Researchers in Japan have developed a way to allow certain worn plastics to regain nearly all of their original strength and flexibility, a step that could improve recycling for durable plastics used in vehicles and electronics.
What happened?
Scientists at Tohoku University reported that they restored lost strength in degraded polybutylene terephthalate, or PBT, by repairing it at the molecular level. Recycling PBT has proved to be challenging because degradation weakens the material mechanically.
If this same technique can be replicated at an industrial scale, it could allow for large-scale PBT recycling.
Why does it matter?
When recycled plastic is too weak for demanding applications, companies often have to rely on fresh virgin plastic instead. Restoring strength to used plastics could help shift that equation, making recycled plastic useful for a wider range of purposes and reducing demand for virgin plastic, which is overwhelmingly derived from fossil fuels like oil and natural gas.
In turn, increased plastic recycling could mean less plastic waste piling up and fewer fuel sources needed to make brand-new materials from scratch. Reducing demand for virgin plastic can also help curb the pollution linked to plastic production, which has downstream effects on air, water, and human health.
If manufacturers can restore valuable engineering plastics instead of discarding them or using them only in low-grade applications, the economics of recycling could improve significantly.
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That kind of efficiency could help lower material costs across industries that make everything from vehicle components to household electronics.
What's being done?
The research being done at Tohoku University is just one example of how scientists are pushing recycling beyond the old model of "melt and remake." Instead, researchers are increasingly applying a new approach that involves repairing the internal damage that causes plastics to lose performance in the first place.
If the process can be scaled, it could be especially useful in sectors that rely heavily on engineering plastics, including transportation and electronics. Those industries generate large volumes of durable plastic parts, making them strong candidates for higher-value recycling systems.
Even as recycling technology improves, cutting back on disposable plastic remains important.
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