Dissolvable plastics are, as their name suggests, made using chemicals and components designed to break down and dissolve after use. They are an innovation in ecological solutions to reducing landfill and preventing environmental hazards and pollution. Understanding how dissolvable plastics work is straightforward. The polymers used in their manufacture react with their surroundings and can be broken down through chemical reactions, or by microorganisms in the soil or in water, for example.
What are dissolvable plastics?
As with many aspects of plastics manufacturing, there are a number of different types. It is important to know what they do and how they differ when considering how dissolvable plastics work. Natural and synthetic polymers both work through being designed to biodegrade over time. Natural substances that are commonly used include cornstarch, sugar cane, plant matter and fruit peel. Synthetic alternatives are designed to work in a similar way and include polyacrylic acid, polyvinyl alcohol and polyethylene oxide. The latter are excellent materials to choose when considering water-soluble plastic technology.
More examples of how dissolvable plastics work
Other biodegradable plastics incorporate enzymes into their construction to aid in the dissolving process. These include poly(ethanol), which forms bonds with water to help it dissolve the polymer chains contained within it on contact. Microbial and chemical degradation are other methods of breaking down polymers in dissolvable plastics through bacteria and fungi, or chemical reactions. The polymer chains are converted into simpler compounds, such as water or biomass to complete the plastic dissolution process.
Compostable plastic alternatives are also available. These are produced to break down when placed in compost under specific conditions. Biological processes such as composting produce carbon dioxide, water, inorganic compounds and biomass, helping to reduce and even eliminate non-degradable plastics that could end up in landfill and pose a safety risk to wildlife. Other manufacturing materials products, such as bamboo and plant fibres can also be added to compost heaps and allowed to naturally biodegrade.
What are dissolvable plastics used for?
There are a plethora of applications and uses for dissolvable plastics that help reduce landfill, while still providing high performance and aesthetics while they are in use. Some uses include hospital laundry bags – using plastics that dissolve in water means that worked do not have to directly handle soiled bedding and laundry, but instead can put the full bags into the washing machines, where the dissolvable plastic will degrade on its own.
The same goes for dissolvable plastic food containers and other packaging. Not only do they cut down on packaging waste, they dissolve safely into water, making nit easier for users to handle their contents. This is useful for dishwasher liquid pods and food and laundry pods that can be placed directly into the machine without the contents having to be extracted first.
Other uses for dissolvable plastics include plastic film for sending magazines in the post – this can be removed and put directly into the compost bin if suitable, or added to the recycling bin for the local council to process. Compost bin bags are also commonly made from biodegradable plastic, so they can be added to the main compost pile as they are without the user having to extract the contents first. In the agricultural and horticultural sectors, biodegradable plastics are regularly used as mulch film or plant pots – they are positioned directly into the soil, where microbes degrade them naturally.
The rapid plastic dissolution also makes such materials ideal for the medical industry, which required fast-acting covers that can protect the delicate contents inside. Examples include coatings for plastic tablets and pills, plastic thread for dissolvable stitches and wound dressings that do not require surgery to remove.
