World First PET Aerogel Method for Turning Plastic Into Supermaterials Devised

In light of the staggering amount of plastic waste being generated in the world, the scientific community is engaged in active efforts to devise strategies centered around containing the materials or converting them into new materials which will give them a second life. From plastic-eating fungus to developing creating biodegradable plastic , dozens of ideas are being put forth. A group of researchers from the National University of Singapore (NUS) have developed a method that tackles one of the biggest offenders: plastic bottles. They set out to convert the bottles into an aerogel, a porous and ultralight solid that offers a promising list of applications. A Branding Strategy Emerges PETs, also known as polyethylene terephthalate, are the most common polymer resin in the world that goes into producing plastic bottles. It seems only logical, then, to name the new creations "PET aerogels", a term which describes the growing body of scientific research centered around the process involving the reuse of the toxic and non-biodegradable substances. Although rPET-silica aerogels are not new, this is the first time that they have been developed from plastic bottles. SPONSORED VIDEO “Plastic bottle waste is one of the most common type of plastic waste […]

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