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Wine Grapes Can Be Used to Strengthen Bioplastics

The French seem to have discovered a new way to use their Pinot Noir. Researchers from the University of Clermont Auvergne seem to have found a way to use wine grapes residue to reinforce bioplastics and plastics.

Wine Grape contains polyphenols (antioxidants) and these could be used to treat bioplastics and plastics.

The first application will be to strengthen bioplastics and plastics used for outdoor applications such as garden furniture, car headlights and packaging. In other words, they can help prevent plastic brittle after long term sunlight and air exposure.

How did they do it? The scientists placed Pinot noir grapes residue in a microwave, they freeze-dried it and then they pulverised it. The powder was then integrated into the molecular matrix of melted polypropylene.

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They tested untreated plastics under accelerated ageing conditions and it started to crack after 25 hours. Treated Plastic lasted at east twice as long.

REFS

Published on onlinelibrary.wiley.com

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