Japanese Scientists Achieve Significant Improvement of Plastic Made from Carbon Dioxide

Japan's National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) announced on November 18, 2008, that it has succeeded in greatly improving the mechanical properties of a plastic made partly from carbon dioxide (CO2) -- such as its elastic modulus and strength -- by blending it with other plastics.

Previously, the polypropylene carbonate (PPC) that the scientists were trying to improve, made from CO2 and propylene oxide, was not practically useful. In the AIST study, aliphatic polyesters were added to a PPC composite as second and third ingredients to control its microstructure, while keeping the ratio of CO2 at about 30 percent by weight. As a result, the researchers successfully developed a high-performance PPC composite, called aliphatic polycarbonate, with not only improved mechanical properties -- 2.4 gigapascals (Gpa) of elastic modulus and 17.9 megapascals (Mpa) of tensile strength -- but also enhanced heat resistance.

As a viable alternative to petroleum-based general-purpose plastics -- such as polyethylene, polypropylene, and polystyrene -- the newly developed PPC made from CO2 is expected to contribute to global warming prevention and reduced dependence on petroleum resources.

- Significant Property Improvement of Plastic Made From Carbon Dioxide
http://www.aist.go.jp/aist_e/latest_research/2008/20081226/20081226.html

Posted: 2009/03/16 06:00:15 AM

TAG Technology , University/Research institute