Scientists find a way that may yield earth-friendly plastics

A biodegradable replacement for petroleum-based plastics has been marred by various challenges; however, new research has found a way that could yield earth-friendly plastics. The study published in the 'Journal Polymers' has shown that combining natural rubber with bioplastic in a novel way results in a much stronger replacement for plastic, one that is already capturing the interest of companies looking to shrink their environmental footprints.

A biodegradable replacement for petroleum-based products has to meet all sorts of standards and, so far, attempts at viable replacements from renewable sources have faced limited success due to processing and economic constraints. Among the obstacles, products to date have been too brittle for food packaging. The research team reported success with a rubber-toughened product derived from microbial fermentation that they said could perform like conventional plastic. This new study highlights the greatest success in this area so far, according to scientists. "Previous attempts at this combination were unsuccessful because the softness of the rubber meant the product lost a lot of strength in the process," said lead author Xiaoying Zhao.

The new study involved melting rubber into a plant-based thermoplastic called PHBV along with organic peroxide and another additive called trimethylolpropane triacrylate (TMPTA).

The end product was 75 per cent tougher and 100 per cent more flexible than PHBV on its own - meaning it is far easier to shape into food packaging.