Sustainable Glue

[ysabetwordsmith]

Polymer research shows potential replacement for common superglues with a reusable and biodegradable alternative

Researchers have developed an adhesive polymer that is stronger than current commercially available options while also being biodegradable, tunable, and reusable. The findings show how the common, naturally occurring polymer P3HB can be chemically re-engineered for use as a strong yet sustainable bonding agent.


I am reminded of tacky gel and Maxitack in Terramagne.

Comments

Alternatives

[goatgodschild]

- Pine sap
- Syrup
- Jam
- Cranberry juice
- Glitter mod podge

All of these are guaranteed to stick to anything and everything, particularly if water is applied to them.

Re: Alternatives

[ysabetwordsmith]

LOL yes. Pine tar was likely the first glue, and can be cooked with other ingredients to improve its qualities -- a technology that likely predates Homo sapiens.

Re: Alternatives

[goatgodschild]

Apply with elbow and tricep for maximum adhesion!

Re: Alternatives

[ysabetwordsmith]

Recipe that is probably at least a couple million years old:

https://www.instructables.com/How-to-Make-and-Use-Glue-From-Pine-Resin/

[siliconshaman]

If I recall correctly P3HB is the synthetic version of barnacle glue.

Yes ...

[ysabetwordsmith]

Barnacles really don't come off without a chisel.

[crunchysteve]

I've seen stuff about P3HB's potential in 3D printing but thearticle never said whether it would be a thermoplastic, thermoset plastic or photoset. The first is useful for filament printers, the third for UV activation (resin printing) Journos aren't always good with the tech nuts and bolts. (I say this latter from 27 years as technical producer/tape op for Australia's public broadcaster. Great at finding a story, not always great at understanding a tech story.)

Lots of these "environmentally friendly" plastics are only so if they can be synthesised cleanly or the critter that generates them can be farmed without environmental impact. Farming barnacles would probably be easy. Not sure the chemistry of harvesting or synthesizing P3HB would necessarily be if scaled. Eg "plant based" photoset resins used in SLA printers aren't as enviro friendly as manufacturers have claimed. Especially on disposal side.

PLA is still the nearest we have to enviro friendly but the additives that make it suit molding, blowing or printing with, arent always great and the compostability has been hugely overstated by industry.

Still. P3HB is a substance worth watching.

Thoughts

[ysabetwordsmith]

People do routinely overstate benefits and understate risks. However, I suspect that it is more sustainable the the current petrochemical adhesives, which are definitely limited in supply.

[zeker]

Hopefully this new glue works better in conjunction with human skin? Few are the times I use superglue and my palms and fingers aren't melded together in some uncomfortable way. Do barnacles stick to humans? I've never stood still in a body of water long enough to find out.

[starbit]

barnacles stick to whales, which have similar ish skin? but also, superglue is sort of meant to stick to people? they use it in medical contexts

[starbit]

this is interesting, but if it's actually biodegradable, I'd worry about it breaking down too soon. then again, they could put a label on the package that says how long it should last under ideal conditions and then how long it's likely to last and then also what will make it break down faster. so that at the very least people know what they're getting

Well ...

[ysabetwordsmith]

Under most conditions it probably won't break down. "Compostable" paper plates won't, unless 1) you pre-shred them, 2) you put them into industrial composting equipment, or 3) you dump them in a hugelkultur trench where it doesn't matter how long they take to break down.

Some things need light and/or water to break down, others need microbes or larger soil creatures, etc. So I'd want to know the mechanism -- how does it break down, and what causes that to happen.