Development of oxidatively degradable polymeric materials that can be easily recycled and reused, reducing negative environmental impacts.

Polymers are useful and increasingly prolific and their improper disposal is a growing problem. Diacylhydrazine can be incorporated into polymers to enhance thermal and chemical stability and may also make them oxidatively degradable, which means they can be easily and safely disposed of after use, with no environmental implications. Professor Nobuhiro Kihara, Department of Chemistry, Kanagawa University, Japan, recognised the need for a polymer that has a degradation reaction initiated by artificial stimuli, which led him to study oxidatively degradable polymers. Using diacylhydrazine, he and his team have developed a polymer that boasts attractive properties and numerous applications and benefits. The polymer maintains high strength, is weather resistant and resistant to heat, water, acid and sunlight yet is rapidly degradable when it is time to start the degradation process. This means that it can be easily and conveniently disposed of after use. It can be used in plastic, adhesive or paint and the composite materials can be separated and recycled or reused after use. The expectation is that oxidative degradation will reduce the load for the disposal of plastic and there are further opportunities to explore as there is potential for the use of various oxidant-induced degradation reactions in the design of degradable polymers, as well as artificial stimuli other than oxidation, for example electric current, to promote degradation. Kihara and the team have developed an oxidatively degradable epoxy resin that can be used as an adhesive and an oxidatively degradable SAP (superabsorbent polymer).