This new study from the University of Warwick is now looking into a plastic-like substitute that could help change the future, one where this polluting material would be replaced and no longer pose a threat to the planet. For many years, plastic waste has soared exponentially, and it is a material that takes years to degrade, ending up in landfills, the ocean, and more places where it stays as is.
For many years, advocates and researchers have looked to reduce plastic use and reliance worldwide, but this valuable material is still significantly used in various industries, including consumer goods.
Sustainable Plastic? Eco-Friendly Substitute Now Under Development
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Researchers at The University of Warwick unveiled its recent successful tests which found a significant alternative to plastic, a material that is sustainable and behaves like it. The team claimed that this new material has the "potential" to replace plastics and help introduce new materials that could, once and for all, end the massive reliance of the world on it.
The team identified certain small organic molecules that when mixed, could form new "glasses and viscous liquids" that were said to be "promising candidates."
They also used advanced techniques like differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and UV-vis spectroscopy to preciselydetermine these new water-repellent materials.
Success in Testing Organic Eutectics, a Plastic-Like Material
According to its recently published study in the journal, Chemical Science, the new material is known as "organic eutectics, and it was formed by mixing crystalline components. The researchers were able to develop a series of "hydrophobic eutectic molecular liquids" which they believe to have the potential to replace polymers.
However, the researchers are currently facing a problem with its longevity, as their tests were able to determine that it could only last for up to 14 months. That being said, the team was able to ensure its stability and processability for manufacturing.
Plastic Waste and The World's Fight to Eliminate It
There is no denying that plastic was once considered a revolutionary material that became integral in various industries, especially with its wide application on products, as well as for consumer goods.
As they cannot degrade compared to organic materials, they are either left to be recycled, repurposed, or thrown away-notoriously known for being dumped into bodies of water which has since been a massive problem.
Apart from being recycled, researchers have been developing ways to get rid of plastic using science, with one study focused on genetically engineered bacteria that can "degrade" plastics, with plans to bring it to oceans.
For now, the world needs to stand together in refraining from using plastic carelessly, as it remains as an integral material for many industries, and researchers are still on the verge of developments that could solve this problem. Researchers from the University of Warwick have since tested organic eutectics, a more sustainable material that is plastic-like but is not as destructive as the real deal.
