Plastics are polymers, which means that their molecular structure is formed by a large number of similar units glued together. At present, most plastics are manufactured with petrochemical products as raw materials, and extraction and processing will cause damage to our environment. On the contrary, cellulose is the main component of plant cell walls, the most abundant natural polymer on earth, and an almost inexhaustible source of raw materials. By introducing a "cinnamyl" group and slightly changing a small part of the chemical properties of cellulose, the researchers succeeded in preparing a special CCi, which is suitable for forming a water-plastic (that is, soft when in contact with water). And plastic) polymer new bioplastics.

This means that it can be molded with only water under daily temperature and pressure. This unique method is called hydraulic coagulation. Researchers only need to immerse bioplastics in water and let them dry in the air to create various shapes. The molded shape maintains long-term stability and can be reshaped into various 2D and 3D shapes time and time again. Although plastic should not come into direct contact with water because it will lose its shape, it can retain moisture and be used in humid conditions. Compared with the currently widely used plastics, CCi bioplastics show high-quality mechanical properties.

Professor Kai Zhang from the University of Göttingen explained: “Our research provides a feasible way to design other eco-friendly water plastics from renewable resources. This opens up new research avenues and stimulates people to further explore other Sustainable bioplastics with outstanding mechanical properties and new functions."

The hydraulic coagulation process avoids expensive and complicated machines and harsh processing conditions. "This eco-friendly method highly simplifies plastic manufacturing, making its processing and recycling more economical and sustainable. This research provides great potential for the application of bioplastics in many different fields, such as biology, electronics, and medicine. "Zhang said, adding, "In particular, the harmful effects of plastics on the environment, that is, the damage to all forms of life on earth, will be minimized by reusing water plastics with unique functions."

Source: 由纤维素和水制成的环保塑料-中塑行情-中塑资讯-中塑在线塑料行业门户 (21cp.com)