World's fastest biodegradable plastic wins award for innovation

摘要

A Malaysian university professor has been awarded a gold medal at the International Invention, Innovation and Technology Exhibition (ITEX 2008) for developing what is claimed to be the world's fastest biodegradable plastic. Hanafi Ismai of the Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), a lecturer in the Engineering and Mineral Resources Studies Centre, told a press conference following his award that compared to other plastics, Degra-TPE, which is made from 15% waste plastic and rubber, takes between three and six months to degrade due to a special additive that accelerates degradation. Not only that, but the cost of manufacturing TPE was 20% cheaper than other plastics in the market.