Vitamin C and water are not only good for humans but also for plastic.

By linking molecular chains more quickly and creating fewer residues, two new breakthrough methods can be used now to improve the way plastics are made. plastic. These two methods use environmentally friendly substances such as vatamine C or purified water so they are an ' attractive ' choice in plastic engineering techniques known as free radical polymerization (FRP). .

'Both methods are novel and complementary ways of improving efficiency, monitoring product structure and costs in the polymer industry. Each method can have important implications for polymer production. ' Andy Lovinger, program director of the National Science Foundation, fund manager for the project, developed the two methods.

Plastic plastics are complex, long chain polymer molecules made up of a series of smaller chemical units. By using FRP technology, chemical engineers can create a plastic plastic standard for a wide range of applications, such as a special decorative door for a car door or a sponge for a pillow. hug. However, for some polymers, molecular structures are not easily linked.

Therefore, to solve this problem, scientists at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh (Pennsylvania, USA) have created a method called atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP), a method that can be created. ingenious ways to ' coax ' super-molecular structures that link together into chains . However, the ATRP method has certain weaknesses, for example, to implement this method, copper catalyst is required, which can become an unwanted residue.

The picture illustrates the power of new ERA technology developed by Carnegie Mellon University scientists.(Photo: netscape)

Now scientists at Carnegie Mellon have discovered that by adding vitamin C, sugar or other electron absorbers to the ATRP process, it is possible to reduce the amount of copper catalyst needed to 1,000 times.

Because catalysts often need to be removed in the end products, less copper means that less residue will be added and therefore will significantly reduce the cost of removing the excess. The cost of mass production will be reduced and therefore the price of many products will be more suitable for consumers' consumers, such as some improved sensors, drug delivery equipment and class. Paint coating and video screen.

The study was published in the edition of the American Academy of Sciences' multidisciplinary magazine on October 17, 2006.

At the same time, at the University of Pennsylvania, scientists were using another method to improve FRP technology.

Called single electron transfer-living radical polymerization, this method relies on low-energy reactions and uses basic copper (copper metal rather than copper in chemical solutions) as a catalyst to limit by-products and allow manufacturers to use water - one of the most environmentally friendly solvents in chemicals.

The whole method of polymerization is based on the mechanisms available to bind large molecules quickly.

Scientists at the University of Pennsylvania published an article about their discoveries in the American Science Association's online magazine last June 5.

(Photo: Nicolle Rager, National Science Foundation)