Researchers at Transcendental Chemical Research Institute, Inc., High Energy Accelerator Research Organization, and the University of Tokyo have developed a new coating technology that can be used like plastic by applying silica coating to paper materials.
Environmental destruction caused by a large amount of plastic waste is a serious social problem, as it is reported that the amount of plastic produced worldwide reached 2015 billion tons in 63, 79% of which was leaked to the natural environment.Although plastics are chemically stable and have excellent mechanical properties, they are not easily decomposed naturally, so it is necessary to develop biodegradable materials to replace plastics, but it is easy to replace cheap and easy-to-use plastics. is not it.
Under these circumstances, the researchers have succeeded in developing a new technology for coating environmentally friendly "paper" made from grass and wood with chemically stable and harmless silica while compensating for its weakness to water. .. In this technology named "transcendental coating", when paper is dipped in a coating liquid and then dried at room temperature for about 30 minutes, a silica layer having a thickness of about 3 microns is uniformly formed on the surface of the paper.Since the reaction proceeds quickly using the paper itself or a small amount of water present in the atmosphere, the paper does not deteriorate during the reaction.
The silica layer formed has a strong network structure and increases the mechanical strength of the paper, while also having relatively large nano-sized gaps, so that the original flexibility of the paper is not impaired and the methyl groups left in the gaps. The effect also acquires water repellency.In addition, since the silica film is colorless and transparent, the coated paper can maintain its original texture, and it does not contain substances that cause environmental pollution, and after disposal, it decomposes naturally like ordinary paper. , An environmentally friendly material.
Transcendental coated paper is useful in various fields, is inexpensive and simple, and is expected to contribute to solving the plastic waste problem by expanding the application of this technology.
Paper information:[Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research] Modern Alchemy: Making “Plastics” from Paper
