Novel PLA Nanocomposite Bioplastic For Use In Packaging
Description
Plastic pollution. We need a solution. It's everywhere. It's disrupting ecosystems, it's hurting wildlife, and demand is only going up. It’s hurting nature, animals, and even us. A lot of this pollution, 40%, comes from plastic packaging, like wrappers and containers, which are thrown away after one use. This trash often ends up in the ocean, where it harms sea creatures. We also don’t fully know how tiny bits of plastic, called microplastics, affect our health. To fix this, we need a new kind of plastic that is better for the planet. The problem is plastics are usually not biodegradable, meaning after you throw them away, the trash does not break down and eventually disappear. The plastic we put in the ocean will remain there, unless we use a different type. One solution is bioplastics. These are plastics made from natural materials that break down more easily. A type of bioplastic called PLA is made from plants like corn. PLA is great because it’s biodegradable, safe, and strong. But there’s a problem: PLA breaks down too quickly when it gets hot, which makes it hard to use for packaging. My goal was to make PLA better by mixing it with tiny particles called nanoparticles. These particles make the plastic stronger and less likely to break down.
Grant Proposal
Neat PLA Simulation box