The glue is also recyclable and can be used in packaging, automotive components, medical and electronic devices.
A team of chemists has revealed an innovative method for transforming used cooking oil into high-performance, fully recyclable plastics capable of bonding metal plates and even tow a car.
published Nov. 28 in the Journal of the American Chemical Society, demonstrates a promising path toward creating durable, sustainable plastics from a global waste stream that often ends up being discarded.
Although waste oil has long been used in lubricants, fuels and non-stick coatings, new research shows that it can also serve as a raw material for the production of resistant polyester plastics.
“Waste streams offer a potentially attractive alternative to biomass-derived feedstocks,” the researchers noted, arguing that inedible waste represent an underutilized resource for the manufacture of more environmentally friendly materials.
To create the new polymers, scientists first broke down the fatty acids and glycerol that make up cooking oil. The resulting molecules were converted, through several reactions, into alcohols and esters, which were then recombined in different arrangements to create a family of polyester plastics. Tests revealed that these materials share many characteristics with low-density polyethylene (LDPE), the flexible plastic typically found in bags and packaging.
However, the new polymers offer something that LDPE doesn’t: strong natural adhesion. The oxygen atoms incorporated into the polyester structure create strong interactions with metals and other surfaces, giving plastics exceptional adhesion.
In laboratory demonstrations, adhesive versions of the material were used to join two stainless steel plates. The plates remained firm under loads up to 123 kgsurpassing or equaling the performance of commercial glues. In an impressive resistance test, the glued plates were even used to tow a vehicle on a slight incline, says .
Due to these properties, researchers say the materials could be ideal for industrial uses in laminates, packaging, automotive components, medical devices and electronics.
Crucially, new plastics They are also highly recyclable. The team demonstrated that polyesters can be chemically broken down into their original components and repeatedly remade with minimal loss of performance. Some versions can also be recycled together with conventional plastics, such as high-density polyethylene and polypropylene.
