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Project Summary
| Difficulty | 9 |
| Time required | Very Long (several weeks to months) |
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| * Note: This is an abbreviated project idea, without notes to start your background research or a procedure for how to do the experiment. You can identify abbreviated project ideas by the asterisk at the end of the title. If you want a project idea with full instructions, please pick one without an asterisk. |
Abstract
Plastics are made of polymers, chemical structures containing many repeated subunits. How does the polymer type of a plastic affect the biodegradability of the plastic? Do research on how plastic is made and what types of polymers are used for making different plastics. Can you learn to make your own plastic? What materials can you use for making plastic that is biodegradable? Test biodegradability by burying plastic samples for different lengths of time. (Kadar, 2004) Reducing solid waste and consumption of non-renewable resources are both worthy goals. Coming up with a biodegradable plastic gets you only part of the way there. In order to be a substitute for petroleum-based plastics, a biodegradable plastic needs additional material properties that available plastics have. For a more advanced project, consider these other properties, too. For example, would a biodegradable plastic be strong? Inexpensive? Would it last long enough to do its job?Bibliography
Kadar, Z.J., 2004. "Biodegradable Plastic,"California State Science Fair Project Abstract [accessed April 26, 2006] http://www.usc.edu/CSSF/History/2004/Projects/J1124.pdf.Variations
- For more science project ideas in this area of science, see Materials Science Project Ideas.
Last edit date: 2007-01-22 19:59:12
Career Focus
If you like this project, you might want to think about career opportunities in
Materials Science.
You’ve probably heard the expression “build a better mousetrap.” Industrial engineers are the people who figure out how to do things better. They find ways that are smarter, faster, safer, and easier, so that companies become more efficient, productive, and profitable, and employees have work environments that are safer and more rewarding. You might think from their name that industrial engineers just work for big manufacturing companies, but they are employed in a wide range of industries, including the service, entertainment, shipping, and healthcare fields. For example, nobody likes to wait in a long line to get on a roller coaster ride, or to get admitted to the hospital. Industrial engineers tell companies how to shorten these processes. They try to make life and products better—finding ways to do more with less is their motto. Learn more about this career: Industrial Engineer.
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