invention “by accident.” While working on a color-changing plastic, in fact, they realized that it degraded after a week of exposure to air and light.
The study was published in the scientific journal “Journal of the American Chemical Society” and promises to completely rethink the future of plastics.
When does evaporating plastic come in and what does it do
This type of plastic resembles a kind of film, which is why study co-author Liang Luo thinks its main application could be in cell phones and electronic devices.
Although not yet a viable replacement for everyday items such as plastic bottles and shopping bags, the new degradable plastic could help reduce plastic use and decrease waste.
The goal, however, is still a long way off and it could be years before we see practical applications of this amazing invention.
As the scientists explained to the PNAS science blog, the team will “continue to study plastic degradation” and it could take five to 10 years to give the new material a final shape.