Plastic that Fully Dissolve in the Sea. © RIKEN Center for Emergent Matter Science
Scientists are working on new types of plastic that fully dissolve in the sea and can naturally degrade in seawater.
By now, you’ve probably seen plenty of documentaries and articles about how plastic pollution harms our oceans and planet. Traditional plastics can take decades or even centuries to break down fully.
In this study, researchers created a unique plastic that is both strong and biodegradable in ocean-like conditions.
The material is made by combining sodium hexametaphosphate with guanidinium sulfate, forming a special network held together by salt bridges. This structure remains stable until electrolytes (like those in seawater) break it down. The process works because of a phase separation, where sodium sulfate is pushed into a water-rich area, leaving behind a stable plastic.
Plastic that Fully Dissolve in the Sea. © RIKEN Center for Emergent Matter Science
Once dried, the material behaves like regular plastic—it can be shaped with heat, used in wet environments with a protective coating, and even adapted for 3D printing with natural polymers. This innovation could lead to more sustainable plastic alternatives for the future.
source RIKEN Center for Emergent Matter Science (CEMS), the University of Tokyo
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