Polystyrene Replaced with Eco-friendly Starch

3 October 2009 | Green Technology | 2 Comments

Chemically speaking polystyrene is actually an aromatic polymer, produced from the aromatic monomer styrene, a liquid that is obtained in chemical industry from petroleum. Polystyrene is the most common material in many objects we use daily. Maybe you remember those white pieces of polystyrene used to protect packaged products.

All these plastics can lead to a worsening of current pollution and this is why scientists and researchers are trying to replace those plastics with some organic materials.Agricultural Research Service (ARS) from Albany, Calif, announced that old plastic used for example to protect the packaged TV, could be replaced with eco-friendly starch from potatoes, wheat or corn.Gregory M. Glenn. and Simon K. Hodson managed to replace polystyrene with an organic material made from plant starch.

The new bio-foam looks like familiar polystyrene, and similar to polystyrene it can be made with different densities, sizes and thicknesses. This new biodegradable material can be obtained by mixing starch with other natural substances. Researchers say about the physical qualities of this eco-friendly material that it is a very efficient thermo-insulating material but it is not waterproof.

Tags: Agricultural Research Service, aromatic monomer styrene, aromatic polymer, bio-foam, biodegradable material, eco-friendly material, eco-friendly starch, familiar polystyrene, most common material, not waterproof, organic materials, petroleum, physical qualities, plant starch, Plastics, Pollution, Polystyrene, protect packaged products, replace polystyrene, thermo-insulating material

2 Comments

  1. school grants said on 27 May 2010 at 6:03 pm:

    What a great resource!

  2. Collins Pt. said on 27 Aug 2010 at 4:40 am:

    Biodegradable plastic and packaging is a modern necessity for our ever-endangered environment.
    Now PLA has been used to line the indoors of Paper Cups in place of the oil based lining additional usually used, create Plastic Cups, Plates, Carrier Bags, Food Packaging and even Nappies.
    Eco Pure is our proprietary blend of organic materials that does not modify the base resin to which it is added.

    Thanks a lot for your information

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