Researchers turned superglue into a recyclable, cheap, oil-free plastic alternative

Photo caption: Researchers discovered a way to turn superglue into strong, clear plastic that can be made into many shapes. Photo credit: Allison Christy, CC BY-ND. Article by Allison Christy and Scott Phillips. The Conversation – March 22, 2023.

The big idea

Our team used superglue as a starting material to develop a low-cost, recyclable and easily produced transparent plastic called polyethyl cyanoacrylate that has properties similar to those of plastics used for single-use products like cutlery, cups and packaging. Unlike most traditional plastics, this new plastic can be easily converted back to its starting materials, even when combined with unwashed municipal plastic waste. […]

Click here to view original web page at theconversation.com